Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 12

Angel's POV

I waved it off, knowing it was a jab to my mom but I didn't want to dwell on it. I was feeling frustrated enough. "I'm worried about him. I don't know what's going on with him, or if he's even okay."

As I spoke, a nagging thought crept into my mind. I was still suspecting the center was being sketchy with their medical practices. But I didn't say that out loud to the others. I wasn't sure if I should share my suspicions, or if I was just being paranoid.

They seemed genuinely concerned for me, but I wasn't sure if I could trust them with my doubts. What if they didn't believe me? What if they thought I was just being crazy?

No, I decided. I wouldn't say anything. Not yet, at least. I needed to be sure before I started spreading accusations.

"So, what's the plan?" Cylan asked, breaking into my thoughts.

I shook my head. "I don't know. I guess I'll just have to wait and find out."

As I finished sharing my story, I noticed Charlotte looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

We had abandoned our chore, but no one seemed to care. Charlotte's eyes met mine. She hesitated, then diverted her gaze.

"Charlotte, what's your story?" I asked, smiling, trying to sound gentle.

She looked at me again surprised, then pulled out her phone and opened a translation app. She typed something in, and the app spoke out loud.

"I am a foreign student," the app translated. "I came to this country to study. But I made a mistake. I came to the wrong place."

We all looked at each other in shock.

I frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

Charlotte typed again, and the app translated. "I realized in my second week. I try to tell them, but they no understand. They think I crazy."

Charlotte took a deep breath and continued. "I come from small town in France. I want to study art in America. But I make mistake on application. I end up here."

We listened intently as Charlotte shared her story. She told us about her excitement to study abroad, her dreams of becoming an artist. But when she arrived, she realized something was wrong. The building didn't look like the one in the brochure. The people didn't seem to understand her when she tried to explain.

"I try to explain to doctor," Charlotte said, her voice shaking. "But they no understand me. I try to tell them I'm in wrong place, but they just smile and nod."

collecting her

me medicine. But I

welled up

scream because I don't

out to her. I couldn't imagine being

this place, I had to ask.

"They bring psychiatrist. They think I crazy. They give me more medicine.

sat in stunned silence, as she

pulled her into

is so messed up, babes" Hande asked, her

Finally, Cylan spoke up.

Charlotte. We'll figure out a way to get you out

all nodded

lit

do everything we

and innocent to be here. She was the only other person in the center who wasn't meant to

than just strangers in a strange place. We were all misfits, stuck in this place for different reasons. But we had found each other,

sitting quietly, observing us. She hadn't said a word, just listened

you?" I asked, trying to sound casual, trying to draw her out. "What

just shook her head and smiled, her eyes cast downward. Her

end up in a place like this? She seemed

get it," Hande said, breaking the silence. "You're the last person I'd expect to

and she looked away. I sensed a deep sadness in her eyes, something that troubled me. Her silence spoke volumes, hinting at something that was probably hard to hear. "Let's not push her," I

caught her gaze drifting off, her eyes clouding over. I wondered what memories she was revisiting, what pain she was reliving. "Dilada, hey, you okay?" I asked, trying to sound

forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm

knew she wasn't. Something in her eyes told

into sharing her secrets. But for now, I let her be, respecting her

stormed into the cafeteria, her face red with anger. "What is going on here?" she demanded, her voice loud and

as soon

a break," I said, when no one

Miss Stefan was having none of it. "You're supposed to be cleaning, not socializing. You're here as punishment, not to make friends." She sighed, massaging her forehead. She really looked exhausted but that's what you get for being a bitch to

at her tone, wanting to argue. But before I could say anything,

were working, Miss Stefan. We just finished our tasks and were

turned skeptical. "That's not what it looked like. It looked