Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

(Angel's POV)

My fingers trembled as I pressed them against the cold wooden door.

A locked door.

It was thick and old, one of those heavy ones that creaked with old secrets.

I felt the thrum of something behind it, a low hum like a steady heartbeat. It was a kind of sound that made my skin crawl.

This wasn't the first time I had stood there. The West Wing.

It was off-limits. Dangerous, they said.

But I couldn't help myself. There was something behind that door. Something they didn't want us to know.

And with all that has been going on - Hendrix telling me about what happened in the infirmary that unfateful day, Emily disappearing, Dr. Nixon and Dr. Joe's weird dynamics, the persistent noises I heard at night - I couldn't sit still.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. Hendrix's voice still echoed in my head, telling me not to be stupid, telling me to stay safe. But staying safe in that place felt like waiting to die. And I wasn't going to wait.

The metal lock was old and rusted in parts, like it hadn't been opened in years. My hands were sweating as I ran my fingertips over the grooves, trying to figure out how to get past it. I didn't know why, but my heart raced faster and faster until it was the only sound I could hear.

Then creak.

The hairs on my neck stood up.

Footsteps. Heavy and slow, coming closer.

I jerked my hand back from the door, hiding behind one of the dark corners of the hallway. My heart pounded, thundering in my chest like a warning bell.

"Don't," I whispered to myself. "Don't get caught."

The steps grew louder. My breath quickened.

A shadow passed through the dim light of the hallway, long and stretched like a hunter chasing its prey.

My fingers curled into my palm and my nails dug into my skin. The shadow stopped. Right in front of the door.

I held my breath.

The figure moved, but not toward the door. It walked down the hall. The steps faded until there was nothing but silence again. A heavy silence.

I exhaled slowly, careful not to make a sound.

This place...it was choking me.

I slipped back toward the lounge, feeling like I had barely escaped with my life. Every part of me was shaking, the rush of energy fading fast. When I reached the door to the lounge, I pushed it open and slipped inside, letting the heavy door close behind me.

lying on a bean bag, staring up at the

noticed how my

His way of just being in the middle of

late at night? Where were you?" he asked, not

shrugged. "Out. Why aren't you sleeping in your room?" I tried to turn the

onto mine. It was like he could see right

been looking around

my mouth to deny it, but what was the point? He

over

got lower, almost a growl. It did something to me, something I wasn't ready to admit. "I

snapped, and my voice rose. "You think I don't feel it? Every second I'm here, it's like...like I'm

hand through his dark, messy hair. His eyes looked shadowed and tired, but

just don't want you to get hurt," he said, and his voice was quieter than I'd ever heard

me off

was bitter and hollow. "Yeah, well, I don't exactly have a choice now, do I? Not

the heat of his body and the tension

barely above a whisper. "I'm serious.

His hand brushed mine for just a second, but it

back and stepped away, my breath

jaw clenched

shook. "You might be fine just sitting here and pretending everything's normal, but

not painful. It was

I don't know that?" he said, his voice low and intense. "You think I don't feel it too? Do you think I'm acting normal because I've

me it was like he had been carrying something too. Besides what he told me two days ago, was he hiding something else from me? Something dark and heavy?

say anything, he let go and stepped back and

stood there and stared at his

me feel anything at all. Worst of all, I was mad he was pretending now he didn't care that this center could as well be

But I couldn't stop.

about him or thinking about his health.

a knock at the door,

jumped and for a second, I saw the panic flash in his

walked to the door

her face had healed a lot and looked much better than it did three days ago. "You," she said and pointed at

at Hendrix who was frowning but

she want to talk to me now? Why was she suddenly being this

I told him and he just

her eyes darted around like

want?" I asked

in her eyes. There was a flicker of uncertainty and fear. "You

as my heart beat

"This place...it's not what it seems. There's

and tried to keep my composure. "You're not making any sense. Why

thought she wouldn't answer. "I've seen things," she

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