Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 30

(Angel's POV)

I couldn't stop thinking about it.

The door. The warning. Dr. Nixon's face was pale, and she was shaking. Why did she suddenly change? Why was she willing to help us get out of the center now? Did something happen with Dr. Joe? Or was she just playing us? How did she even know we were in the lounge?

Everything spun in my head, and it felt like I was trapped in a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.

My body moved on autopilot, and I walked down the hall to my dorm room. The flickering lights cast shadows that felt too long and twisted. I didn't even realize where I was going until I stopped in front of our room.

I knocked once, then twice. My heart pounded.

I wonder why I was knocking but I was thinking of ten different things at the same time, so I didn't even know what my body was doing.

The door creaked open, and there she was. Cylan. Her face was blank, as always. But there was something in her eyes, something curious. "Why are you so up late?" she asked, and her voice was low, barely above a whisper.

I stepped inside quickly. The air in the room felt thick and heavy.

"I need to talk to you," I said, and I closed the door behind me. The other girls were asleep.

Cylan crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "About?"

I took a deep breath and tried to keep my voice steady. "The noises in the West Wing."

Her eyes flickered for just a second, then she looked away like she didn't care. But I knew she did.

"I've heard them," she said, and her voice was flat.

I knew it.

"And?" I pushed and stepped closer. "What do you think they are?"

She shrugged, and her gaze still avoided mine. "Does it matter?"

"Yes," I said, more forceful than I meant to. "It matters."

Cylan finally looked at me, and there was something dark in her eyes, something haunted. "What are you trying to say, Angel?"

"I want to find out," I whispered, and the words tumbled out before I could stop them. "I want to know what's going on in this place."

She watched me, and her expression stayed unreadable. I couldn't tell if she was considering it or if she thought I was insane.

voice. Just a quiet acceptance, like she had already resigned herself to that fate. "Maybe," I said, and my voice

to her? We might find some leads or answers there." Cylan stayed silent, and the tension between us grew thicker. Finally, she let out a slow breath and

we get caught, this

swallowed hard, feeling both relief and fear wash

We waited until midnight.

creak of the old building settling and the soft rustling of

at her, my heart pounding.

set with

all sleeping obliviously,

step felt heavier than the last, like the air was thick with secrets. My nerves were

of

handle, and my fingers trembled. This wasn't my first time but it was still

unreadable, but

a moment, I thought about Dr. Nixon's warning. Maybe....or maybe not...whatever. I was already on to a lead.

silence. My heart leaped into my throat, and I held my breath, waiting for someone-anyone-to hear

But no one came.

dark, and the shadows looked long and menacing. The air smelled sterile, like a hospital. Cold

the feeling that we shouldn't be there, that we were trespassing in a place where we didn't belong. "This place is creepy as hell," Cylan muttered in

throat

silence. Doors lined the walls and each one was closed and locked. But it wasn't the

low mechanical hum came from somewhere ahead and my

hear that?" I whispered and stopped in

eyes narrowed. "What

didn't answer because I didn't

led us to a room at the end of the hall. The door was slightly open and a faint light spilled out into the hallway.

screens showed

high on a desk

trembled as I reached for the nearest one. My name was on

My blood ran cold.

whispered

notes. Detailed descriptions of me. My medical history. My daily routines. Things I'd never

I felt sick.

faintly. "They've been watching us this whole

moved closer as her eyes scanned the

could respond, there was a sound. A loud clang came from somewhere

My heart stopped.

to go," Cylan hissed

hallway seemed longer now and darker. Every corner felt like a trap. We were almost to the exit when I heard it. The sound of heavy boots.

and my