Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 31

(Angel's POV)

It was happening again.

Another treatment. Another day when I couldn't breathe.

I watched Hendrix from across the room. His face was pale and his eyes looked unfocused. He sat on the edge of the bed and his hands trembled slightly as if he was trying to hold it all together. But I could see through it.

I always saw through him.

"They're doing it again," I whispered and my voice shook. I couldn't help it. My stomach twisted into knots as I pictured him in that room with those needles and those machines.

The door swung open and Dr. Nixon stepped in. She was cold and clinical. She didn't even look at me.

Just Hendrix.

"Are you ready?" she asked him in a low tone.

Ready? For what?

Another round of who-knows-what. My fists clenched at my sides.

Hendrix nodded and his jaw tightened. He didn't say a word. He never said anything about these sessions.

And that scared me more than anything.

I bit my lip to keep myself from screaming and from grabbing him and pulling him away from here. From this nightmare.

"We need to talk," I blurted out and my voice was sharp in the heavy air.

Dr. Nixon finally looked at me and her eyebrow arched. "Now?"

I nodded and stepped forward. I felt the weight of Hendrix's eyes on me but I didn't care. Not right now. I needed answers. I needed to understand what was happening to him. What was happening to us. "Alone," I said with a firmer voice this time.

She sighed and glanced at Hendrix before nodding towards the hallway. "Fine. But make it quick."

I followed her out of the room as my heart raced and my pulse drummed in my ears. The door closed behind us with a quiet click and I was alone with her. With the woman who held all the cards. The woman who could tell me everything if she wanted to.

"What are you doing to him?" I asked as my voice barely rose above a whisper.

Dr. Nixon crossed her arms and her expression was unreadable. "I'm helping him."

"That's not what it looks like."

She didn't respond and just stared at me with that same detached, almost robotic calm that made my skin crawl.

I stepped closer and my voice trembled with anger. "You said... you hinted that his illness might not be real, that something else is going on here. I want to know what you meant."

She watched me for a moment as her eyes narrowed like she was deciding whether to say something. Then finally, she spoke.

condescending. "You already know there's more to this place than meets

but it wasn't enough. I needed more. I needed to know

I snapped. "Tell me the truth. What

to a near whisper. "I'm

My blood turned cold.

does

where I knew Dr. Joe's office was. A chill ran

here..." she said faintly as her voice almost got drowned out by the pounding in my chest. "Some people have their own agendas. And not everyone is interested in curing patients." I stared at her and my mind raced. My throat felt tight and I

I

She didn't.

place. "You should be careful, Angel. Sometimes when

to argue and demand more answers, but she was already walking away and her heels clicked

there, feeling like the ground had been pulled out

...

go back into the room

while my hands trembled at my

is interested in

something was wrong here. But now it

way he smiled and the way he moved through the center like he owned everything. Like he was playing a game and we were all just pawns. I pressed my back against the wall

had to warn him. But how could I tell him that everything he was going through and

...

the bed again and staring at his hands. He looked up as I entered and

asked in a

swallowed the lump in my throat. "Not much.

Hendrix's brow furrowed. "Careful?"

said and sat down beside

couldn't help

have to look

was so far away from the annoying and reckless stepbrother I grew up with. Like someone

someone I

lip and tried to push the thoughts away, but they kept coming back. His skin looked pale and soft in the dim light. The way his jaw clenched when he was deep in thought. The curve of his

was Hendrix. He was my

he said suddenly and snapped me out of

to face him. His eyes were dark and

I shouldn't want him

But I did.

in a voice that was too soft

His hand brushed against mine and I felt a spark shoot up my arm

believe you," he whispered in a low, almost teasing voice. But there was something else there, something deeper. "What's going on? Why's

hand away and stood up quickly. My heart raced and I felt like I couldn't breathe.

have another treatment today," I said and tried to change the subject, to distance

his eyes narrowed slightly.

what to say. I didn't know the

hurt," I murmured with my back still to

isn't it?" he asked and his

fists clenched at my sides.