Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 33

(Angel's POV)

Cylan and I had been watching Charlotte for days.

It started with the little things.

The way she glanced over her shoulder every time she walked down the hallway and how she always ended up in places where she shouldn't be.

Like that time last week when I saw her near Dr. Nixon's office.

She told me she was lost.

But she wasn't.

I knew she wasn't.

Then there was the time at breakfast when she sat far away from us, her eyes kept darting to the staff table. She barely touched her food and her hands were shaking.

Charlotte wasn't supposed to be here. She'd told us how she'd applied for an art school but somehow ended up at the center instead. A mix-up with her application had brought her here and no one was helping her. But recently, she'd been acting strangely, even more than before.

Now she was just pacing in the common room with her eyes glued to the door as if she was waiting for something... or someone.

Cylan and I shared a glance.

We needed to confront her.

800

"Charlotte," I said and crossed my arms as I stepped in front of her pacing path. "We need to talk."

She looked up and her eyes widened with panic. "Talk...about what?"

Cylan moved closer and stood behind her like a wall, making it impossible for her to escape.

"You've been acting weird," I said firmly. "Sneaking around. Watching people. Are you spying for the center?"

Charlotte's face turned pale and she stepped back while she shook her head hard. "Non! I...I am no spying on no one!"

"Then why are you always where you shouldn't be?" Cylan cut in with a harsh tone. "Why were you near Dr. Nixon's office last week?" Charlotte's breath caught and she looked between us with her eyes darting around the room like she was searching for an exit.

"I was lost!" she said quickly and her voice shook. "I...I no know where to go."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Charlotte, you've been here long enough to know this place like the back of your hand. Don't lie to us." Her hands trembled and I saw the fear in her eyes. She was hiding something. I knew it.

dropped to a whisper. "What are you afraid of?

Charlotte froze, and her face

I knew it.

was something going

with tears. "I am not...I am not work for him,"

leaned closer as my

in her eyes. "I...I

a hard voice. "We can't help

and her breath came in quick, shallow gasps. "He...he doing things in

down my

"I no know

...

(Hendrix's POV)

should have been

and I couldn't shake the feeling that something

dangerous. That much I knew. But Angel's plan to confront the staff and dig

door creaked open and I sat

But it was Ava.

room with a fake smile on her face. "I heard you weren't feeling well so I came

rolled my eyes and leaned back against the headboard. "Ava, I'm

my arm. "You look so pale, Hendrix. Maybe I can make you feel better." Her fingers trailed up my arm

listen. She never

in the doorway and her eyes narrowed as she

and flashed her a fake smile. "Oh, hey, Angel. I was just

turned sharp. "Can't you see he's not well, Ava? He doesn't need you hovering over him right now." Ava's smile faltered for a moment but she quickly recovered. "I'm just being

felt the tension in the air. This wasn't going to

maybe you should back off. He's not in the mood for your clinginess." Ava scoffed and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Oh, please. You're just jealous because he prefers my

you are to the fact that Hendrix isn't feeling well. Maybe if you actually paid attention to him instead of throwing yourself

as her eyes glinted with malice.

stop her, she stepped right up

"Fine. But don't be surprised when he comes to me for comfort. Because he

she could storm out

kept her back to me with her

I didn't know

hand away and spoke

like that, she was

...

(Angel's POV)

I couldn't stand Ava.

to act like she was the only

She didn't see what