Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 41

(Hendrix's POV)

Music blasted through the speaker and shook the walls of our dorm. It was the kind of beat meant to drown out thoughts and block out the mess in my head. But it wasn't working. I just lay there and stared up at the ceiling as my legs shook, trying to keep my mind from spiraling.

Bundah's voice cut through the music, loud and animated as always. He sat at the edge of Eddie's bed and waved his arms around, talking about his latest experience with the doctors.

"I'm telling you, man," Bundah said and his voice rose over the music. "She was hot, like stupidly hot. But the way she kept talking? Weird as hell. Kept mentioning how I had 'perfect symmetry' and 'ideal bone structure."" Eddie laughed and nearly spilled his drink. "Dude, she's probably hitting on you."

Bundah grinned, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes. "Nah, man. It wasn't that kind of weird. It was like... clinical, you know? Almost like she was sizing me up for something."

I rolled my eyes and kept staring at the ceiling, trying not to care. My mind was too full, too tangled to even engage with their nonsense. But Bundah noticed.

"What's up with you, Hendrix?" he asked and his voice cut through the fog in my head.

I didn't answer and kept staring at the ceiling, hoping they'd drop it.

But of course, they didn't.

Thomas, ever the observant one, got up from his bed and walked over to me. He sat on the edge of mine and the weight made the mattress dip slightly. "Something on your mind?" Thomas asked and his voice was softer but probing.

I shook my head. "Nothing. I'm good."

But Thomas wasn't buying it. I felt his eyes on me as he studied me and tried to piece together whatever mess I was drowning in. He had always been like that, always watching. "Is it Angel?" he finally asked.

That got me, and I turned my head to look at him. His face was unreadable and calm as always. He was too good at keeping his emotions in check, which made it hard to tell what he was really thinking. "What do you mean?" I asked carefully as I sat up. My chest tightened just hearing her name.

Thomas sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, man... whatever's going on between you two... just stop it. It's only gonna hurt her."

I blinked at him, caught off guard. "What the hell are you talking about?"

He leaned forward and lowered his voice. "You know what I'm talking about. Angel's your stepsister. You need to stop before things get worse, before it messes her up."

I stiffened. "What's wrong with having feelings for someone close?"

Thomas looked at me like I'd just grown a second head. "Incest, dude. It's not right. Even if you're only step-siblings, it's still messed up, and it'll hurt her in the end. You've gotta think about her." He stood up and brushed off his jeans. "I'm gonna make us some smoothies."

help myself. I called after him, my voice sharper than I

to me for a long moment. When he finally turned around, there was something in his eyes, something dark that made my stomach

heartbreaks, Hendrix. I know how these things end. Just... don't let it get

the background. I leaned back and exhaled hard. Thomas had no idea what was going on between me and Angel. Hell, I barely understood it myself. But one thing was for sure I couldn't let him

...

(Angel's POV)

first time since we got here, I actually

body felt heavy like I'd been carrying a weight I couldn't shake off. The dream I had of me and Hendrix-clung to me like a fog, and I felt sick as I dragged

things were going to be so... weird.

had just slept

me gag. I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away

I muttered under my breath and gripped the

hear Cylan until she spoke

heart racing as I turned to see her

I said and forced a

to take my

...

and my heart pounded in my chest. I didn't know what to

unreadable as her fingers tapped rhythmically against the wood. When she looked up at me, there was a

and tried to sound confident but my

and her expression hardened.

palms were sweating.

a moment, she didn't say anything and just stared at me as if she was debating whether to trust me with whatever secret she

began and her voice was

but I bit my tongue and waited for her

a front for a much larger operation. An organ harvesting operation. Patients like Hendrix... they're being prepped

stomach dropped hearing her confirm what

whispered. "But over time, I started to piece it together. Dr. Joe... he's in charge of it all. The

my mind spun. "And you're just... letting this

made mistakes and got involved in something I couldn't get out of. But... I want to help you. I can help you and Hendrix escape. But you have to

what I just told you.

but I didn't need her to. I knew

said firmly. "Hendrix deserves to

you have to be careful. I'll help where I can but it'll take time. I can arrange for certain treatments to be