Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 60

(Angel's POV)

It was just after breakfast when the announcement came. The voice crackled through the speakers and sounded harsh. "Attention all patients," it said. "There will be a dorm inspection in thirty minutes. Please remain in your rooms until further notice. Any contraband found will be confiscated and disciplinary actions will be taken."

A ripple of unease spread through the hallways. We'd all heard the rumors about these inspections. There were rumors of Dr. Joe searching for evidence and looking for any excuse to tighten his grip on us. But this was the first time we'd actually experienced one.

My heart jumped into my throat. The journal. The one I'd stolen from the West Wing. It was hidden under my mattress but that wasn't going to be enough. Not with Dr. Joe personally supervising this inspection. He was thorough and methodical. If he even caught a whiff of it, we'd be finished.

I sprinted back to my dorm and pushed through the crowd of nervous patients. Hande, Cylan, and Dilara were already there. They sat on the edge of their beds with their eyes wide with fear. They turned to me as soon as I burst through the door.

"What's going on?" Hande asked nervously. "Why the sudden inspection?"

I swallowed hard and tried to keep my voice steady. "It's Dr. Joe," I said. "He's searching for anything that can get us in trouble. And I forgot to hide the journal."

Their eyes widened, and Cylan's voice went higher. "The journal? The one from the West Wing? You mean that journal?"

I nodded as my pulse quickened. "Yes, that one."

Before anyone could say more, the door swung open and Hendrix stepped inside with a grim expression. I had told him to meet me in our room. "We have a problem," he said like he'd read my mind. "Dr. Joe's heading this way. We don't have much time."

I couldn't believe I'd been so careless. "Where can we hide it?" I asked as panic rose in my chest. "It can't stay here. They'll find it." "There's no time to take it out of the dorm," Hendrix muttered as he glanced toward the door. "They'll be searching all the rooms."

pacing and bit her nails. "What do we

can't just sit here and wait," Cylan said urgently. "We need to think of something

Dilara, who had stayed calm this whole time, spoke up. "What about the vents?" she suggested as she pointed to the small grated vent near

darted to the vent. It was high up and the opening was barely big enough but it

Hendrix and I grabbed the mattress and lifted it to reveal the tattered leather journal. He shoved it into my hands and for a split second, our eyes met, sharing a silent understanding

was still too low to reach the vent. Hendrix cursed and pulled me up onto his

up as far as I could and fumbled with the grate. "Come on, come on..." I whispered to myself. Finally, the vent popped open, and I shoved the journal inside, pushing it as far back as I could. I replaced the grate just as we heard

all scrambled back to our beds, trying to look

His eyes swept over us, taking in every detail. I forced myself to keep my breathing steady even as

morning, ladies," Dr. Joe said with fake politeness. "And gentlemen.” He nodded at Hendrix. "This is a standard inspection. Please remain

belongings. They overturned mattresses and rifled through drawers. They even checked the pockets of our jackets. They moved with cold efficiency, and I couldn't help but feel a chill run down my

me and whispered, "Are you

It was hidden

reached my bed, he

throat. Was he onto us?

at me with sharp eyes. "Is there anything

and forced myself to meet his gaze. "No, sir. There's

like he was trying to read my thoughts. Then, he gave a short humorless chuckle. "Very well," he

out a breath I hadn't realized I was

as he reached the door. "I trust