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."

"What do we do? What do we

Cylan said urgently. "We need to think of something

"What about the vents?" she suggested as she pointed to the

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

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

reach the vent. Hendrix cursed and pulled

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

act normal!" Dilara hissed and we all scrambled back to our beds, trying to

in with two staff members. His eyes swept over us, taking in every detail. I forced myself to keep my breathing steady even as my heart pounded

at Hendrix. "This is a standard inspection. Please remain seated while my

in tense silence as the staff tore through our belongings. They overturned mattresses and rifled through drawers. They even checked the pockets of our jackets. They moved

me and whispered, "Are you

and didn't trust myself to speak. It was hidden but I didn't

with a scrutinizing gaze. When he reached my bed, he paused and his eyes narrowed. "This mattress looks a bit too lumpy," he said and

breath caught in my throat. Was he onto us?

at me with sharp eyes. "Is there anything you'd like to share,

my head and forced myself to meet his gaze.

trying to read my thoughts. Then, he gave

out a breath I hadn't realized

reached the door. "I trust you're not hiding anything...