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."

her nails. "What do we

said urgently. "We need to think

time, spoke up. "What about the vents?" she suggested as she pointed to the small grated vent near the ceiling. "It's not perfect but it's

opening was barely big enough but it was the only place Dr. Joe wouldn't check right away.

I grabbed the mattress and lifted it to reveal the tattered leather journal. He shoved it into my hands and for a split second,

and dragged it over but it was still too low to reach the vent.

vent popped open, and I shoved the journal inside, pushing it as far back

Dilara hissed and we all scrambled back to our beds, trying to look as casual as

and Dr. Joe walked in with two staff members. His eyes swept over us, taking in every detail. I forced myself to

"And gentlemen.” He nodded at Hendrix. "This is a standard inspection.

through our belongings. They overturned mattresses and rifled through drawers. They even checked the pockets of our

closer to me and whispered,

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

he reached my bed, he paused

breath caught in my throat. Was he onto us? Could he sense that something

"Is there anything you'd like

myself to meet his

to read my thoughts. Then, he

hadn't realized I

as he reached the door. "I trust