Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 79

(Cylan's POV)

The message came late at night. I was lying in bed and the dull hum of the center's fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. My phone vibrated once and broke the silence sharply. I didn't recognize the number at first but the words on the screen made my blood freeze.

>> Cylan. It's me, Emily. I hope you've not forgotten me. Please help. I'm locked up somewhere in the center. It's dark and I don't know where I am.<<

I sat up so fast that the blanket slid off me. My heart pounded as I read the message again and again until the words became jumbled together in my vision. Emily. The girl I thought I'd never hear from again. The one who had vanished without a trace weeks ago.

Was it really her?

I didn't know. I wanted to believe it but something about the message felt off. There was no explanation and no follow-up. Just those few desperate words.

I stared at the phone while my thumb hovered over the keyboard. My mind raced with questions. If it really was Emily, how did she get my number? Why hadn't she reached out sooner? And most importantly-where the hell was she? The next morning, I couldn't focus on anything. During breakfast, the chatter around me blurred into meaningless noise. Angel tried to talk to me but I brushed her off because I was too lost in my thoughts. My phone buzzed again as I was heading back to the dorm and my stomach flipped.

>> They're watching me. Don't tell anyone.<<

The words hit me like a punch. I stopped and stared at the screen. They're watching me. Who were they? The staff? Dr. Joe? Was this even real or was someone playing a cruel joke?

I shoved the phone into my pocket as my hands trembled. I needed to think. I needed to figure out what to do. But before I could, a mocking voice broke my thoughts.

"Hey, Cylan," a deep, teasing voice called out. I turned and saw one of the male patients smirking at me. "You and your little girlfriend still playing hide and seek?"

My jaw tightened. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Heard she went missing. Guess she couldn't

clenched but I forced myself to

business," I said and

get it. Why would anyone choose you? You're just a waste of

did it. I spun around as my heart pounded with rage. "Say that

enjoying the reaction. "You heard

•

member appeared and her sharp voice cut through the tension. "Both

sat behind his desk, his piercing blue eyes scanning us like a

to speak but I cut him off. "He's a homophobic jerk who doesn't know

Joe raised an eyebrow and

"She's just

something but I forced myself to stay quiet. Dr. Joe stared at me for a moment longer

care about your personal problems," he said coolly. "What I care about is maintaining order in this facility. You're both on thin

breath but Dr. Joe silenced him with a look. That looks felt too familiar to just be professional. Even the way the jerk looked down...it seemed like a son feeling embarrassed because he's being

said and

I turned to leave, I scanned the office. I looked at the shelves and the desk for anything that seemed out of

•

(Hendrix's POV)

the faint hum of the fluorescent lights filled the silence. I

talking in low voices just around the corner. I couldn't make out everything but the bits I heard sent chills down my

as my mind raced. Special projects. I'd heard that phrase before, always whispered

the past and the pieces I had tried