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?"

chick. Heard she went missing. Guess she couldn't

I wanted to admit. My fists clenched but I forced myself

your own damn business," I said and

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

it. I spun around as my heart

enjoying the reaction. "You

•

respond, a staff member appeared and her sharp voice cut through the tension.

The faint smell of antiseptic lingered in the air and the man himself sat behind his desk, his

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

and glanced between us. "Is that

just

stay quiet. Dr. Joe

problems," he said coolly. "What I care about is maintaining order in this

my fists stayed clenched at my sides. The other guy muttered something under his 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

dismissed," he said

I scanned the office. I looked at the shelves and the desk for anything that

•

(Hendrix's POV)

lights filled the silence. I leaned against the wall and strained my ears to catch every

the corner. I couldn't make out everything but the

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

the things I had overheard in the past and the pieces I had tried to put together.