NovelEnglishChapter 97 (Thomas's POV) Angel sat by the window, her profile illuminated by the pale light of the moon. She was sketching something in a notebook, looking very concentrated while doing so. She was always cute looking like that. I watched her for a moment, hesitating to approach. She'd been distant lately; her mind was clearly preoccupied with whatever plans she was concocting with the group.
I took a breath, walked over and sat down beside her. She didn't look up, but I could see her fingers tighten around the pencil. "Hey," I said softly.
"Hey," she replied without much emotion, still focused on the page.
I reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face. "You've been quiet lately." "I'm fine," she said quickly, too quickly.
I frowned. "Angel, con. Talk to me. What's going on?" She sighed and set the notebook down, finally meeting my gaze. "It's not you, Thomas. I just have a lot on my mind." I nodded, but the words felt hollow. "I know you're dealing with a lot, but I'm here for you. We're in this together, right?" She gavea small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Of course." Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was pulling away. I wanted to hold her and remind her of what we had, but something insidetoldto tread carefully. I couldn't let my insecurities ruin what we'd built. "You're allowed to lean on me, you know," I said gently. "You don't have to carry everything by yourself." She nodded, but her eyes drifted back to the notebook. I swallowed the lump in my throat and leaned back against the wall. I loved her I really did but I couldn't shake the fear that maybe, she was having second thoughts about us.
(Ava's POV) Dr. Joe's office was as cold and clinical as ever. He handeda folded piece of paper, staring atwith his void blue eyes in a way that made my stomach flip.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Your next task," he said simply.
With trembling hands, I unfolded the paper. The list was short, but each item felt heavier than the last.
11. Angel's daily schedule.
2\. Hendrix's treatment progress.
3\. Details about their relationship.
4. Any contact Angel has with Dr. Nixon.
5\. Patterns in Hendrix's behavior.
6\. Angel's emotional triggers.
7\. Any hidden items or evidence they might have.
8\. Conversations with their group members.
9. Angel's opinions about the center.
10\. Any weaknesses I can exploit.
I looked up at him. My throat was dry. "You wantto spy on them?" He leaned back in his chair, a smug smile on his face. "Let's not be so tic, Ava. It's just information gathering. Think of it as... a necessary precaution." My stomach twisted as I nodded. "Fine." As I walked back to my dorm, the list felt like it was burning a hole in my pocket. I'd always hated Angel, always seen her as a thorn in my side. But lately, I'd started to notice things-things that made her seem less like the enemy and more like a victim.
She wasn't the villain I'd painted her out to be. She was just... stuck. Just like the rest of us. Just like me.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
I sat on the edge of my bed and unfolded the list again. Dr. Joe wantedto exploit her, to dig into every aspect of her life and find her weaknesses. But as much as I hated to admit it, I couldn't bring myself to hate her anymore. Was she really the problem? Or was she just another casualty in Dr. Joe's devious endeavors?
I thought back to the times I'd seen her with Thomas, how she smiled at him despite the burden she carried. And Hendrix-he was clearly falling apart, and it wasn't hard to see why. This place was breaking all of us, piece by piece. I sighed and pressed the list to my forehead, closing my eyes. "Am I doing the right thing?" I whispered. The answer calmost immediately. Of course not. But what choice did I have? "Am I a bad person for doing this?" Maybe. Probably.
"Is this really the only way to help my mom?" Yes. At least, that's what I told myself.
"Will I ever be free from Dr. Joe?" Doubtful.
"Do I even want to be free, or have I just accepted this as my life?" I didn't know. God, I didn't know.
The questions kept coming, as I'd grown so accustomed to. I didn't have the answers, but I knew one thing for sure: I couldn't afford to fail. Not now. Definitely not now.
I folded the list and slipped it into my pocket. Angel wasn't my enemy, but she wasn't my friend either. If gathering this information meant keeping my mom safe, then so be it. But deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was becoming someone I didn't recognize. And I wasn't sure if I could ever cback from it.
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
