Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 96 (Angel's POV) The hallway was close to dark if not for the fluorescent bulbs. I hadn't meant to be here. Not like this, at least. My feet had carried me, almost instinctively, after hearing Dr. Nixon's sharp voice echo through the corridor. The tone of her words felt urgent, almost panicked, and I couldn't ignore the tug of curiosity or fear-pullingcloser.

Peeking around the corner, I spotted her standing stiffly with Dr. Joe. His posture was as unnervingly calm as ever with his hands tucked casually into his pockets while she gestured furiously. Their voices were quiet but not low enough to escape my ears.

"I told you," Dr. Nixon hissed, "the inspections are scheduled for next week. If we don't get everything in order, they'll start asking questions. Real questions." Dr. Joe tilted his head and faintly smirked. "And you think I'm not prepared? Honestly, Diana, you disappoint me. After all this time, you should know better than to underestimate me." Dr. Nixon clenched her fists. "It's not about underestimating you. It's about making sure we don't all go down because of one stupid mistake." "You mean the journal?" Dr. Joe's tone was casual, but his words hitlike a slap.

I froze, and forgot to take a breath. The journal. He had it. Of course, he had it. My heart pounded as I tried to process what this meant. If they had it, that meant every single detail about the center's inhumane operations was back in their hands. All the evidence we needed to expose them-to bring them down-was gone.

"It's secure," Dr. Joe continued smoothly with annoying confidence. "Besides, it's not like anyone else knows what's inside it. Except for you and me, of course." "And the girl," Dr. Nixon added sharply. "She's not stupid, Joe. She knows more than she's letting on." "Oh, Angel," Dr. Joe said with a chuckle, as if hearing my namused him. "She's clever, I'll give her that. But cleverness can only get you so far without power. And in here? I hold all the power." I couldn't listen anymore. My mind raced with questions and doubts. Did I really still need the journal? I mean, I did. Of course, I did. It was the only solid proof we had of what this place was really doing. If no, when I got out of here, it would be the key to damning them all. But... could I even get it back? As I turned to leave, my foot brushed against the edge of the wall, creating a faint scraping sound. Dr. Joe's head snapped up and his sharp eyes locked onto mine before I could duck out of sight. "Well, well," he drawled and stepped into the hallway. "What do we have here?" I straightened and forced a neutral expression onto my face as he approached. "I wasn't eavesdropping," I said quickly steadily despite the hammering in my chest. "I was just... walking by." His smile widened, sending a chill down my spine. "Of course you were." Dr. Joe studiedfor a moment; his gaze was unnervingly intense. "You know, Angel, there's something fascinating about you. You always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time." "I wasn't-" "Do you know what happens to people who don't mind their business?" he interrupted with a deceptively light voice. "Lettell you a story." I didn't respond. I couldn't. His tone held a weight that pinnedin place, and I could feel the walls closing in around me.

"There was a boy," he began as he paced slowly in front of me. "Bright, curious, always asking questions. He had a knack for finding things he wasn't supposed to find. One day, he stumbled upon something... let's call it a secret. A dangerous one." I swallowed hard. My throat had gotten drier than sandpaper.

"He thought he was clever," Dr. Joe continued. "Thought he could use what he found to get ahead, to expose the truth. But you see, curiosity is a double-edged sword. It can lead to discovery... or destruction." "What happened to him?" I asked quietly, though I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

Dr. Joe stopped and turned to facefully. "Let's just say he learned the hard way that ssecrets are better left buried, or else, you'll be the one left buried." The silence that followed was suffocating. I didn't need him to spell it out for me. The message was clear: stay out of his business, or I'd end up like the boy in his story.

"I should go," I muttered and took a step back.

Dr. Joe smiled again, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yes, you should. And Angel?" I paused and gripped the edge of the wall. "What?" "Be careful where you tread. This place has a way of swallowing people whole." (Hendrix's POV)

I didn't mean to overhear. I wasn't even supposed to be in that hallway, but the sound of Angel's voice m stoppedin my tracks. She was talking to Dr. Nixon. She sounded very frustrated. "What do you want from me?" Angel demanded. "I'm trying to help, but you're making it impossible."

Dr. Nixon sighed. Her voice was quieter than Angel's but still audible. "You think you understand what's happening here, but you don't. This is bigger than you, Angel. Bigger than any of us. I'be told you to stop snooping and eavesdropping on Joe's private conversations." "Then helpunderstand," Angel pleaded. "Tellwhat's really going on...what's about to happen. Besides, that conversation a few minutes ago wasn't exactly private." "I can't," Dr. Nixon's tone left no room for argument. "Just... stay out of it. For your own good. And wait...just wait for the sign for me." I leaned closer. My heart was racing as I tried to piece together what they were talking about. The journal? The inspections? Something wasn't adding up, and I needed to figure out what.

As Angel walked away, I stayed hidden, but my mind couldn't stop racing. Dr. Nixon's word's my ears. This is big echoed in bigger than you.

Bigger than any of us. What did she mean by that? And why was Angel so involved? I couldn't trust anyone anymore. Not Dr. Nixon. Not Dr. Joe. Not even Angel, apparently. If I wanted answers, I'd have to find them myself.

As I turned to leave, a certain weight settled in my chest. It felt very familiar. I'd always been the one to protect Angel, to keep her safe. But now? Now I wasn't sure if I could even protect myself.