Darn Stupid Brother You Are

(Dennis's

POV)

I stared at the schedule for the upcoming inspection visit as I traced the outline of my itinerary with trembling fingers. The sharp font printed across the page was a chilling reminder of how far I had come and how far I had fallen. Every step of the inspection would be critical. My presence would be scrutinized, my authority questioned, and any slip could expose everything I had sacrificed. My decisions weren't just paper trails; they were blood-soaked bargains. Aurora's name was ever present in my mind, like a shadow I couldn't escape. The sound of her soulless laughter echoed in my memory and pierced through the years.

I remembered the feel of cold steel against my skin, the unrelenting glare of surgical lights above me, and the stench of painkillers mixed with the metallic tang of blood. My screams had been swallowed by the walls of the center as Aurora's mocking and commanding voice rang in my ears.

"Resist, and you'll regret it. Obey, and you might just survive."

My breath caught in my throat as fragments of the past clawed their way to the surface. The torture, the experiments the way she'd watched me like a scientist with a rat in a maze. They had stripped me of everything-my dignity, my autonomy. They had remade me into their puppet.

I looked at my reflection in the glass; my face was hardened and unrecognizable. Angel's face flashed in my mind. Her soft eyes were so much like her late father's.

I couldn't let her suffer. But how could I protect her when I was chained to this nightmare?

•

The thought of Angel haunted me as I prepared for the inspection. She didn't belong here. None of them did. But my hands were tied. The center owned me, body and soul, and Aurora's control was absolute. What would Angel think of me if she knew the truth?

No. I couldn't think like that. Not now. There was too much at stake.

I clenched my fists and tightened my nerves. "One step at a time, Dennis. Just one step."

(Eddie's POV)

I spotted Hande in the common room. Her arms were crossed and her gaze was firmly fixed on the far wall. She was ignoring me, which was fair, considering our fight. But I wasn't about to let this go unresolved. "Hey, Hande," I called and plopped down on the couch beside her. She didn't even glance my way.

"Go away, Eddie."

"Not until you forgive me." I leaned closer and made a goofy face. "Come on. You know I'm irresistible."

Her lips twitched, but she quickly masked it. "You're impossible."

"And you love it," I teased, nudging her gently.

She sighed and finally looked at me. "Eddie, this is serious. We can't afford to mess this up."

"I know," I said, seriously this time. "I get it, Hande. I really do. I just... I don't always know how to handle things. Humor's my default, you know?"

She studied me for a moment before her expression softened. "You're lucky I have patience."

I grinned. "I know. And I appreciate it."

As the tension eased, I suddenly felt vulnerable and wanted to open up. "Hande," I said quietly, "can I tell you something?"

She nodded and put on a curious expression.

"I wasn't always like this," I admitted. "Back home... things weren't great. My parents were always fighting. And when they weren't fighting, they were ignoring me. I started cracking jokes to fill the silence, you know? To make things feel... lighter."

Hande's eyes softened. "Eddie..."

I shrugged and forced a smile. "Anyway, I guess I've just carried that with me. But I want you to know I take this seriously. You, the group, the plan-everything. I won't let you down."

Her hand covered mine, and her voice was firm but kind. "I know you won't."

The warmth of her touch grounded me, and for a moment, the weight of the center felt bearable.

I leaned closer, then my voice dropped to a playful whisper. "Does this mean I'm forgiven though?"

Hande rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Fine. But only because you're so annoyingly charming."

"Annoyingly charming," I repeated, grinning. "I'll take it."

Before I could say anything else, she leaned in and kissed me softly. It was short but electric, and when she pulled away, I was left grinning like an idiot.

"Wow," I said teasingly. "That was... unexpected."

"Don't push it," she warned, though her tone was light.

I laughed. "Noted." noveldrama

She then put on a thoughtful expression and leaned back. "You know, I feel bad for Hendrix and Angel. And even Thomas. Everything's so complicated between them."

"Yeah," I agreed. "It's a mess."

"I wish I could do something for them," she said softly.

I shrugged. "We can only do so much, Hande. Their situation's... unique."

Hande tilted her head, studying me. "Do you think it's wrong? Hendrix and Angel being... close?"

I hesitated, not wanting to stir the pot. "It's not my place to judge."

"But you do," she pressed.

I sighed. "I just think it's... complicated."

Hande's brow furrowed. "They're not even related by blood. Society makes things complicated, but love shouldn't be."

Her confidence in her stance was admirable, and I found myself marveling at her conviction.

"You're amazing, you know that?" I said as I leaned closer.

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "You're not so bad yourself."

I kissed her again and the moment was as sweet as I could've needed at the time.

"Angel's lucky to have you as a friend in this hellhole," I said softly.

Hande smiled. "We're all lucky to have each other."