Darn Stupid Brother You Are

(Thomas's

POV)

I had faced down armed men in alleyways, infiltrated some of the most dangerous organizations, and stared death in the face more times than I could count. But none of it, none of it, compared to the sheer weight pressing on my chest right then.

The hideout was dark, and the air was thick with tension as we gathered. Angel's voice had been urgent when she called the meeting, and it was clear everyone felt the shift.

Angel stood at the head of the group, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Hendrix stood beside her. He was quieter than usual but radiating an intensity that could make anyone flinch. Hande, Eddie, Bundah, Charlotte, and Dilara sat scattered across the room, sharing the same confusion and concern I had.

But Cylan wasn't there.

"Where's Cylan?" Angel asked.

Nobody answered.

My stomach churned. My pulse pounded in my ears. I couldn't keep it from them any longer.

I cleared my throat, and the sound felt too loud in the heavy silence. "I need to say something," I managed, though my voice broke slightly.

All eyes turned to me.

"I need to tell you all the truth. About me. About why I'm here."

The words tumbled out. They were unpolished but the truth. "My name isn't Thomas Allen. It's Thomas Mitchell. I'm an undercover operative. I was sent here to investigate this center and expose its illegal activities. The disappearances. The experiments. The lies."

I paused and let the gravity of my confession sink in.

"I lied to all of you. I created a persona, someone you'd trust, because it was the only way I could get close enough to uncover the truth. I never wanted to hurt any of you, but the truth is... this wasn't just about survival for me. It was a mission. And I'm running out of time."

My gaze shifted to Angel. "I told you earlier, Angel. I'm here to take down Dr. Joe and expose everything he's done. But I can't do it alone. I need your help. All of you."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Hande laughed bitterly. "You lied to us for months. How are we supposed to trust anything you say now?"

Her words hit like a slap, but I couldn't blame her.

Eddie leaned forward. For someone like him, he looked surprisingly calm. "You're saying you're here to help? That all of this, everything you've done, was for some mission?"

I nodded. "Yes. And to help you escape. I know I've lied, but I swear to you, I'm on your side."

Bundah shifted uncomfortably. "You sure about that? Because it feels like you've been playing us this whole time."

The tension rose, and so did their doubts.

"Enough," Angel snapped. "Let him finish."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

"This center isn't just corrupt-it's a machine. A system designed to exploit, experiment, and destroy lives. Dr. Joe is at the center of it all. But he's not untouchable. I have information-leads and weaknesses in their system. If we work together, we can bring him down and get out of here for good."

Hendrix finally spoke with the cold tone he reserves only for me. "You think we should just believe you? After everything?"

I met his glare. "I don't expect you to trust me. But I'm asking you to try. We don't have time to waste fighting each other."

His fists clenched. "You're damn right we don't have time. And I don't trust you. Not one bit."

The tension snapped.

Hendrix suddenly lunged at me with his fist hitting my jaw before I could react. Pain exploded, and I stumbled back, raising my hands defensively. "What the hell, Hendrix?" Angel shouted as she tried to pull him back.

Hande and Bundah stepped in, wrestling him away from me.

"Calm down!" Bundah yelled whilst struggling to hold Hendrix's arms.

Hendrix glared at me with blazing fury in his eyes. "You lied to us! To her! You're just another manipulative bastard playing your own game!" Angel's voice cut through the chaos. "Enough!"

Everyone froze.

She stepped forward, her gaze fixed on me.

"You've lied to us, Thomas. To me," she said. "But we don't have the luxury of picking sides right now. We need all the help we can get."

Her words stung, but there was a little understanding in her eyes. That was enough, for now.

She walked closer, then spoke so only I could hear. "What you've done... it'll take time to forgive. But our days are numbered in this place. And if you're serious about helping us, then we'll need to trust you. For now." I nodded blandly, though my throat was tight with emotion. "Thank you."

The door burst open.

Ava stepped in. Her presence was a shock to everyone.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Hande snapped. Her face had already contorted with anger.

For the first time, Ava didn't fight back. She didn't throw a snarky remark or wear her usual smug expression. She looked... broken.

"I need to talk to you," she said quietly.

The room felt like a furnace. Every set of eyes was burning into Ava.

Hande crossed her arms, glaring. "No. You don't get to catwalk in here like you're one of us."

Ava didn't flinch. "I don't blame you."

Angel stepped forward. "Why are you here, Ava?"

Ava took a shaky breath. "Because I can't do this anymore. I can't keep lying, keep being part of what Dr. Joe is doing. I need your help." Hande scoffed and rolled her eyes. "You expect us to believe that?"

"I don't care if you believe me," Ava snapped, then quickly softened. "I just... I need you to understand."

She paused, gathering her thoughts.

"My mom," she began. "She's the reason I'm here. Dr. Joe has her. She's sick, and he's been using her as leverage to control me. He makes me spy on you, sabotage you, all while threatening to cut off her treatment if I don't obey." The words spilled out, raw. It was painful.

"I didn't have a choice. At least, that's what I kept telling myself. But the truth is, I've been working against him. Slowly. Quietly. I've been gathering information, looking for ways to stop him. To help you."

The room stayed silent, except for the sound of her uneven breathing.

"I've got files," Ava said and pulled a folder from her bag. "Schedules, reports, even some of his private notes. Everything I could find."

Angel took the folder and flipped through the pages. Her face hardened.

"He's the real boss of this place, isn't he?" she asked.

"Yes," Ava replied. "But there's someone above him. Someone named Dr. Aurora. I don't know much about her, but I know she's the one he answers to."

The revelation wasn't a surprise for me.

Hande pulled Angel aside and harshly whispered to her.

"We can't trust her," she said. "She's been working for Joe this whole time."

Angel's response was firm. "She's risking everything by coming here. We need her."

The debate was quick but heated, and in the end, Angel's resolve won out.

1---noveldrama

Ava watched them with a hopeful gaze for the first time in months. But she knew this was just the beginning.

If they were going to take down Dr. Joe, it would cost them all.