"Wait!" We all looked over to Philip

POV SWITCH
PHILIP'S POV

Wait hold on. Ray started getting sick right after the day we'd been the only ones kept awake, and I have a feeling I know exactly what is going on.

"Wait!" I called out, gaining the attention of the group, "Ray, can I talk to you for a minute." He nodded, and coughed, and Jeremy moved away from him, and the rest of us went to the side of the room where Ray and I weren't.

"Ray, do you have any idea on why you might be sick, and I need you to be completely honest with me on this, ok?"

He nodded, "I think I might have an idea," he stopped to cough for a minute, "and I think you might have an idea of it too."

"Ray, you didn't seem to be worried about putting that liquid on all of our friends without knowing what it would do, why is that?"

"Come on Philip, did you really think I was going to let Jeremy and the rest of the group test it out first. No. I couldn't. So I drank some of it, nothing had happened to me, but I guess it was just meant for the ones who were sleeping, and affect me differently."

I smacked my forehead, and patted Ray's bad as he started another coughing fit, the purple liquid oozing from his lips. Well, shit. How are we supposed to get him fixed if he drank some kind of poison, that seems to be killing him slowly. I know everyone in the group knows he doesn't have long, but maybe we can try  just letting him rest. I think he knows he's dying too, but he's trying to protect everyone else like he always did, and he'd keep it up until the last minute.

"Hey, if and when we get out of here, promise me you'll never try to help our sorry asses again, deal?' I laughed as I asked him.

"Nope." He retorted, and we both chuckled, wishing we could be home again. This might be the last time we ever joke around, and Ray might not have night time left. The moment was bittersweet, and we let the group come back over. I laughed quietly at how Jeremy bombarded Ray with questions, making sure he was alright.

"Hey guys," I announced, "we have something to tell you." I looked at Ray for approval, and he nodded, letting me know to continue. "We know why Ray is sick. The day that everyone was asleep, Ray and I used a type of substance to wake everyone up. We didn't know if it would work or not, and without me knowing, Ray tried it on himself to make sure no one got hurt."

Lily gasped, and Jeremy hugged Ray tighter, I could hear him lecturing Ray, while sounding as if he was holding back tears and anger at the same time.

"Is there a way to fix it, or anything?" I looked over at Jeremy, and hesitantly shook my head, eyes glistening. Jeremy buried his face back into Ray's chest. How could they both be so oblivious that they loved each other? Chris came up behind me and gave me a hug. I hugged her back, setting my head on top of hers.

"It'll be alright," I whispered.

"But, Ray-" I cut her off.

"-will be fine, and if not, we'll be ok. For now, it's getting late, why don't you try to get some sleep. We'll figure out what our plan to get out here is tomorrow." I felt her nod against me, and tried to let go.

"Not just yet. Please? I need you right now." A blush spread on my cheeks and I smiled.

"I'm not going anywhere."

A/N: Does anyone know how to put chapters together so this doesn't seem so long?

Eliza Schuyler Hamilton 💙💙