The Awake

The Decision

Emilie and Zach were both asleep. Tyson was also asleep, in Emilie's lap. Me and Ben were the only ones awake. He looked into his mirror and saw that I was awake.

"Hey there" He said to me softly.

"Sup. Where are we?" I asked rubbing my eyes.

"Back in Missouri, Buddy. Almost home." Ben said cheerfully. I looked out my window and noticed that it was dark. I looked at my watch and it showed that it was 2:00 in the morning. I couldn't wait to get home. I missed my friends terribly. After a while, I started to recognize where we were.

"I think it'll be another 20 minutes before we get there." Ben said, as we passed the road that led to our school. I decided to keep my dream to myself for now. I was going to tell them what I had figured out, when we were all awake. I still couldn't figure out what Ty had meant when he told me to choose him.

"Hey, what do you think we should do with that injection we got from Hollow?" Ben said, interrupting my thoughts. The antidote. I had almost forgotten about it. This could be what Ty was telling me to do. Wake him from his sleep. Maybe...

"I think we should just save it for now. But I do know this guy that is the smartest person I've ever met think he's capable of figuring out how to make more of the antidote." I replied to Ben as he drove.

"If he could figure out how to create more of the antidote, then we would be able to save anyone we wanted." Ben said as we passed the gas station we had found Aaron. The front window was gone and glass was shattered throughout the entrance. I remember, before I left, that the window was still in place. Had someone been there? I didn't know.

"Ben, when we get back, you should get some sleep." I said. He hadn't stopped the entire drive and was probably exhausted. He just nodded and kept his, tired eyes on the road ahead.

"There it is!!! Wake up guys we made it!!!" Ben yelled as he pulled into my driveway. I never thought that I would be this happy to see my house. Emilie and Zach woke up and were just as excited as I was. Soon as the truck stopped moving, We all jumped out and dashed for the door. I was the first to get there so I burst through the door and yelled.

"Aaron, Cailey, Elizabeth, We're back!!! We did it!!!" I yelled for joy. Aaron and Elizabeth both ran to greet us.

"I'm so glad you're okay. I was so worried." Elizabeth said as hugged me.

"We're glad your back but, something happened. Hurry, come with us." Aaron said firmly, as he sped towards the stairs that led to the upstairs. We followed them up and before I could ask what was wrong, Aaron opened the girl's room and stepped inside. I went in after him and saw Cailey laying on the bed.

"What's wrong?" Emilie asked.

"Cailey's asleep." Elizabeth cried.

"And...?" Ben asked.

"She's been asleep for 2 days!!!" Aaron yelled. The scientist had been right. Our Immunity wasn't permanent. Cailey's had worn off. She too, shared the endless sleep as the other victims.

"No... Please no." I said falling to my knees.

"Does this mean that we're going to fall asleep?!" Zach asked, starting to panic.

"Wait a minute!! Hold on!! The antidote." Ben said. He turned to leave the room, but I stepped into his way.

"No, we have to make a choice. Please listen." I said making the room quiet. "We have a choice. We can use the only injection of the antidote, in existence, to wake her up." I continued.

"Then let's do it Elizabeth interrupted, trying to go around me. I blocked her path as well.

"Wait!! You didn't let me finish!!! We could do that. OR we could wake someone else up who I know can duplicate the Antidote so we can make multiple injections." I explained.

"You just want to use it on your cousin!!" Ben yelled. "Cailey would choose you over the other person, and you know it!!!"

"From what I've heard, Drayton's cousin is extremely intelligent. I think We should listen to Drayton!!!" Zach yelled, stepping beside me.

"Look at her, Drayton. She cares about us and you won't bring her back!!!" Elizabeth yelled at me. I was starting to get mad.

"We need to listen to Drayton. We didn't go all the way to Texas and back just to use the only Antidote soon as we returned!!! It's selfish!!!"Emilie yelled standing on the opposite side of Zach. I could my heartbeat getting faster and faster. My chest was filling with rage.

"Selfish?! She took care of you when your were hurt!! You owe her!!" Aaron yelled back. At this moment, I felt something snap in my mind. The rage took over.

"EVERYONE, SHUT UP!!! THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE!!!" I yelled, louder than I've ever yelled before. The room fell to silence. "Is this what she would've wanted?! For us to fight with each other?! Two choices. Wake up Cailey, and slowly die off, or wake up my cousin, and wake up Cailey with more of the Antidote that he would make?" No one spoke. Then Ben spoke up.

"Drayton, I'm sorry... You're right." He started. "And what just happened? You're pupils just turned RED." The others nodded confirming that the rage, had indeed made my eyes turn red. Elizabeth and Aaron also apologized. Our final decision was to choose Ty. One by one, we left the room. I was the last one to leave. I turned to look at Cailey one last time. She looked so peaceful.

"Sweet dreams, Cailey.." I said as turned off the light and shut the door.