Ray was sitting in the class blinking hard, trying to fight off the dizziness creeping up his spine. His head throbbed, and he could barely focus on the chemistry notes spread out in front of him.
His doctor had given him a small pill bottle labeled: Neuroxen-5 — a mild neuro-stabilizer and cognitive enhancer prescribed to help manage his migraines and focus better in school.
due to his constant migraine
the previous night he placed the bottle on the nightstand and went to the bathroom.
Unbeknownst to him, Ryder, had seen the pills earlier and gotten an idea. Not one to resist chaos, Ryder swapped out the Neuroxen-5 capsules with a few pills his mom had given to him — labeled Zypralox, a fast-acting, mood-altering drug used in experimental therapy, known to cause hallucinations, impulsive behavior, and mild psychosis in uncontrolled doses.
Ray, returning from the bathroom, took two pills — trusting they were his usual — and laid back to rest.
---
The Next Morning –
Ray felt sharper than ever. He walked into school looking sharp in his well-tailored uniform. His crisp white shirt was perfectly pressed, complemented by a navy blue blazer with the school's crest embroidered on the pocket. His trousers were a matching navy blue, neatly creased down the front. A silver watch glinted on his wrist, adding a touch of sophistication to his overall look. His shoes were polished to a high shine, reflecting the morning light as he moved. A simple yet elegant tie completed his outfit, knotted precisely at his neck. He exuded confidence and style, turning heads as he made his way through the hallways.
He walked into class with swagger, spouting off equations even the teacher hadn't asked for. But within an hour, things started to unravel.
During English Literature, he suddenly stood up and began performing Shakespeare… dramatically… on top of his desk.
Students were already filming.
Later, in the hallway, Ray began saluting the janitor like a military commander and accusing lockers of "spying on his thoughts."
Milicent was in the library, flipping through her biology notes, when her phone vibrated. A message popped up from Sophia:
Sophia:
"Mili, come to the cafeteria NOW. Something's wrong with Ray. He's acting drunk or high or both. It's BAD."
Milicent's heart dropped.
She barely finished reading the message before she shoved her books into her bag and sprinted down the hallway, her footsteps echoing against the tiles.
"Please not Ray," she whispered, breath shallow, panic rising. She pushed past a group of juniors, ignoring their annoyed stares.
As she neared the cafeteria, she could already hear the noise—laughter, gasps, and someone shouting in the background.
She burst through the doors—eyes searching—then froze.
There he was.
Ray, standing on top of a cafeteria table, arms spread wide like he was flying, shouting, "THE PINEAPPLE IS MY SPIRIT ANIMAL!" before pointing at a lunch tray and screaming, "BETRAYER!"
His shirt was inside out. His shoes were mismatched. And his pupils were blown wide.
"Ray!" Milicent gasped.
He turned and grinned at her like he didn't recognize her. "Hey! You're the nurse, right? Do I have wings?"
"Get down from there!" she yelled, heart pounding.
A crowd had formed. Phones were up. Some students were laughing. Others looked worried.
Any ran up beside her, breathless. "I think someone messed with his meds," —he's intoxicated. Or drugged."
Ray it's me Amy she said in tears
Without wasting another second, Milicent pushed through the crowd, climbed onto the bench, grabbed Ray's arm, and whispered firmly, "Ray, it's me. Milicent. You're not okay. We're going to the hospital. Right now."
"I'm the President of Snacks," he mumbled, swaying.
With help from a teacher who had just arrived, she got him down and out the side door. The school nurse came running with a wheelchair, and within minutes, Milicent was in the front seat of the campus van, clutching Ray's hand as they sped toward the hospital.
Her mind raced with one thought:
Who did this to him?
And in the back of the van, Ray was humming the national anthem in slow motion.
oh my Goodness this is really getting out of hand!!!
…....…..............….…
---
Ray lay motionless on the hospital bed, a tangle of wires and monitors surrounding him. His eyes were fluttering, murmuring incoherently, lips dry. Milicent sat beside him, holding his hand, trying to stay calm as the nurses moved around with quiet urgency.
Her phone buzzed again. She stared at the screen — it was Ray's mom.
Mam Emily
"I'm five minutes away. What's going on? What happened to my son??"
Milicent's fingers trembled as she typed:
Milicent:
"I don't know everything yet… but someone switched his medication. He's stable now. Just hurry, please."
Moments later, the automatic doors to the emergency unit slid open with a sharp hiss, and Mrs. Eze came rushing in like a storm — still in her office blouse and heels, breath ragged, handbag half-zipped, fear etched deep in her eyes.
"Where is he?! Where's Ray?!" she cried out.
A nurse gently pointed her toward the room.
Milicent stood as she entered. "Ma—he's here. He's stable. They gave him something to counter what was in his system."
Mam emil's eyes landed on her son, and her composure shattered. She let out a soft sob and fell to her knees beside the bed.
"Oh God.
Here's a detailed version of the doctor's report, delivered during the hospital scene. It includes the medical findings, professional insight, and clear concern over the tampered medication — all in character and tone with the rest of the story.
---
The doctor, a tall woman in a navy-blue coat with tired eyes but a steady voice, stepped into the room holding a clipboard and an electronic tablet. She glanced at Ray's monitors before turning to Milicent and Ray's mom
"Mam Emily" she began softly, "I'm Dr. Aluko. I've been overseeing Ray's treatment since he was brought in."
wiping her eyes. "Please, tell me everything."
Dr. Aluko nodded and began, reading from the chart:
"Ray presented with signs of acute neurochemical imbalance—rapid speech, hallucinations, disorientation, and sudden emotional shifts. His vitals on arrival were erratic: elevated heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and mild dehydration. But most concerning was his mental state."
She lowered the clipboard slightly.
"We ran a toxicology screen and found Zypralox in his system — a powerful psychoactive compound that isn't even legally prescribed in most cases for his age group. It causes cognitive disruptions, hallucinations, and, in rare cases, psychotic episodes when misused or given in the wrong dosage."
"Zypralox? That's dangerous! How—how did it even get into his system?"
Dr. Aluko's jaw tightened. "That's the part that alarms us. His medical record shows he was recently prescribed Neuroxen-5, a mild stabilizer for migraines and mental clarity. Both medications are capsules — similar in shape and size. It's possible someone deliberately switched them."
Milicent spoke up softly. "Ray kept the bottle by his bed. He took them before school."
Dr. Aluko nodded. "That aligns with the timing of his symptoms. The effects began within 60 to 90 minutes of ingestion."
She stepped closer to Mrs. Emily "We've stabilized him with activated charcoal, IV fluids, and a reversal sedative. Thankfully, the dose he ingested was low to moderate. With rest and monitoring, he'll be okay. But…" — she looked grave — "this wasn't an accident. Someone tampered with his medication intentionally."
"What happens next?"
Dr. Aluko replied, "We'll keep him for observation for the next 24 hours. I strongly advise you report this to school authorities — and possibly the police. This could have ended much worse."
Milicent swallowed hard.
The doctor glanced at Ray, who was now breathing slowly and evenly. "He's lucky someone got to him in time."
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