As the inside of my eyelids start to glow a soft yellow I reach my hands above my head and stretch. As I do I let out a big yawn and twist my body to the side. Once my muscles aren't tensed up any more I dig my face into my pillow and reach around blindly for my soft comforter.

Only, I can't find it.

I'm met with a rough thin blanket instead. I whip up off my pillow and snap my eyes open. I look down to where my comforter is supposed to be and see a brown blanket in its place. "What the?"

The bed I'm on isn't even mine. Or even a bed. It's a cot. I drag my gaze from the cot and look around. Instead of my four walls and my decorations I'm met with four green leaf like walls. No. Not leaf-like. Grass like.

The day before hits me like a moving truck.

I throw the blanket off and hop off the cot. I kick myself as I stumble off the cot before heading to the flap. I swipe it aside and head out.

I'm met with much the same view as yesterday, just in the daylight. Cam's tent sits beside mine still with the flap closed and light snoring floating out of it. I look up to the tree house but can't tell whether or not if Om is still up there.

I sigh and stretch my hands out above my head. Then I look around. There's nothing but our tents, tree house, grass and trees. I scrunch my brows. Where are all the animals? Surely there would be a few. Unless this new world doesn't have animals. But how could that be possible?

I shake my head. Right now that's not important. Even if I do want to see some cool new species of creatures.

I glance between the tent and the tree house. I'd like to get a move on. Who knows what could be happening to Peggy right about now. But if we are to get a move on I'd have to wake both of them.

I head for the tent first.

I grab the flap and ease it open. "You decent?" I whisper.

All I get in response is something that resembles a mumble.

"I'm taking that as a yes," I say before ducking the rest of the way into the tent. As I make my way into the tent I slowly move my gaze over to Cam in case he isn't decent. But even if he isn't he's covered by much the same brown blanket as the one I had.

Staying on my knees I crawl my way through his tent that is a mirror copy of my own and over to the cot where he lays. He lays on his back with his head wrapped in his arms that rest on his pillows. I smile as I remember the few sleepovers we had before we got too old to keep doing them. He would lay in the same position throughout the whole night, staying as still as a rock.

My smile grows more as I move closer to his ear and whisper, "I like watching you sleep."

Cam's head shifts to reveal a corner of his mouth. "Go away."

I sit back on my heels, rocking a bit from the force. "We should get moving though."

"Why?" Cam cracks open one of his eyes.

"Who knows what could be happening to Peggy. You saw what she looked like on the video. They could be beating her up right now!" I clench my hands into fist and stare at them on my legs. Tears start to form in my eyes just thinking of how weak and beaten she looked.

The cot creaks but I don't look up. Not until a weight settles on both of my shoulders. I glance up and see Cam sitting up staring intensely into my eyes. His fingers poke into my shoulder. "We'll get her back. Safe and sound. But right now we don't know where she is or how to get to her. We should follow Om and hope that they have some idea of what to do."

I sniffle. "I hope you're right."

Cam smiles as his eyes light up. "When am I ever wrong?"

I snort. "A lot of the time."

His hand flies off my shoulder and onto his heart. He fakes an offended gasp. "How dare you! I'm never wrong!"

I roll my eyes. "Tell that to Mia who always proves you wrong."

He looks away as a red tint blooms on his cheeks. "Well, she's not here."

I laugh.

Then I stop as I realize what just happened.

Me and Cam just joked around. He comforted me. We didn't fight. I stare up at Cam. Does this mean we're getting somewhere? That what happened between us is in the past and we're becoming friends again?

Cam looks back at me. "What?" he asks, tilting his head.

I shake my head. "It's nothing... I'm just happy we're getting along again."

His eyes soften. "Yeah..."

Plomp!

I jerk my head towards the back of the tent. "What was that?" I ask, keeping my voice low.

Cam shrugs. "Could just be Om."

I raise a brow at him. But the more I think about it the more sense it makes. There hasn't been a single animal here since we arrived, so why would they appear now? Plus, the tree house is in the direction the sound came from. I breathe a sigh of relief. "That makes sense."

Cam nods.

A silence falls between us before Om calls out, "You two awake?"

"In here!" I call before crawling my way out.

When I make it outside a shadow falls across me. I look up to see Om standing in front of me with their hands on their hips as an eyebrow is raised. "You two were in the same tent?"

I chuckle. But not in a haha, that's a funny joke, it's more like an awkward uncomfortable way. "No. I was just waking Cam up."

Om hums. "Sure."

I push myself up from the ground and dust myself off. "There's nothing between us," I tell them. "I'm just trying to repair our friendship."

Somehow their eyebrows rise farther. "How did it break in the first place?"

I cough and try to avoid their persistent hazel gaze.

Cam climbs out of the tent as I move away from the flap. When he stands up he runs a hand through his messy brown hair before yawning.

"Did you both sleep well?" Om asks. Their eyes flint between the two of us.

"I slept great!" Cam exclaims. "I never would have expected the cot to be so soft."

Om grins. "I'm glad to hear that. It's made out of some of the softest leaves that our Lopju trees grow."

"Never heard of those."

"Maybe if there's time I could take you there?" Om offers.

Cam grins. "I'd like that."

I roll my eyes. "Is it possible to get a move on?" I ask, stopping their conversation of trees and dates. I cross my arms over my chest. "I'd like to try to save Peggy."

Cam shoots me a frown.

Om's smile stays steady but I swear their eye twitches. "Don't you want to eat some breakfast?"

I open my mouth to say no when my stomach rumbles. The noise echoes around us.

Somehow Om's grin grows more smug than before. "I'll take that as a yes. Would either of you like to help me get us some food?"

"I will!" Cam volunteers.

I roll my eyes at him. "I'll stay here."

Om shrugs. "Sure. We won't be long anyways." They start to walk away, Cam running after them asking more questions about Tace.

I sigh and slump to the ground.

We'd been doing so well, and now it feels like I'm back to square one. I want to blame Om and how they steal the spotlight... but I don't think I can. They are cool, I won't argue. But I can't. That would be unfair to them.

So then why do I keep putting myself back to square one? This was always easy with Peggy. All I had to do was agree with her and she'd be happy. So why can't I just do the same with Cam and Om? Why do I find myself not wanting to smile and go along with everything they say and want? Is it because I'm desperate to save Peggy? Or for a different reason?

I sigh and shake my head. Right now there's no point in dwelling on it. I just need to eat and find our way around this place. Surely her kidnapper will continue to send us the notes with hints, right?

But what if he doesn't? What if he's silent from now on and Om doesn't know anywhere that they could be? Will we just have to give up and go home?

My eyes widen.

Would we even be able to go home? When we came here the portal spit us out in some random spot in the forest. There was no second silver dome on this side. Or machines or buttons.

My breathing starts to come faster. My chest aches and my lungs won't pull in all the air they need. It's like someone decided to sit on my chest and not get up until black spots start to dance in my vision. I pull my arms around myself as I suck in air. My hands are clammy and dig into my skin.

This can't be happening. Not again.

I try to remember what Mia taught me. What was it? A sob breaks from my mouth as tears roll down my face. My vision is more spotty and blurry now. I can barely make out the grass in front of me.

Another sob rocks my body.

Between the dots dancing in my vision something moves in front of me. I try to jump back but I find that my legs are rocks and won't move.

"What's... ong... her?" a voice asks.

I'm panting like a dog who's been outside on a hot day for too long. The world starts to spin under me and something crawls up my throat.

"... attack."

I jump. My legs are finally moving. "Don't hurt me!" I cry.

One of the blobs moves closer. "Mats, can you count with me?"

Count? Count what?

"One in. Two out."

I try to form words but it's like my tongue is glued to the bottom of my mouth.

"No? Can you breathe when I say in and out?"

I nod. Something about this is familiar, but I'm not sure why.

"One in. Two out. One in. Two out..." As the voice continues to count I find myself struggling less and less to keep my breathing under control. It's hard at first as sobs keep breaking out and my lungs won't open all the way. But it slowly gets easier. As my breathing starts to calm the dots dancing in my vision disappear, my heart stops pounding so loud and I start to count with the voice. Who turns out to be Cam.

"Feeling better?" he asks.

I nod.

I avoid both his and Om's curious gazes.

I can't believe it happened again. Why is it happening all of a sudden? And why can't I talk myself out of them.

"What was that?" Om asks, breaking the silence. They look between me and Cam, waiting for one of us to speak.

I stare down at the grass.

Cam sighs and starts hesitantly. "It... looked like a panic attack."

"What's that?"

Cam waves his hands around. "It comes out of nowhere and sometimes with no good reason. It crushes you under this overwhelming amount of pressure and worry."

"Do they happen a lot?"

This time Cam stays silent.

I sigh and wrap my arms around myself. "No," I whisper. I stare at my shoes and wiggle my toes in them. "They're new. This is only my second one."

Cam reaches out and lays a hand on my shoulder. "It's alright Mattie. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

I search his eyes. They only hold hope. I nod. "Did you guys get breakfast?" I ask, my voice only slightly higher than a whisper.

Cam nods.

"Let's eat then."