Ok, the next chapter, the one several of you seem quite excited about. Review at the end. :)

3000, 3001, 3002, 3003, 3004, 3005...

Wally was counting off the seconds in his head, trying hold off the panic. He put on a brave face around his friends, laughed and joked around all the time. He knew they thought his constant movement annoying sometimes, especially when he paced. But Wally had a secret, the secret as to why he had to constantly move around.

Wally was incredibly claustrophobic.

The thought of being stuck, of being unable to move at all scared him more than anything. Before he became Kid Flash, Wally West was the nerd of the school. He was picked on by bullies that favored stuffing kids that were small enough into their lockers. Wally had never gotten over the first time they did it to him. With his new powers, his sense of claustrophobia had only worsened.

This was worse. Wally guessed, judging by the smell and materials of the box, that he was buried somewhere underground.

Buried alive.

Wally struggled to keep counting as those two words ran over and over though his head.

3105, 3106, 3107, 3108, 3109, 3110...

Wally felt himself starting to panic. There was no way for anyone to know where he was, and his friends probably weren't expecting him for awhile. He had told Raquel he was going for a run and those could last for hours.

No one could see him.

No one could hear him.

No one was looking for him.

Artemis woke with a weird feeling, like she was being watched. Raquel was sitting between M'gann and her beds. But the feeling didn't go away.

"Hey, where's Wally?" Artemis asked.

"He went for a run about an hour ago." Raquel and Artemis's attention were pulled to M'gann as she stirred again. "Hey, sleeping beauty. How do you feel?"

"Better. A little dizzy still." M'gann said weakly. Artemis checked the streaks on her arm and saw they had gone down a little. Her main concern was M'gann's continuing fever, but at least she seemed to be getting a little better. "Where is everyone?"

"Everyone is out near where we found you, seeing if the person responsible comes back, and Wally's out for a run." Raquel said softly. M'gann made a face as she searched for everyone and hooked them up mentally.

"Team, it's me. We're linked again, for now." M'gann said.

"That's great!" Dick chirped happily.

"M'gann, you're awake! I'm coming to see you!" Connor's voice said.

"No, you stay there. You can do the most good there." M'gann said. "Um...I'm having a little trouble finding Wally. Hold on, I'm going to break the connection and try to get Wally alone."

Wally thought at first he was imagining voices again. He had been imagining them for an hour now. His counting faltered again as the walls around him closed in. They seemed to be getting smaller and smaller and Wally couldn't ignore it anymore. His counting failed him and then the voice started.

"Wally? Wally, talk to me!" M'gann's voice said softly.

"You're not really talking to me. It's just my subconscious playing tricks on me again." Wally answered. Then a new voice came in.

"Wallace West, you listen to me! We are real, and you had better tell us what's going on!" Wally snapped out of his daze at the voice of his blonde friend.

"Artemis?"

"Damn right it's me! What is going on with you? You were blocking M'gann at first and then when she finally made the connection you started babbling about your subconscious!" Artemis sounded frantic.

"Wally, tell us where you are!" M'gann pleaded.

"I don't know!"

"Look around you." Artemis said calmly. "What do you see?"

"Nothing! I'm in a box under the ground! I can't see anything, I can't go anywhere!" Wally felt the panic rising up in his chest. "And by my calculations, I have roughly ten hours of oxygen left, minimum. Eleven, maximum."

"Ok, Wally. Where were you running?" Artemis asked calmly.

"I don't...I don't remember." Wally tried to move, but was still confined.

"You might have a concussion." M'gann added.

"I need to get out of here! Please get me out of here! It's getting smaller!" Wally was in full panic mode.

"Wally, listen to me." Artemis said. "The walls are not getting closer."

"Yes they are!"

"He needs to calm down!" M'gann said. Rocket had watched the entire exchange with a confused look on her face. M'gann quickly filled her in.

"If he can't calm down, he'll use the oxygen up faster or go into shock!" Raquel said.

"Guys, I have an idea. He can speed up his heart rate, right?" Artemis asked them. M'gann nodded. "Ok, I need the strongest connection to him that you can make."

"Artemis? Artemis! Are you still there?" Wally's frantic voice entered her head.

"Yes, I'm here. Close your eyes." Artemis focused on letting her mind enter Wally's through M'gann's channel.

"But I can't see anything anyways!" Wally almost shouted. He felt his eyes stinging with tears as he tried again to push against the ceiling of his prison.

"Just do it anyways." Artemis balled her fists in frustration. "Trust me."

"I trust you." Wally closed his eyes.

"Now just breathe. Slowly, in and out. Just relax." Artemis's voice washed over his mind, soothing him. "Now focus, just focus on your heartbeat. I want you to slow it down, just relax and slow it down. The slower your heartbeat, the less oxygen you'll use. Relax. Think of something else."

"Like what?"

"Anything you want." Artemis answered. "I have to go now. M'gann is tired. I'm going to find you. I promise."

"Artemis, I can't hold the connection anymore." M'gann passed out and the connection broke.

Wally focused on his heart, felt it slowing as he entered his own daydream. He was running along the beach, his favorite place. He had a companion, who ran with him and her long ponytail streamed out behind her. He called out to her as she pulled ahead. "Wait for me!" She laughed and kept running as he caught up to her.

In the box, Wally breathed slowly, and his heart rate was far below the normal rate. His pulse would be barely perceptible to anyone checking for it. But he had bought himself a little while longer and his fear was at bay.

The unknown person in the woods didn't hear Dick following them as they made their way to the little hole in the ground where M'gann had been found. The person went inside, and soon after Dick could hear the sounds of objects being thrown around and muttered curses. He held up a hand and gave the signal for Connor to join him. The stronger teen caught the person inside by the back of the neck and pulled down the hood.

"Hey, let go!" It was Sarah, Artemis and M'gann's cabin counselor.

"What are you doing here?" Connor asked incredulously.

"That is none of your business." Gone was the cheerful girl that had welcomed Artemis to camp. In her place stood someone with hard, somewhat unfocused eyes that looked around wildly. "You should go back to camp."

"Not until you tell us what you were looking for in there." Kaldur stepped out to join them.

"Why do you care, you little brats?" Sarah snapped as she pushed her hair loosely behind he ear. "You're supposed to be at some stupid activity, aren't you?"

"Probably. But what I want to know is why you kidnapped my friend." Connor said as he grabbed her sweatshirt and pulled her closer.

"I didn't!"

"Oh really? You find the exact place where she was held? And I don't remember you ever catching Artemis and Megan sneaking in and out." Connor's voice raised and Kaldur considered stepping in.

"It was never supposed to go this far! He promised!" Sarah literally clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Who promised?" Connor asked dangerously.

To be continued...