Sleep usually finds Essie easily enough. It's just the natural result of always running at such a high energy. But tonight's energy is different and no matter how long Essie keeps her eyes closed, her mind keeps whirring away, hyper-aware of every single sound outside and every movement Jeffy makes just inches away. So when she hears the rustle of footsteps, she's quietly pulling herself up, hoping to distract herself with chatting with whichever one of her yearmates can't sleep either.

But when Essie peeks her face outside the tent flap, she spies a girl both familiar and completely unexpected, and the sense of dread that hits her is swift and strong. The last time she had met Pearl, she had been offering help to find their lost loved ones. A quick check back over her shoulder confirms that Jeffy's still there. Of course he is. She's no reason to think he wouldn't be. Pearl's just a girl, though one that Essie would have been glad to never meet again. The memory of their first meeting is one that she tries to avoid, too many difficult emotions tied into it, even if everything had managed to work out in the end.

Essie's fingers run over her hand, calling back the sensation of clinging tightly to Diego's crucifix necklace. It's back with him now, both safe. She watches Pearl a little longer and then coughs quietly to get her attention. "Um, hello. Do you remember me?"