Hey! Sorry for taking so long to update.

Kristin sat in the library, a heavy book in her small hands. Ever since her birthday, she had been spending most of her time in the library, reading. Being surrounded by this many books overjoyed her, yet at the same time… it stirred up something inside of her, almost like… forgotten memories. The other night, she had had a fleeting dream of a woman with green skin dressed in black. She hadn't told her father, blaming it on her imagination. She knew people couldn't have green skin… yet the dream had felt so real. Almost as if… it had really happened.

"What do I care if he's at a train station?"

Kristin looked up at the sound of her father's voice. She set her book down and left the library, heading for his study. She stopped outside the door, listening.

"But, sir-"

"He's just a boy! I don't care if he's the son of that witch!"

"I fear he may be coming for you. It might be best if you took your daughter and moved somewhere safer."

"And give him the satisfaction of knowing I'm afraid? I don't think so. Let him comes, if he dares. I can take care of an eleven- year- old boy easily enough."

Who was her father talking about? Who was this boy? Why would he be coming for her father?

Kristin heard footsteps and she quickly fled, not wanting her father to know that she had been listening. Still, her curiosity had been piqued and she was interested to find out more about this boy.

Liir leaned back in his seat, listening to the clacking of the wheels on the rails. He had been on the train before, but this was the first time on his own. The train didn't go all the way to the castle, so he would have to get off earlier and take a horse the rest of the way. Liir pulled the notebook out of his pocket and looked over it again. He hoped that his search at the castle would turn something up or he'd have nothing to work off of.

"Excuse me?"

Liir looked up and found himself staring at rather attractive girl.

"Is this seat taken?" she asked, gesturing to the seat across from him.

"N- no." Liir said. The girl smiled and sat down. Liir looked back down at the notebook, feeling his face growing hot.

"I'm Lillian. My friends call me Lily." she said.

"Liir."

"That's an interesting name."

There was a pause.

"Where are you from, Liir?"

"Uh... the Emerald City."

"Really? I've always wanted to go there. It sounds beautiful."

"It's not that great."

"It has to be better than Munchkinland. That's where I'm from."

"I lived in Munchkinland for a little while. It's not so bad."

"I guess."

Another pause.

"So… where are you headed?" Liir asked.

"The Uplands. I have some relatives who live there and I'm going to visit. Where are you headed?"

"Kiamo Ko."

"Oh, the old castle? I heard the wicked witch used to live there."

"She wasn't wicked." Liir said defensively.

"Okay..." Lily said. Liir looked down, but looked back up when something caught his eye. There were soldiers on this train… and he recognized those uniforms. They were his father's soldiers. Liir stood up.

"I'll be right back." he said. He turned and started walking the opposite way.

"There he is."

Liir could hear the soldiers following him. He quickened his pace. So did they. Liir broke into a sprint and heard the soldiers yell after him. He reached the end of the car and ripped open the door. Instead of going into the next car, however, he started up the ladder that led to the roof. He reached the top and stood shakily, trying to keep his balance. He turned and saw the soldiers following him. Liir turned back around and started running, leaping over the gap at the end and landing on the next train car. He heard a whistle and saw that the train was approaching a low tunnel. He leapt for the edge, rolled off, and grabbed the side of the roof just as the train entered the tunnel. He held on tightly, his body within inches of the wall. The train exited the tunnel and Liir climbed back up, coming face- to- face with the soldiers.

"Hello, boys." Liir said.

"The prince reminds you to stay away from him and his daughter." one soldier said.

"Kristin belongs to her mother, not him!" Liir said. He drew his knife and took off again, the guards behind him. He felt one grab his shirt and he whipped around, slashing the guard's hand. The soldier released him and Liir continued running. He jumped onto the next car, only to have the feeble roof break underneath him. He fell into the empty car and looked up at the soldiers who were looking down at him.

"What should we do?" one asked.

"Leave him. With him out of the way for now, we can complete our mission."

The soldiers left and Liir ran to the door, only to find that it was rusted shut. He backed up, looking for another way out. He heard a sudden explosion and felt a shudder.

"What the hell was that?"

Liir suddenly felt himself sliding across the floor and realized that somehow, the train was tipping. He was thrown against the wall as it tumbled faster and was thrown into darkness when his head struck metal.

"Why would he do that? Why he just go after-"

"Because he doesn't think before he acts!"

Glinda looked at the green witch who had snapped at her.

"And whose fault is that?" the blonde said.

"Hey, don't you dare blame this on me! You were the one who raised him."

"But he got all his bad habits from you."

"I don't need this crap! This isn't about me, it never was! It's always been about you, hasn't it! You and-"

Elphaba was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.

"What now?" she growled, going over to the front door and ripping it open. "Can I help you?" she snarled at the man in uniform standing there.

"Is this the residence of Glinda Upland?" the man asked.

"Glinda! It's for you." Elphaba called, stepping back as the blonde approached the door.

"I'm Glinda Upland. What seems to be the trouble?" she asked.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your son boarded a train this morning that was sabotaged by criminals. The train is now missing… and we believe everyone on board to be dead."

Glinda clung to the door for support as Elphaba straightened up.

"Liir is… dead?" Glinda said in disbelief. Elphaba punched the wall in rage before stalking off.

"I'm sorry." the man said before leaving. Glinda closed the door and fell to her knees. First Kristin… now Liir. What more could possibly be taken from her?

Liir groaned as he opened his eyes. He was lying on his stomach and when he tried to sit up, pain shot through his chest. He managed to push himself up and looked around, trying to remember what had happened. He had been on the train... there had been an explosion.

Liir heard a groan and felt the train car start to slide back. He staggered to his feet and started moving towards the hole in the roof, which he was now walking on. He slipped through and was now on the outside of the car. He moved along until he grabbed the ladder and used that to climb to the bottom of the car, which was now the top. He started running across it when he felt the car slide again. He leapt off the car and grabbed the edge of a cliff just as the train car fell. He pulled himself up and was met with the sight of multiple other cars, destroyed and on fire. Liir started walking, moving through one of the cars that wasn't on fire. He would've passed on through if he hadn't noticed someone lying under one of the seats. Someone he recognized.

"Lily!" he said, going over to her. She had a large gash on her forehead and seemed to be unconscious, but Liir sighed with relief when he saw she was still breathing. He pulled her out from under the seat and managed to get her on his back before he started walking again. He has to figure out where he was… and he had to get Lily help.

End of chapter 4. I promise the next one will be better! Thanks to all those who are still reading.