This is a very short chapter. I promise the next will be longer. Enjoy! Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
December 23. Day 92. Governor's Munchkinland.
The alarm on Nessa's bedside table went off. 6 AM. Another whole day without any messages coming through. That makes three. Should she be worried?
Nessa was straightening her nurse's cap as her hand moved to push the large oaken doors of the ballroom-turned-hospital when a familiar voice rang out from behind her.
"Nessarose!"
She turned to see her father, still in his uniform, panting madly. Behind him, a slew of soldiers was busy carrying two stretchers through the entry. Nessarose couldn't see faces from her level.
But she was already crying. She didn't need to see the faces, or know what her father was about to say.
An emerald green arm was hanging out of the blanket on the stretcher.
"ELPHABA! NO ELPHABA! PLEASE LET ME IN. THAT IS MY SISTER! LET ME IN. MOVE, PLEASE. PLEASE NO. NO. NO. NO," Nessa repeated, her attempts to move the carriers out from in front of her.
She felt her father's arms lift her out of her chair. he arms swung wildly, her face gleamed with tears. She felt like a child. There was nothing she could do. Helpless. Always helpless.
It was a long time until Nessa had stopped crying long enough for her father to explain.
"We were gathering up corp- uh well, soldiers, when we found her and a Gilikin soldier in a pile of rubble. Witnesses say she and the young man had been trying to get people out of the building before it collapsed."
Nessa took a deep breath.
"Is she dead?"
"I don't know," Frex said, tears glistening in his eyes. "They were both unconscious when we found them. But I don't know. It could have changed since then."
And, as if on cue, a male nurse entered the room. He gave a slow nod.
"Sir? She's alright. You can see her if you want?"
Never before had Nessa wanted to run so much in her entire life. Her father had removed her from her chair. She was trapped. She could crawl of course. But a fat lot of good that would do her.
Much to her surprise, her father returned only a few moments after he left. He lifted her into it (though he knew perfectly well she could do it herself), and she was out the door before he had turned around.
Elphaba was sleeping in a small sitting room off of the ballroom.
"I'm sorry, Elphaba," Nessa whispered, stroking Elphaba's hair. At her words, Elphaba's eyes blinked open.
"Elphaba," she replied in a croaky whisper.
"Yes. Yes. Elpahaba. Yes!" Nessa announced excitedly.
"I'm ELphaba."
"Yes. Yes, you are," Nessa answered, her excitement turning into a sense of dread.
"I'm Elphaba," she repeated. Nessa's eyes widened in fear.
She knew what was coming next. And the words still filled her with fear and sadness.
"Who are you?"