Well, I managed to update without waiting for a month - go me!

So, this story has changed quite a bit since my original plan, but oh well. That's what writing is for.

Glinda felt her head pounding as hard as though there were someone physically smashing her head with a hammer. She groaned and lifted her head groggily, slowly and painfully opening her eyes. A small amount of lamp light managed to filter beneath her eyelids. She rolled her head across her chest and back, releasing all the knots in her neck. She once again opened her eyes, blinking ferociously as she tried to take in her surroundings.

A tall lamp burning oil stood brightly in the corner, purposely contrasting the dingy room. It offered light upon the rest of the room, and she could see plain grey stone walls, with no decoration or colour in sight, not even a tattered curtain to cover the bare window. The room was small, and even the small time she had been awake she had begun to feel suffocated, and she longed for the freedom of the clean air outside.

Feeling something cutting into her flesh, she glanced down, her eyes widening sharply. They had landed on the rope which had impaled her to the chair, making sure her movement was restricted. Using her small strength, she strained against these confines, but it relinquished only a millimetre of room. She soon gave up, her eyes staring hopelessly at the knots which held her down.

She heard a sound from the corner of the room and her head snapped back up as she peered into the gloomy corner. No light was cast on this section, and she struggled to see anything in the darkness. She sat still and waited, wondering whether it was just the wind. She hoped it was - she couldn't deal with anything else right now.

The sound came again, a soft moan, but as sharp as a clock-tick in a graveyard. She shrank back automatically, but Glinda had always been a curious girl. She continued to watch the corner, wondering whether the owner of the sound would make an appearance.

Time passed, and Glinda finally couldn't stand it. She shifted her legs as much as she could, trying to scrape herself over to the corner. Rocking forward in the chair, she slowly began to move, and it wasn't long before she had reached the corner. As soon as the lamplight left her face she felt cool, as though a sudden chill from outside had blown directly onto her. She gasped quietly, wondering of the source. Her eyes adjusted to the gloom, and she could see a figure tied to a chair, similar to herself.

"Excuse me?" Glinda managed to whisper, afraid of the response. A moan returned her question, and Glinda wondered whether to continue or leave the figure in peace.

She was about to sidle backwards when the figure suddenly moved, raising its head. Glinda stared in wonder as she tried to decipher the shadow, but could tell nothing in the dim light. Another sound escaped the captive's mouth as they tried to talk, but Glinda couldn't understand what they were saying. She jumped as the figure moved forward slightly and began to move their chair - towards her.

Glinda tried to scramble back as fast as she could, but the spindly wooden leg seemed to catch on the rocky floor. She inwardly squirmed and turned back to the figure.

But a strange glow made her stop squirming. The lamplight had begun to spread its warmth around the figure like a blanket, and a soft glow seemed to emit from the figure. The glow was faintly...green.

As the figure stopped as raised its head once more, Glinda couldn't help but gasp and smile.

But then her smile turned to an expression of horror as Glinda saw her face.

Elphaba had been tied up similar to Glinda, the rope slicing into her green skin, although marks had already been created. Her clothes were in tatters, seared on the arms, body and legs. Her hat remained hidden in some unknown corner, and her hands shook with panic. Her face, once beautiful, was now ripped with blood and scars.

Glinda struggled for words as she took in her friends' appearance.

"W-what?" Glinda stammered.

Elphaba managed to smile, despite her situation. "Don't worry about me. Why are you here?" She whispered hoarsely, and Glinda knew it pained her to talk. She had to bite her lip to stop herself from screaming at Elphaba when she asked of her current location - and Glinda thought she was smart!

"Did you think I was going to leave you stranded?" Glinda asked, half worried, half smiling. "What did they do to you?"

Elphaba opened her mouth to explain, but suddenly stopped. Her head shot up, much like a wolf catching a scent.

"Quiet!" she hissed, and struggled to move herself back to her original place. She hung her lead low again, and within seconds Glinda was convinced she was unconscious. Her own head turned quickly as she heard footsteps outside the door. Like Elphaba, she tried to move her chair, but it was hopeless and soon had to stop with fear of tumbling over. She shut her eyes and opened her mouth, trying as best as she could to look asleep. She winced as she heard the door smash open and the men walk in.

She held her breath as they discussed in low voices. She strained to hear their plans, but they were careful to speak only in whispers so no-one could overhear. She shook inwardly as she heard them disband, footsteps coming increasingly closer towards her. Her body fell forward like a rag dolls when they grabbed her chair and slid her backwards, placing her in the opposite corner of the room. Then they shook her shoulders, trying to wake her.

She remained still as long as she could before she was forced to open her eyes. They lifted her head, pointing it towards Elphaba's dark corner. And then they dragged her out too.

For a fleeting moment, Glinda had the dream that they would let them both go with no more harm done. But every dream must come to an end.

Glinda watched helplessly as they woke Elphaba up too, shaking her more fiercely then they had Glinda. She suddenly jumped when she felt a presence beside her right ear.

"This is what happens when you associate with the enemy!" it hissed. With a nod from the guard beside Elphaba, he produced a whip.

"NO!" Glinda cried. "Please, do what you want with me; just don't hurt her any more. Can't you see she's in enough pain already?"

"Then do what we ask," a guard responded gruffly, his voice powerful.

"Tell me!" Glinda pleaded. "Tell me what it is! Just don't hurt her!"

"We want you to step down as your role of 'Glinda the Good'", the guard commanded.

"Fine!" Glinda cried, squirming against the bonds.

"And we want her to come with us," he said, nodding towards Elphaba, "and use her magic to help us capture the enemy."

Glinda stopped short. "What?" she whispered.

"I'm sure you heard us, Missy," another guard retorted.

"Make your decision."

I always love reviews :)