Finals arrived at Shiz, and Glinda felt significantly calmer than she had the year before. Mathematics was easy. She was confident about literature. With Boq's help, she knew most of what was on the life sciences exam. Even Nikidik's test wouldn't be bad, so long as he didn't mess with her answers and fail her on purpose. The only thing that worried her, really, was sorcery.

She had finished her project the week before and turned it in to Morrible's desk. It was quickly buried under all her classmates' papers, but she could feel Morrible's eyes burning into her as she turned and left with the other students.

"Do you think she'll fail you?" Boq asked one afternoon, halfway through the week. "I mean, she doesn't like you, and she hates that you wrote about healing magic."

"Maybe she'll do it to spite you," Crope said cheerfully. Glinda gave him a look.

"I doubt it," she said. "That paper is the best thing I've ever turned in, and not even she can deny it. Besides, she still wants me to take that job, remember? No, I'm not worried about my grade."

"Then, what are you worried about?" asked Fiyero.

Glinda shrugged and looked off to the side. "The practical exam."

It was her last test of the week. The boys were already done, and they all promised to meet afterward for dinner. Glinda tried not to worry, to keep her mind clear, as she entered Morrible's classroom.

The headmistress was walking through the room, handing back their papers. She scowled as she caught sight of Glinda, but she handed her paper over. Glinda looked down and managed to smile smiled. She had gotten top marks.

Morrible passed out the last of the papers and moved to the front of the classroom. "You all know the drill," she said. "I'll call you back one at a time for the practical exam. If you wish, you may practice while you wait, but please, don't destroy anything. That means you, Miss Glinda."

Glinda's face burned as Madame Morrible called the first student and disappeared into a side room. A few of her classmates snickered, and others gave her sympathetic glances, but Glinda ignored them all and leaned against the wall in a corner of the room. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe. Morrible went through the class alphabetically, which meant she would be last. The wait was unnerving, but Glinda knew that it was nothing compared to what would happen when Morrible finally called her name.

"Glinda."

She screwed her eyes shut, brow furrowing. She thought she felt hands on her arms, rubbing gently.

"You can do this. You're the bravest girl I know, Glinda."

"Miss Glinda."

She opened her eyes, sucking in a breath. The classroom was empty, and Morrible was standing in the doorway, her eyes glinting.

"Come on, I haven't got all day."

Glinda swallowed and wiped her palms on her dress. She followed Morrible into the side room and tried to steady her breathing.

Morrible picked up her clipboard, pursed her lips, then set it back down. She backed up and leaned against the wall, looking impassively at Glinda.

"How are you today, Miss Glinda?"

"Fine."

Amusement flickered across Morrible's face. "Clearly. Shall we begin? Since you did so well on your research, I thought we might start with healing spells."

Morrible watched as Glinda silently did what she was told. She cast a few healing spells—flawlessly, to her relief—and Morrible's expression turned ugly. She worked quickly through some of the basic spells they had learned last year, but the look on Morrible's face was making her uneasy. The headmistress's eyes were dark as she gave Glinda the next set of spells.

Glinda tried her hardest. She kept a tight rein on her magic and poured all of her focus into each task, but the energy it took to stay in control was draining. Morrible said nothing other than her instructions, but she glared when Glinda succeeded and sneered when she failed.

When Morrible raised her hand to stop her, Glinda was breathing hard and trying not to wince at her performance.

"I have just one more task for you," she said, smirking as Glinda's shoulders slumped. "Do you remember a few months ago, when I had you cast opposing spells?"

Glinda's knees wobbled. "Madame, I don't—I can't—"

"You can, and you will," said Morrible.

"You made all the students do this?"

Morrible's gaze was hard. "No. I only expect more from those who have had private sessions with me all semester."

Glinda grit her teeth and resisted the urge to cry. She couldn't do this. She didn't have enough energy left, let alone the control it took. Still, she wasn't getting out of here until she tried. "Am I casting fire and ice again?" she asked.

"Yes, but not in here. I don't need you setting the place on fire." They walked back out to the classroom and Morrible called out, "Grommetik?"

Glinda froze. Her heart leapt to her throat and she shivered as the tiktok creature wheeled into the room, carrying a metal bucket for the target. It placed it in front of her, then moved a few feet back.

"You've seen my assistant around campus, haven't you, Miss Glinda?" Morrible's voice was mocking. Glinda started trembling. Of course she had seen it. Last year, when she had fallen asleep in the library, and Elphie had come to get her. Elphaba had been angry, shoving Glinda's things into her bag and telling her to hurry. They had snuck through the building, past Grommetik, who was searching for them.

"The spells, Miss Glinda. I'm waiting."

Glinda had cast a spell, distracting the creepy tiktok thing, and Elphaba had led them to the cellar. The doors had been sealed shut. Morrible had been right behind them. They were trapped, and Elphaba was panicking. Glinda was panicking, too, with Elphaba helpless beside her and Morrible looming behind them.

And was panicking now, with Morrible looming in front of her, her eyes shining maliciously, as if she knew exactly what Glinda was thinking. She had a knife, Elphaba had said that night. The knife that she had used to murder Dr. Dillamond. The one she would just as easily use to murder Elphaba or Glinda.

The breath rushed out of Glinda's chest and she doubled over, wheezing. An entire semester she had spent with the woman that had tried to kill her. How easy would it have been, all year long, for Morrible to murder her? All those hours spent alone in her classroom or her office. How was Glinda even still alive?

Morrible grabbed her by the arms, yanking her upright, and Glinda choked out a cry. She thrust her hands out without thinking, and her magic rushed to the surface, throwing Morrible back in a blast of heat.

The headmistress scrambled to her feet, growling. Grommetik wheeled forward, but Morrible held her arm out, stopping it. Glinda stumbled back. Her magic was still surging through her. The air around her hummed with energy.

"You are going to destroy yourself, Miss Glinda," said Morrible, stepping forward.

"Stay away from me!"

The headmistress stopped. Her expression was dangerous, and Glinda thought she saw a flicker of magic behind her. But, as soon as she caught a glimpse of it, it was gone. Morrible folded her arms across her chest and waved a hand dismissively.

"You have proven yourself absolutely useless," she said quietly. "It is clear now that we will have to work harder in the future. We will continue our sessions throughout Lurlinemas."

"You can't—"

"I am your mentor and your headmistress. I assure you, Miss Glinda, I can." Morrible narrowed her eyes. "Now get out of my classroom."

Glinda fled. She ran until she was out of the room, out of the sorcery building, and then she kept running until the magic humming beneath her skin was overwhelming and she all but collapsed against the back of a bench on the sidewalk. She gasped for breath and gripped the wood until her knuckles turned white. The bench grew warm beneath her fingers, and she jerked back before it could light on fire.

Glinda shook her hands out. She needed to calm down and regain some semblance of control. It was a terrible idea, in this state, to go meet the boys for dinner. But they knew she had been stressed about the exam. If she didn't show up, would they come looking for her? Besides, she couldn't go back to Crage Hall, to her empty room. Not like this.

I could've died. I could've died. It was all she could think about. Glinda sank onto the bench and leaned forward, holding her head in her hands. She pressed her palms to her eyes and counted slowly through each inhale and exhale. After a minute or two, the trembling had subsided.

"Glinda!" Boq was passing by her, heading toward the café. He stopped and waved, but his smile faded as she looked up. He walked toward her. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," she managed, avoiding his gaze. "Just cold."

He looked skeptical. Glinda could still feel the magic running through her, looking for a way out, but she shoved it aside and stood up.

"If you say so," he said slowly. He tried to meet her eyes, but when he couldn't he stepped back and gestured to the side. "Shall we, then?"

She nodded a little and followed him into the café. They made their way to the usual table in the back, where Fiyero, Crope, and Tibbett were already seated.

Glinda sank into the chair next to Fiyero. He touched her shoulder gently as Boq sat on her other side.

"Glinda?"

She shook her head. "Don't mind me," she said quietly.

"Your sorcery exam?"

"I don't want to talk about it." The silverware in front of her was starting to rattle. She took a deep breath and tried to be comforted by Fiyero's hand on her shoulder, but she could barely feel it. She could barely hear them as they changed the subject. Their voices sounded muffled in her ears, drowned out by the sound of her blood rushing.

"Glinda?" Crope's voice was soft. "Hon, you're starting to scare us."

She tried to swallow, but her throat was too tight. "Last year," she rasped. "Elphie and I, we were in the library. It was after hours."

She screwed her eyes shut, avoiding looking at them. She didn't want to tell them, but it was the only thing she could think about. Fiyero touched her shoulder again, but she flinched away.

"Morrible, she… And all this year, she could've…"

"Hey, slow down," Fiyero said gently. "You're not making any sense."

She knew she wasn't, but did it matter? Could they understand? How could she explain what it felt like, realizing that, by all logic, she shouldn't even be alive right now?

She looked up again just as Boq reached for her.

"Don't touch me," she snapped. Boq recoiled, and with the guilt that flooded through her came her magic, overwhelming again. She jumped to her feet and stumbled out of the café. The boys called after her, and she could hear them getting up and following, but she was running as soon as she was out the door.

The light was fading around campus. Glinda paid no attention to where she was going. She kept her head down and her shoulders hunched together as she hurried through the campus. She thought she heard Boq and Fiyero behind her, but she just moved faster, trying to lose them.

Suddenly she realized she was heading for Crage Hall, and she was taking the path that went across the Suicide Canal. Glinda froze, staring at the bridge. She could see the crack in the concrete, the one that she had made weeks ago. The air hummed around her and she stumbled back, intent on finding another way home.

"Miss Glinda!" someone called, delighted. Glinda almost sobbed. How could her luck be this bad?

Pfannee and Avaric came into view, both grinning. "And here we thought we wouldn't see you again this semester," said Avaric.

"Leave me alone," Glinda growled. She heard Fiyero's voice, calling her name. She needed to get out of here. Blindly, she brushed past Avaric and Pfannee.

"Hold on," Pfannee said, stopping her. "We'll be gone for an entire month, and this is how you say goodbye?"

"Pfannee, I'm warning you—"

Avaric laughed. "Are you seriously threatening us? Without the green freak to back you up?"

"I swear to Oz, if you don't let me go—"

"You'll what?" Avaric grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back. Glinda grit her teeth against the energy that swept through her. "What are you going to do?"

He reached for her again, and this time she fought back, knocking his hands away. Avaric's smirk shifted into a snarl. He raised his hand, but before he could even swing the air crackled, and he was thrown back by a rush of wind.

Pfannee shrieked. Glinda cried out too, panic jolting through her, but it was too late. The wind roared, picking up mud and water from the canal and swirling it around them. She had lost control, and she couldn't get it back. She saw Pfannee pull Avaric to his feet and scramble back. She heard them yell something at her as they fled, but it was muted, and the words didn't register. She watched—numbly, as if it were happening to someone else—two different figures approach.

Fiyero reached for her hand, but she couldn't feel it. She heard Boq shouting her name, felt something tug on one of her arms, but there was no reaction.

"Glinda, please!"

She shook her head violently, coughing out a sob, and fell to her knees, but still the wind screamed around them. Glinda could feel the energy pouring out from her, but she couldn't get a grip on it. She didn't even have the strength to try.

"Boq!" Fiyero yelled. "Come on, it's no use!"

Boq shook his head, even as he stumbled and was nearly toppled by the wind. "Glinda, I know you can hear us!"

Fiyero grabbed him. "There's nothing we can do. Let's get out of here before—" He cut off, cursing and ducking as the branch of a nearby tree snapped and flew by his head. "Boq, come on!"

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw them back away, retreating down the path. She fell forward on her hands and knees. She didn't understand how she could still be casting magic. There was nothing left inside her.

Glinda wasn't sure how long it took for the storm to subside, but when it did it was pitch black. Or maybe her eyes were just closed. She was flat on the ground, soaking wet, freezing, but she didn't even have the energy to shiver. She wondered if she was even awake.

Hands grabbed her, pulling her roughly to her feet. Her arm was yanked to the side, wrapped around someone's shoulders, and then she was being half-dragged across campus. Glinda's eyes fluttered. She recognized the sorcery building ahead of them, and suddenly she realized who was carrying her. A small, panicked noise escaped her throat and she tried to pull away, but instead her legs gave out and she pitched forward, everything growing dark again.

Glinda's head felt heavy. She tried to open her eyes, but the effort was just too much. It didn't matter. She knew where she was. The scratch of the old sheets beneath her, the smell of fresh parchment and pinewood, the embrace of warm, smooth arms around her—it was all familiar.

She sighed and opened her eyes. Everything was hazy, blurry. Her brow furrowed, and she was sure that something wasn't right, but then Elphie spoke in her ear, and whatever doubt she had was forgotten.

"I thought you said you hadn't made a habit of this." There was worry in Elphaba's voice, but it was masked by amusement.

"Elphie?" Glinda tried to turn around, but Elphaba's arms tightened around her, holding her in place.

"You need to take care of yourself," said Elphaba. She sighed. "I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you."

"I am taking care of myself."

She felt Elphaba shake her head. Glinda scowled and squirmed, trying once again to move and face Elphie, but her limbs were too heavy. Her eyes were sliding shut. She blinked furiously, lifting her head to look at Elphaba…

Just like that, the vision vanished. Elphaba wasn't there. Glinda jerked, her eyes flying open. She was lying on the floor, her head propped on a small, ugly pillow. She pushed herself up to her knees and looked around. This was Madame Morrible's office, and sitting at the desk was the headmistress herself.

"Welcome back to the living, Miss Glinda." Her voice was quiet, but it held an edge.

Glinda gulped. She knew what Morrible was going to say. There was no avoiding it, no clever words that could help her slip away. Her head pounded, but she resisted the urge to raise her hand and rub at her temples.

"Perhaps you're still a bit disoriented," said Morrible. "Let me recount the events of this evening for you. After a sloppy performance for your final exam, you lost control and attacked me. When I sent you away I knew you were too dangerous to wander campus on your own, so I followed you. Not ten minutes later, I watched you run out of the café, once again out of control. You attacked Miss Pfannee and Master Avaric at the Suicide Canal, and even after they left and your friends attempted to calm you down, you could not stop your magic."

Glinda shifted away, scooting so her back was against the wall. She hugged her knees to her chest, noting for the first time the mud that was drying on her clothes and skin. She shivered.

Morrible went on. "By some miracle, you stopped before the drain of the spells could kill you, but what if you hadn't? And what if you had hurt one of the other students? You were very lucky tonight. I don't expect you'll have that fortune again." Morrible leaned forward. "Miss Glinda, you need help. Look at yourself. If this doesn't change, terrible things will happen. You need to take my offer."

"Why does the Wizard want someone who's falling apart?" Glinda mumbled.

"Because you have great power. You just need to learn to control it. You need to be away from this place."

As if that was really the truth. Glinda was silent. She couldn't leave Shiz—it was all she had left. And yet, staying was beginning to seem like less and less of an option.

"No," she said, but she sounded distracted, even to herself. "I told you, I won't work for him. I refuse."

Morrible's palm slammed down on her desk, making Glinda flinch. "You can't go on this way. If you don't take care of this, then I'll be forced to take care of it for you, and it won't be in ways as luxurious as a job in the Emerald City."

"What are you going to do? Lock me up? Make me disappear?"

"Surely you aren't underestimating me." Morrible's voice was soft. "Not after all that happened last year."

Glinda couldn't help it. She shuddered and bit down on her lip, barely holding back a whimper. Morrible tilted her head back.

"I thought so. You can't escape this. You've been trying to all semester, and look where it's gotten you: passed out on the floor of my office, mumbling pathetically about your long lost green freak."

Blood rushed to Glinda's face and she looked down, her eyes stinging.

"I'm giving you a week, Miss Glinda, to make your final decision. I want you to seriously think about your options here. Until then, I don't want to see you. Get out."

Biting her lip, Glinda climbed to her feet and left the office.

It was freezing outside and way past nightfall. Glinda rubbed her arms and stumbled out of the sorcery building. She didn't even think about going to Crage Hall, despite the fact that she was so tired she felt like collapsing again. Instead she walked past all the main buildings and to the far side of campus, where the sidewalk gave way to dirt paths.

When she reached Dillamond's memorial, she was almost surprised to see the flames still burning steadily. It was comforting, knowing that she had done at least one thing right. She let out a quiet groan as she sank to the ground and leaned back against the tree trunk.

Her brow furrowed as she heard the footsteps, but she couldn't muster the energy to look up.

"I wondered if you'd come here," said Boq.

"Go away."

"Glinda—"

"Please," she whimpered. "I don't want to…"

"You won't hurt me. You weren't in danger of hurting any of us. Just scaring us."

She hugged her knees to her chest. "That's not true. I don't have control anymore."

Boq sighed. He sat down beside her, letting his head fall back against the tree. "We watched Morrible carry you to the sorcery building," he said. "All of us. Fiyero was holding me back. We wanted to help, but there was nothing…" He cleared his throat. "The others stayed until we saw you leave. We didn't want to overwhelm you, so they headed home."

"They made you come after me?"

"I wanted to." He touched her shoulder, just briefly. "What did Morrible say?"

Glinda sniffed. "She offered me the job again."

"You're kidding." When she was silent, Boq shifted. "Glinda, please tell me—"

"I said no," she told him quickly. "It's just…she keeps bringing it up. And I keep doing…this." She gestured helplessly in front of her. "I feel like I'm running out of options."

Boq took a shaky breath. "You're not considering it. You can't be."

Glinda rubbed at a bit of dried mud on her knee, scraping it off. "I'm afraid of what will happen if I don't," she said quietly.

"And if you do?" Boq demanded. "What happens then? You work for the Wizard? You stay under Morrible's control? Are you insane? What are you thinking? What would Elphie think?"

"It doesn't matter what Elphaba would think," Glinda snapped. "It's because of her that this is happening in the first place. If she was still here, my magic would be fine. Morrible wouldn't be trying to control me. You think I don't know what this is really about? They want to use me to get to Elphie. I know that."

Boq stayed silent. Glinda dug her fingers into her hair and coughed, trying not to cry. "She abandoned us. She ran off, and now we have to deal with the mess that was left behind. I don't want to do this, Boq, but what if I don't have a choice?"

"You're mad at her." There was realization in Boq's voice.

Glinda almost laughed. "I'm furious." She pushed her hair back and sighed, softening. "I know why she left. I know she believed it was the best option, and who knows, maybe she was right. But that doesn't change the fact that she's gone."

"It still hurts," Boq said softly.

"And it's still her fault," Glinda breathed.

"Do you really believe that?"

She lifted her shoulder. "I don't know. Some days, yeah."

"She didn't mean to hurt you."

"And yet." Glinda meant to continue, but her voice broke and she buried her face in her knees instead. She was too exhausted to cry, but she felt the pressure in her chest, tearing her apart. Boq wrapped an arm around her, and she was too tired to shrug him off.

"Want me to walk you home?"

"You can't," Glinda breathed into her knees. "She's not here."

"Sorry?"

Glinda took a breath and lifted her head. "Sure," she whispered. "Let's go."