Upon returning to their site in Southstairs, Glinda and Tadeo found Gale Force guards finishing up the brutal murder of Kellen and Tate. She made sure not to make a sudden move as it was best to pretend not to be associated with them. She but the inside of her cheek to suppress a scream of terror and tried to breathe regularly to repress any sobs. "Never get caught reading a book, or this will happen to you," the guard growled. Any kind of book or newspaper, anything that had words, was banned from Southstairs. "These two couldn't help themselves and started reading. Spread the word." With that said, the guards left Glinda and Tadeo.

As Tadeo went over to their bodies, Glinda stood in shock; Tate had assured her he didn't know how to read. Kellen and even that grieving Tiger had said they never learned how. Then, she remembered how Tadeo admitted they had been members of the Resistance and how he had his office job. In order to file paperwork, didn't one have to read? No tears escaped Glinda's eyes this time; she found herself unable to cry. "You lied to me," she said just loud enough for Tadeo to hear. Apparently, the jig was up because through his tears, the Tiger laughed.

"I guess I told you too much," he said and turned towards her. "We couldn't read ourselves because this," he emphasized with his paw, "happens."

"You wanted me to get caught with the book if something like this did happene. You didn't want to help me. You wanted me dead," the blonde didn't move from her spot as the Tiger approached her. She felt completely devoid of emotion beside the feeling of regret- she regretting wasting her time with them, reading to them as if they were children.

"We didn't want you dead, Glinda. We needed some sort of sacrifice if we wanted some sort of entertainment," Tadeo shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal.

"I'm leaving," she stated bluntly.

"Where you gonna go, huh? The Emerald City, perhaps?" he laughed.

"Somewhere away from you," Glinda replied monotonously.

"Not going to lie here, you're starting to scare me just a little. Just moments ago you were all upset and making profound statements."

"I'm leaving," Glinda said again. The blonde simply turned her back to him. The Tiger continued to call out to her, apologizing profusely as she continued to walk away. He began to follow her, but the look she gave him was almost terrifying in a way. As Tadeo listened to her retreating footsteps, he couldn't help but keep repeating to himself, "What have I done?" He knew the answer, though; he had betrayed her just like all of those other creeps. Maybe he shouldn't have gone along with anything Tate said. But then again, he hadn't wanted to get killed himself.

Since she was by herself again, of course the tormenting started all over. This time, however, she didn't care. She had changed so quickly it honestly scared her, but she figured in order to survive on her own, she'd have to toughen up, and fast. She was done with forming any sort of alliances, they'd just betray her or get her killed in the end. She went along with the tormentors, letting them get what they wanted. As time went on, it was well known that the blonde girl didn't struggle; they only liked women who struggled, apparently. She was told by the last person she was with that she wasn't fun anymore.

On one particular day (if she still knew what a day was), Glinda was violently jerked from her sleep. She was blindfolded and her ankles and wrists had been tied up. She was stuffed into a burlap sack, and the top was tied. Her heart began to race in her chest, wondering what was happening. She was being dragged across the floor and eventually, she felt herself hitting bumps consistently. Glinda didn't struggle as that would probably cause more bruises and she had no will to fight.

Eventually, she came to a stop. "Take her out slowly." She heard a muffled voice. "She's not accustomed to light." Confused, Glinda was pulled out from the sack and the ropes were cut. The blindfold was slowly peeled from her eyes. When she went to open them, it was too bright; she had to shield her eyes with her arm. She felt pressure on her arm and it was pushed from her eyes. She kept her blue orbs tightly shut. "Open your eyes, dearie. You have to get used to the light."

"Madame Morrible?" Glinda questioned when she recognized the voice. She let her eyes adjust and felt the old woman near her. It took her a long time, but she eventually got her pupils to adjust and her eyes no longer hurt.

"There we go. Now, you're free."

"Free?" Glinda questioned.

"You're out of Southstairs. Someone paid your bail."

"What?" Glinda was stunned. She felt the clean tiled floor beneath her, feeling the unfamiliar surroundings that were once familiar. She used her arms to push herself up from the floor and stand. Her joints hurt; why hadn't she noticed that before? "Who paid it?"

"That is none of your concern. But let's just say one would have to be extremely wealthy to be able to get someone out of Southstairs. Do not let this newfound freedom get to you, Miss Glinda. You are still scum and I will find a way to get you back down there if you make yourself known."

"W-what do you mean?" Glinda questioned.

"If you marry into a wealthy family, if you rise above being street scum, I will put you in Southstairs again. Now, leave."

Glinda was shoved out of the Emerald City Palace by Madame Morrible herself. If she wasn't so weak, it wouldn't have been that easy. She reached into her dress pocket she had made back in Southstairs and felt the fifteen inch nail she used to defend herself. For some reason, just touching it made her feel safer and more secure.

The sun was too bright. She pressed her palms into her eyes as she was forced to stumble down the road. She felt a Gale Force soldier leading her away. When she opened her eyes, she couldn't see the palace and the guard had left. She noticed she was in the richer side of the city. She felt out of place in the rags she was forced to wear. She saw stands of food being sold and felt her hunger surface. One of the stands was her father's favorite from his stories of his travels to the Emerald City. Glinda decided she'd maybe ask for something to eat. How could someone possibly deny a scared, innocent blonde girl? Well, she wasn't that innocent anymore, but he didn't have to know that.

Glinda stumbled towards the stand. When she spoke, she was ignored. When she tried to demand her attention, she was chased away. Glinda tripped and fell onto her hands and knees. Glinda was being completely ignored.

However, when Glinda looked up, her heart soared when she saw a familiar man and woman leaving an opera. She couldn't stand anymore, so she crawled towards them-her parents. They were stopped outside the carriage, her father helping her mother in. She reached his ankles and tugged on his pant leg. He kicked her, and she fell back. "Popsicle, it's me! Galinda!" the blonde cried, using her old name her parents would recognize.

"Galinda?" her father looked down at her and she could tell he recognized her despite the state she was in. She reached her arms up towards him as if she was a child, but she was denied.

"It's me, your daughter," she said hopefully.

"I no longer have a daughter."

"But I'm right here," Glinda said, her tears falling down her face.

"How would it look if I had a daughter that came from Southstairs?" he whispered. "It's better off I say you were killed in a carriage accident. At least, that's what your mother and I opted to tell everyone. How would it look if they found we were lying? No, we could not risk that. Look, don't go blubbering now. Here's some money," he said, reaching into his pocket. He dumped a small sack of money into her hands. "And please, never speak of this. You'll be fine, my little girl. You'll be okay."

"Popsicle, no! Please don't leave me! Take me home!" her voice was hoarse and she just couldn't stop crying.

"It's been five years, Galinda. It's been too long." And with that, he stepped into the carriage and was off. She was too weak to chase after the carriage. She was too tired to force herself up and follow. Her parents, just like that, had abandoned her in order to maintain their social status. It started to rain, but she didn't care. She let the rain drench her as she cried on the sidewalk. "Elphie, I need you, but you're not here. Why can't you be here with me? Why can't you find me? I have no one; I need you."