AN: MUAHAHAHAHAHA! BOW BEFORE YOUR QUEEN OF CLIFFIES! *points scepter at you all*
You were all right to dread this chapter, and everyone of you who said they trusted me... well... let's just say I didn't promise you a happy ending this time, did I? *cackles*
Chapter 15. The attack
"So what time does our carriage leave?" Galinda asked as they were walking to their first class the next morning. "To the Vinkus, I mean?"
"This afternoon around four," Fiyero replied. "I hope you can sleep in a carriage, because we won't arrive in the Vinkus until tomorrow morning at dawn."
"Sure, no problem," Gazilon said lightly.
Galinda grimaced and huffed softly, but didn't protest.
"Which class do you have now?" asked Cyara.
"Me and Elphaba have Law," Fiyero told her.
"That's supposed to be 'Elphaba and me'," Boq corrected him helpfully.
Fiyero glared at the Munchkin. "Gee, thanks, Biq," he said sarcastically.
Boq sighed deeply.
"Give him a break, guys," said Galinda, putting her arm around Boq's shoulders. "His girlfriend just left for Munchkinland for no real reason!"
Elphaba's face fell. "I still don't trust it," she muttered.
Galinda waved a finger at her. "Don't be so distrustifying, Elphie. What do you think is going to happen?"
Her arm was still around Boq's shoulders, and the Munchkin looked about ready to faint. He honestly did love Nessa, impossible as she could be at times; but he still did, and probably always would, have a soft spot for Galinda.
Elphaba sighed. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see," she said reluctantly. "Though I wouldn't be surprised if my father's assassins are on their way here to finish me off right now," she added sarcastically.
Fiyero frowned at her. "Don't say such things."
"Yeah." Gazilon wrapped his arm around her waist and squeezed it. "You'll be fine, El."
Elphaba looked down – she still felt uncomfortable with Gazilon touching her like this, especially when Fiyero was walking not a metre away from her. She looked up and when she saw that he was looking at her, she gave him an apologetic look. Fiyero just smiled a bit sadly at her.
"You know? It's incredible that I ever really thought Elphie could love Gazilon," Galinda said, lowering her voice so that no-one would overhear. "I mean… Elphie, you and Fiyero just share these looks all the time, it's like you're having telepathetic conversations…"
"Telepathic," Boq corrected her.
She scowled at him and he quickly closed his mouth.
"…and I have no idea what you're saying, but it's adorable," Galinda decided. "Just the fact that you can walk here and look like you're being all mushy with Gazilon, and yet you're sharing secret looks with Fiyero. Honestly, I think it's impressive."
Elphaba chuckled weakly. "Thank you?" she said, making it sound like a question, because she wasn't really sure if it should be considered a compliment.
Galinda obviously thought so, because she beamed at her roommate. "You're welcome."
"Are you coming to class with us?" Boq asked Cyara, but the Vinkun princess shook her head.
"I'm just walking with you," she said. "Galinda doesn't have any classes this morning, so she offered to take me for tea at the café here on campus."
Fiyero smiled at the blonde. "That's nice of you, Glin."
Galinda shrugged modestly. "You know me," she said, tossing her hair. "I'm always nice."
"I have a Psychology class," Boq said.
"And I'm joining Elphaba in Law," Gazilon added. "You know, because I'm the perfect boyfriend and I can't stand being away from my girlfriend for too long, so I accompany her to all of her classes. Aren't I sweet?"
Elphaba looked up at him in wonder. "And all this time, here I was thinking that you were too nice to be capable of sarcasm," she said in amazement.
Gazilon chuckled. "I have my moments."
"Lunch together?" Boq suggested, and the others nodded.
"We'll meet you all at the Primrose Café after class," said Galinda, linking her arm with Cyara's and pulling the other girl along. She gave the others a wave. "Bye!"
"I have to go left here," Boq said. "Later." He disappeared around a corner.
Elphaba, now walking between Gazilon and Fiyero, wrinkled her nose. "This is awkward."
"What?" Fiyero asked innocently. "Walking in between your ex-boyfriend who really isn't your ex-boyfriend but your secret current boyfriend, and your current boyfriend who is actually your fake boyfriend? Why would that be awkward?"
Elphaba elbowed him in the side, making him double over.
"Oz, Fae!" he said, but he was grinning.
Elphaba smirked at him. "You had it coming."
They entered their classroom and sat down in their usual seats, pulling out the things they would need for the lecture.
In retrospect, Elphaba felt like she should have noticed something, anything, that signalled what was about to happen; but the truth was that there was nothing that gave anything away about the upcoming disaster.
Class was nearing its end when suddenly, there was some loud noise coming from outside… noise that sounded like an explosion.
Elphaba shot straight up in her seat, her eyes wide, the blood quickly draining from her face. "Was that…"
More noise, closer this time.
"Get onto the floor!" the teacher screamed as he did just that; but before any of the students could properly move, there was a third explosion.
It seemed to happen in slow motion and at the same time, it all happened very fast. The wall behind the teacher seemed to move towards them; then it exploded in smaller pieces. The ceiling was brought down and the noise, both of the collapsing building and the screaming students, was deafening.
Fiyero was vaguely aware of the fact that he had been blown backwards by the impact and that his back had hit the wall with a smack. He blinked, but he couldn't see anything – there was dust everywhere. He looked to his side and saw shadows of other students, most of them staying down on the floor. There was blood and there was rubble, and he felt dizzy and disoriented for a few moments.
When the dust cleared somewhat, he slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position and looked around him, assessing the damage.
His stomach immediately churned and he felt like he was going to throw up.
It was complete chaos. There was debris everywhere; chunks of the ceiling had come down, parts of the walls had been blown away. He realised in horror that he could see straight into what once was another classroom, and that the two floors above this one had come down entirely in that spot, crashing down onto the room and part of the hallway… and all the students in it. He looked up, realising that the same thing could happen in this room. If the foundation of the building gave away, they would all be buried in rubble.
He turned around, coughing because of the dust still lingering and cursing softly when he remembered his conversation with Elphaba the day before. He felt guilty. Maybe he should have taken her predictions about her father – and, apparently, the Glikkuns – wanting revenge on her more seriously.
"Fae?" he croaked. He didn't see her. What he did see, didn't really settle his nerves; there were some students that had been lucky, like Fiyero himself, but most of them were in a much worse condition. Around him, students were picking up their classmates, helping them to their feet and out of the building. There seemed to be blood everywhere and Fiyero realised in horror how many people must still be buried under the rubble.
"Fae?" he called again, more insistent this time.
"Fiyero?"
That wasn't Elphaba. He turned around and saw Gazilon approaching him, covered in dust. He was limping slightly and there was some blood trickling down his face from a cut in his forehead; but other than that, he seemed to be okay.
"I can't find her, either," Gazilon said, concern etched onto his face.
Fiyero swallowed, trying not to think about what that could mean. "We'll find her," he said, though it wasn't clear whether he was trying to reassure himself or Gazilon.
Both boys turned around again, their eyes searching the rubble for a hint of green. Gazilon started digging in the debris and Fiyero slowly made his way back to where he thought their seats had been before the explosion.
"Fae?" he called hoarsely. "Elphaba?" Students rushed past him, making sure to get out of here before the rest of the building would come down.
The roof creaked dangerously, and Fiyero looked up for a moment. It wouldn't hold out for much longer. He had to find Elphaba and get the hell out of here.
Then he caught a flash of green, and his heartbeat sped up. "Fae!" He fell down on his knees next to the slender, green arm sticking out from underneath the debris, and he started removing the heavy chunks of stone, revealing the rest of her.
There was an ugly-looking wound on her temple, blood trickling down the side of her face. Her right arm was positioned in an odd angle – it was most likely broken – and her eyes were closed. She wasn't moving.
Fiyero tried to swallow the lump in his throat, but it wouldn't go away. He gently cradled her in his arms, trying to wake her. "Fae?" he tried, brushing some hair away from her forehead. "Come on, sweetheart, wake up."
She didn't move. For as far as Fiyero could see, her chest wasn't even rising or falling. She was either unconscious, knocked out by the debris flying straight at her; or she was…
He shook his head and lifted her up in his arms, rising to his feet. Dust fell down from the still croaking ceiling and Fiyero sped up.
"Gazilon!" he cried. "I found her!"
The other boy came running towards him. When he saw Elphaba, a mix of relief and concern crossed his face.
"Is she alright?"
"I don't know," Fiyero said, clenching his teeth. "We have to get out of here!"
Gazilon nodded quickly and hurried in front of Fiyero, clearing the way for the other boy as they ran towards the door – or what was left of it. Most students were already gone; the ones that were still in the room were dead, Fiyero realised as he looked around him. Wide open, but unseeing, eyes everywhere. Icy cold shivers ran down his spine and he felt bile rising in his throat – he had to swallow repeatedly to prevent himself from throwing up.
They reached the hallway.
"Help!" A girl was sitting on the floor, her foot caught beneath a heavy piece of debris. She was desperately trying to free herself, looking up at the ceiling fearfully, but she couldn't get herself loose.
"Please, someone help me!" she cried, yanking at her leg.
"There's no time," Gazilon insisted when he saw the look on Fiyero's face, but the prince shook his head.
"We can't just leave her here!" he hissed.
The ceiling made a dangerous noise and Fiyero gently but firmly pushed Elphaba into Gazilon's hands.
"Go," he said. "Get her to safety. Take her to the hospital."
"What about you?" Gazilon asked as he tightened his grip on the green girl.
"I'll be right behind you," Fiyero promised, pushing Gazilon in the direction of the courtyard. "Go! Keep her safe!"
Gazilon hesitated, but then he nodded, turned around and started running.
Fiyero fell down on his knees next to the girl, pushing the pieces of debris off her leg. She was crying with relief now.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" she sobbed, scrambling to her feet.
"Go!" Fiyero yelled at her, and she ran off. He leapt to his own feet, ready to follow Gazilon.
A loud crashing noise and part of the ceiling collapsed, blocking the way in front of him. He could still see Gazilon. The other boy stopped running and turned around, looking at the Vinkun prince worriedly for a moment, then up at the ceiling again.
Fiyero tried to climb over the debris. "Run!" he shouted at Gazilon. "Get out of here!"
Gazilon, however, didn't move, staying just outside the danger zone, but still close enough to see everything that was going on. He knew Elphaba needed to get to a hospital, but he had to know that Fiyero would get out safely first. She would kill him if he let anything happen to the prince.
Fiyero was clambering over the debris and just for a moment, Gazilon was sure that he was going to make it.
Then the ceiling came crashing down and the entire building collapsed on top of every student still left behind… including Fiyero.
Feel free to leave me a murderous review. You all know how much I love those :).