Elphaba kissed Glinda's cheek and shouldered her bag. The blonde pouted and wrapped her arms around Elphaba's neck, pulling her close and refusing to let go.

"You're going to make me late," Elphaba chuckled. She reached up to unhook Glinda's arms, but the blonde simply held her tighter and stood on her toes so their lips were nearly touching.

"You can be a little late," she whispered. "I'm sure the boys won't mind."

The green girl's cheeks darkened, but she just shook her head and attempted a step back. "Glinda, I really need to go."

Glinda let one hand wander down Elphaba's side, landing on her hip and tugging her closer. "Are you sure?"

Elphaba's eyes lost their focus and her lips parted. Glinda seized the opportunity by pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth, up her jaw to her ear, then back down again. The green girl gave in with a groan, tangling one hand in Glinda's hair and kissing her fully.

As much as she hated it, Glinda let Elphaba go and took a step back. "Go on," she said. "Crope and Tibbett will never let you hear the end of it if I make you late."

Elphaba scowled. "You did that on purpose."

But the blonde simply smiled, the picture of innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about. Hurry back, okay?" She pressed one last kiss to Elphaba's cheek and backed away. The green girl rolled her eyes, but she was still blushing as she left the room and made her way out of Crage Hall.

It wasn't too late. The sky was just getting dark when she reached the library. Boq was already at their usual table in the corner, flipping through his history textbook.

"Do you ever think about how all this started?" he asked as she sat down next to him.

She raised an eyebrow and glanced down at the page he was reading, but he flipped it before she got the chance to see anything. "What do you mean?"

"All this inequality," Boq said. He tilted the book and ran his finger over a line. Most historians mark the Great Drought as the beginning of the divide between humans and Animals. "Hundreds, maybe thousands of years ago, some angry human decided to blame a completely natural occurrence on Animals. He probably just had some bitter grudge against his Animal neighbor or something. Yet, now, his resentment is completely ingrained into society."

Elphaba shook her head. "Ozian history at its finest. Stupidity, prejudice, and inequality, rolled into one lovely little land for all of us to enjoy."

The Munchkin glanced up at her. "Sounds like you're a little bitter yourself."

"I am very quickly losing my tolerance for the world and all its flaws."

"That's understandable," Boq said, his voice gentle. "We all have our negative days."

But Elphaba wasn't sure it was just a negative day. She was beginning to feel like this more and more, and although she had a lot to be stressed about, she couldn't quite understand why everything was starting to seem so hopeless.

She cleared her throat and looked away. "Where are the others? Shouldn't they be here by now?"

"I haven't seen them," said Boq. He turned to look out the window. "We said to meet before dark, right? They've got a little time still. They're probably just running a bit late."

But the sun was quickly disappearing over the horizon, leaving a dark campus and no sign of Crope, Tibbett, or Fiyero. Neither one of them said it, but they were both starting to get anxious. Boq continued to flip halfheartedly through his book before shutting it and laying his head down on the table. Elphaba fidgeted in her chair and did her best not to look out the window every ten seconds.

Finally, Boq lifted his head and spoke in a whisper. "Do you think they…?"

"Don't," Elphaba said firmly.

"But if Morrible—"

"They weren't supposed to be anywhere near her. They were just supposed to meet us after dinner."

"Okay, but how often do Crope and Tibbett do what they're supposed to?"

She turned to glare at him, but she was interrupted by two boys running up to them, faces flushed and chests heaving.

"You'll never believe what just happened," said Tibbett, practically leaping into one of the chairs. Crope nodded.

"You're gonna love this, Elphie."

"Where in Oz were you?" Boq demanded. "Why do you look like you were just running for your lives? And where's Fiyero?"

Before he could even finish, the Vinkan came around the corner. His dark skin had paled considerably but he looked furious. He reached out and smacked Tibbett on the head as he passed him, then collapsed into a chair.

"We look like we were running for our lives because we were. Thanks to these two idiots."

"Hey," Crope argued, "We learned some valuable information."

Fiyero snorted. "Hardly. We'd already guessed most of it."

"Yes, but now we know for sure," said Tibbett, rubbing the back of his head.

"What happened?" Elphaba asked. Crope grinned and leaned in. The others all huddled closer around the table, listening intently.

"Tibbett left a book in the history classroom earlier this afternoon," Crope said. "So we stopped by the building on our way here. No big deal, right? But when we got there, we saw that the light in Nikidik's office was on and the door was just open enough to see someone standing there. I'll give you three guesses who."

"Morrible." Boq's voice was dark.

"Exactly," said Tibbett. "Obviously we couldn't just leave, so we snuck closer to see if we could hear what she was saying."

"And?"

"She was talking to Nikidik," said Crope. "Well, more like he was talking. She was just going along with it, mostly."

"Nikidik kept going on and on about how much he hated you, Elphaba," Fiyero said. "Morrible kept nodding and cutting in. It sounded like she was trying to get information about you, but Nikidik wouldn't shut up."

Tibbett grinned. "'The Thropp girl is so annoying. She's so stubborn. She never listens to what I say. She's always arguing with me in class.' It was pathetic, really."

"Eventually Morrible just got sick of it and snapped at him," Crope said, obviously holding back a laugh. "What was it she said? Oh yeah. 'It seems to me that your problem isn't with the green girl herself, but with the fact that her intelligence is a threat to you, Professor.'"

"Yes, it was hilarious," Fiyero said darkly, scowling at the others. "Until somebody couldn't hold back their laughter, and we had to run out of there before they found us."

"We made it out alright," Crope argued.

"Maybe she didn't catch us," said Fiyero, "But she definitely saw something."

His eyes met Elphaba's. The green girl's jaw was set, but her eyes stayed blank.

Boq cleared his throat. "How do you know she saw you?"

Fiyero swallowed. "I could hear her saying something as we were running off. It sounded almost like she was chanting or something."

Elphaba paled. "Magic. She was trying to use magic on you."

"I didn't feel anything," the Vinkan said. "But it was definitely there. The windows started rattling, doors were flying shut as we passed them."

"We heard Nikidik shouting," Crope said, his voice growing serious. "I think he distracted her. That's why she didn't come after us."

"Do you realize how lucky you are?" Boq asked.

"Do you realize how stupid you are?" Elphaba demanded.

"We are well aware of both, thank you very much," said Tibbett.

"Besides, think about all the good that came out of this," Crope said. "We had wondered if Nikidik was working with Morrible, but now we know he's not."

"And we know that Morrible is trying and failing to get more information on Elphie. That's good, isn't it?"

Elphaba pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled. "Yes. Brilliant. Just…don't make a habit out of eavesdropping on the woman who is looking for any excuse to hurt us. Okay?"

Tibbett sighed heavily. "If you insist, Miss Elphaba."

If Morrible had been serious before, it was nothing compared to what was happening now. Not a day went by that Elphaba didn't see the headmistress roaming around the campus. The green girl took to heading to the safety of her room after dinner and staying there the rest of the night, and she all but begged Glinda to do the same.

The boys had a bit more freedom, but it was becoming obvious that Morrible knew Elphaba was getting help from somewhere. Fiyero started returning to the group empty-handed, reporting that the materials or tools he had tried to steal were missing or destroyed. More and more, books went missing from the library, their empty spaces left in the shelves to mock Elphaba. It seemed that everywhere she turned, Morrible was there to stop her.

The troubles didn't stop outside Shiz's campus, either. Rumors flew around of Animals from town being dragged out of their homes late at night. Most of them just packed their bags and left, but some stayed behind, living in the corners of alleyways in the darker parts of town. Boq's family lost more workers at their farm. Nessa's letters grew darker and came far less often. Munchkinland was beginning to suffer, more than it ever had before.

And all the while, Elphaba couldn't help but feel that she was running out of time. Her research was slowly being cut off. Soon, Dillamond's journal would be the only thing she had to work with. It was infuriating, being so determined and so helpless at the same time.

Elphaba slammed the journal shut one night and pushed away from her desk. It was taking all of her self control not to seize the research and throw it across the room. Instead, she got up and started pacing. As her body started moving, her mind slowed down, and she was able to think better.

Nothing could be done with the research. At least, not tonight. She was too stressed out. Tonight, she needed a break. She hoped Glinda would be back soon.

Elphaba frowned at the thought of her roommate. The blonde was working on a literature paper and had gone to fetch a book from the library, but that was over an hour ago. Elphaba glanced at the clock.

Glinda had probably just stayed at the library to work so she wouldn't have to take the book home. The green girl probably had nothing to worry about. But the library was going to close soon. And if Glinda was caught in there, with the way Morrible had been lurking around lately…

Elphaba was yanking on her shoes and darting out of the room before she had even finished her thought. She all but ran across campus, keeping an eye out for the headmistress the entire way.

To her immense relief—and slight irritation—she found Glinda on the second floor. The blonde was asleep at a table, head buried in her arms, hair spread across her books and papers. Normally Elphaba would have thought the sight to be precious, but all she could think about was the five minutes they had before the library closed. Rolling her eyes, she placed a hand on Glinda's shoulder and shook her.

"Mm…what?"

"Wake up," Elphaba said. "We've got to go."

The blonde blinked heavily. "What time is it?" she asked, yawning.

"Late. Now come on. Help me pack up your things." She closed the various books and journals and pushed them at Glinda, who—very clumsily and slowly—began stuffing them in her bag.

"Would you hurry up?" Elphaba hissed, shoving the rest of the papers at her.

"There's no need to be so rude," Glinda mumbled, closing her bag and pulling the strap over her shoulder.

"You know perfectly well why I'm upset," the green girl said. She looked around the empty library.

"Oh, relax," said Glinda. "I was studying in the library. She couldn't do anything to me, even if she was actually here."

Elphaba opened her mouth to respond, but she was cut off by the slamming of a door, echoing from downstairs. Glinda found Elphaba's hand and gripped it tight, stepping closer to her.

"We need to get out of here," Elphaba breathed. She put an arm around the blonde and steered her through a row of bookshelves. Glinda tried to tell herself that everything was fine. The librarians were just locking up. They would explain that she fell asleep working and Elphaba came to find her, and no one would get hurt.

But she knew that wasn't true, even before they heard footsteps running up the nearest staircase toward them.

"Elphie…"

The green girl grit her teeth and ran, dragging Glinda along with her. She knew this library better than anyone, even Morrible. If she could just reach the basement without being caught, then…

Elphaba wove through shelves and tables, carefully staying just out of Morrible's sight. They darted down a set of stairs and hurried through the first floor.

"Almost there," she muttered, her fingers tightening around Glinda's. "Just have to…"

They were just about to turn the corner when Elphaba stopped and yanked Glinda back. She pressed the blonde against the wall. Glinda could feel the green girl tremble, her breath hot and shallow against Glinda's ear.

"Don't move."

Glinda closed her eyes and listened to the racing of her pulse. Elphaba's chest was heaving against hers, her breath rattling in and out in quiet gasps. She couldn't hear footsteps behind them anymore, but there was another sound coming closer—a strange, metallic ticking noise…

"Grommetik," Elphaba breathed. "Damn it."

She opened her eyes and looked out over Elphaba's shoulder. A tiktok creature was wheeling back and forth across the floor, looking around itself, clearly in search of something. They were hidden now, but if they moved then the machine would surely see them. But if they stayed here, with Morrible following close behind…

Glinda focused on a bookshelf on the far side of the library, her brow furrowing. She was exhausted—just ten minutes ago she had been fast asleep—but somehow she summoned the energy she needed. Magic trickled warmly down her arms and into her fingertips. She picked a few books and fixed her gaze on them, willing them to move.

Two books flew off the shelf and clattered to the ground. Grommetik wheeled around and hurried off to investigate, and Glinda nudged Elphaba, who grabbed her hand and started running again.

Elphaba found the door to the cellar and flung it open, urging Glinda inside. She glanced around before following, and immediately wished she hadn't. There, at the top of a staircase not too far away, stood the headmistress. Morrible was glaring down at her, eyes flashing coldly. And at her side, glinting just enough to be able to see in the darkened library…

Dillamond turned away just as the door was pushed open. Elphaba caught a glimpse of a stiff dress, a shadow, the hard glint of a knife…

"Elphie!" Glinda grabbed her hand and tugged her down the stairs. Elphaba snapped out of the memory and ran ahead, leading the way through the dank basement. She barely noticed the sting of the moist air. All she could feel was Glinda's hand in hers. All she could hear was Morrible's footsteps echoing through the hallways behind them.

Finally, finally, they reached the doors that would take them back above ground. She climbed up and shoved at the wood, but it held tight.

Elphaba froze. She looked at the doors. They seemed exactly the same as the last time she had climbed through them. Pushing her terror aside, she tried to open them again, but they remained closed. With a growl, she threw herself against the doors, only to fall back again.

Glinda stepped forward and placed her palm flat against the wood. "It's been sealed shut with a spell," she said. "Use your magic!"

"Me? What about you?!"

"Yours is always stronger than mine," Glinda said. The footsteps behind them were getting louder. "Elphaba, hurry!"

"I don't know how to control it!" Elphaba hissed. "I can't—I don't know how—" She was still pounding on the door, throwing her weight against it and stumbling back. The edges of her vision were beginning to cloud over and her breath was too shallow. Morrible was getting closer, and they were trapped here with nowhere to go. She pictured Morrible approaching them, raising the knife high in the air…Glinda trembling behind her, both of them trapped and utterly defenseless…

No, no, no. Elphaba thought. First with Dillamond, and now this. This can't be happening. Not here. Not with Glinda here.

Glinda watched as her roommate's eyes clouded over. Morrible was just behind them, and Elphaba was starting to panic. She realized, with a sickening jolt, that the green girl had been here before, the night Dillamond was killed—trapped, helpless, facing the exact same terror, knowing that she couldn't save the person she was with.

It was enough to make the blonde snap. Her vision darkened, then flashed bright as white heat poured through her body. She threw herself at the doors and shoved, feeling the wood start to splinter beneath her fingers as her magic fought against the seal.

With a deafening crack, the cellar doors split open, shattering into the night. Glinda grabbed Elphaba and climbed through, not daring to look back.

By some miracle, Morrible didn't follow them back to Crage Hall. When they reached their room, Glinda closed and locked the door behind them, muttering her own spell to seal it shut. She turned, expecting to see Elphaba pacing or even just standing frozen in the middle of the room. Instead, she found the green girl collapsed on the floor, shaking uncontrollably.

"Elphie?" Glinda knelt in front of her. "Elphaba? Hey, snap out of it."

Elphaba rocked back and forth, breathing shallowly. "I-I'm sorry—I'm s-so sorry—"

"Breathe," Glinda ordered. "It's okay. We're safe now."

"S-she had a knife. I-I s-saw it."

"We got away." Glinda scooted closer and grabbed Elphaba's hands. "We're safe in the room now. Everything is fine."

"No—"

"Elphie, please. You need to breathe."

"I-I can't, I—"

"Look at me. Breathe."

Elphaba was looking at Glinda. But all she could see was how close she had come to getting the blonde killed.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, but she forced herself to take deep breaths.

When the green girl was getting enough air again, Glinda pulled them both to their feet and moved over to the bed, stopping only so they could toe off their shoes and pull the covers back.

Glinda climbed onto the bed, but Elphaba hesitated. "I'm so sorry," she repeated.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"You could've…if she had caught us…"

"Elphaba, this wasn't your fault."

The green girl screwed her eyes shut. "You were amazing. You got us out of there alive. But all I did was panic and—"

"Stop." Glinda tugged on Elphaba's hands and pulled her closer. "You got us down to the basement without getting caught."

"And then I completely lost it."

Glinda tugged on her hands again. "Lay down with me."

Numbly, Elphaba obeyed. Glinda wrapped her arms around the green girl and pulled her close. "None of this was your fault," she whispered. "You're allowed to panic. You're allowed to be afraid once in a while."

"But—"

"Hush, Elphie."

The green girl quieted, although she was still trembling. Glinda rubbed her palm in slow, warm circles along Elphaba's back. She ran her fingers through the dark hair and pressed soft kisses across Elphaba's forehead and cheeks.

"You can let go, you know," she breathed. "Just this once, you don't have to be brave."

Elphaba shook her head, but she pressed her face against the crook of Glinda's neck and curled tighter into her embrace. The blonde tangled their feet together and pulled the blanket up around them.

"Try to sleep, Elphie. I can be the strong one this time."