confusifying | wicked | book 3/3

Elphie

"Glinda" I whisper, hissing like a snake, Glinda soon pops into my view.
I curl my fingers gently around the doorframe and stare dumbfounded into the room, Glinda attempts to enter but I pull her back.
"Elphaba what are you doing?" She cries.
I swiftly cover her mouth with my hands and she angrily shoves it away.
"Elphaba what on earth?" Glinda hisses.
"Look!" I mumble excitedly "on the balcony."
Glinda looks in the direction of the balcony, where my sister is sat on her chair, her neck is tilted back and she's starring straight up at the snowy white sky.
"What's so special about your sister on a balcony?" Glinda sounds awfully perplexed.
"She's smiling," I grin excitedly, marvelling at the soft smile across my sisters face.
"Yes, can I go now?" Glinda huffs.
I ignore her bored tone and step towards my sister, followed closely by Glinda.
"Why are you creeping like that Elphaba?" Glinda hisses.
"I think she's asleep" I reply softly.

I take a few steps closer, since the snows started to settle, it's awfully cold outside, to tell the truth I'm just glad that Nessa is wearing a warm cloak.
She looks so peaceful, though I do think she is slightly silly for letting herself fall sleep in the freezing morning air.
"Ness." Glinda whispers harshly.
We both stop edging towards my sister for a moment and pause, Nessa doesn't seem to stir.
"Nessa?" Glinda calls.
"Glin shh!" I cry, louder than Glindas initial noise, "don't disturb her."
We both take another step forward, a floorboard creaks and shudders under our weight.
Both Glinda and I stare at eachother, amused by the surprisingly high pitched squeak of the floorboard.
As we struggle not to burst out laughing, Glinda takes another slow step towards my sister.
"You must be awfully cold Nessie." Glinda chuckles softly to herself "silly thing."
That's odd, Nessarose hates being called Nessie and Glinda is so close to her, she can't be that deeply asleep.
I pick up my pace and gaze at the gentle smile on my sisters face.
How sweet she seems to look.
Glinda looks out off of the edge of the balcony and takes a deep excited breath.

"It is quite refreshing out here," Glinda squeals excitedly, her high pitched joy matching that of the floorboard.
"Nessa you must be freezing, look at you, your cheeks have gone all rosey!"
Glinda leans back and touches my sister of her smiling cheeks, I'm not too sure it's a smile anymore, her head seems to be tilted too far back to be comfy and her hands looks too stiff and much to0 pale.
Before I can register what's happening, Glinda retracts her hands from my sisters face at an alarming speed, she begins to walk backward towards me very slowly, her face white like the blanket of snow.
A horrified expression appears across her face and she stars to cry as she's backing away from my sister.
Glinda bumps into me and let's out the most blood curdling shriek I've ever heard, I shove her away from me and scramble over to my sister.

I place my own hand on her cheek and feel just how cold it is, Glinda shrikes again.
Footsteps race up behind us.
"What's going on?" Alberts voice echos.
"She's as cold as ice!" Glinda screams "she's so cold, I can't... so cold."
I can't resister what's happening, my sister must just be in shock from the cold, I quickly seize the handles on her chair and race her inside into the warm.
She's the wrong colour, she feels much to limp and frail.
I don't understand.
I charge with my sister into the lounge, throwing myself to the ground and pulling Nessarose onto my lap, I tap the side of her face with quite a force and gaze down at her closed eyes.
Cupping her face in my trembling hands I notice how horrifyingly limp her head is,
the occupants of the lounge quickly react to my fear.
"Elphaba!" My husband cries, crouching down beside me.
"Put the fire on!" I cry, tears rolling onto my sister from my own eyes. "Put the fire on now."
My mother and Boc soon join me on the floor as I race to get Nessa by the fire.
She's not warming up.
I don't understand.
"Nessarose." My mother whispers "Nessarose what's wrong with you?"
Bocs hands tremble as he reaches out for my sisters hand, though he too retracts when he feels just how cold she is.
He looks around at us, hoping for Simone to give him a logically explanation, I try as concoct one in my head because I need one too, I need anything.

"She was fine." Boc splutters "she was fine, I don't understand."
I allow my sister to rest upon my lap and put my arm around Boc.
"She's fine." He sobs "she's just fine."
"She's fallen asleep and gotten too cold" I mumble "she's fallen asleep."
I hear the pitter patter of Glindas shoes upon the floor as she joins us by the fireplace.
She's oddly composed now, not saying a word.
"She's fine." Boc mumbles again.
"No she's not!" My mother shrieks "my baby, my Nessarose, look at her face, her beautiful, beautiful face."
Boc reaches out slowly and touches Nessas cheeks, he winces at the cold but keeps his hand steady.
I focus my attention on the fire, the vibrant orange and reds, the soft flickering.
It's so beautiful, just for a moment.
"Beautiful girl." Mother cries, "I don't understand."
"She was just sitting there." Glinda mumbles emotionless.
"On her own?" Boc shrikes.
"Thought she was asleep." Glinda replies, not really answering his question.
She is asleep, she has to be asleep.
She's fine, she always is.
Nessarose was perfectly okay this morning.
"She's too cold that's all" I mumble.
"So she'll wake up when she warms up?" Mother asks, her eyes glimmering, the auburn flecks of fire reflecting in her eyes.
"Yes." I bark, "she's just not warm yet."