Author's Note: Hey everybody, welcome to chapter TEN of "The Girl for the Debt"! I know I have a lot of explaining to do in regards to the last chapter of the story, so here we go.
Well, let's talk about a couple of things, one that one of my readers has brought to my attention via PM. As you've probably read in the last chapter, there was a lemon scene involving Booker and Rosalind Lutece. That might seem a bit confusing considering that Rosalind's only job was to bring Booker to Elizabeth once again, but as it's been implied, things got a little... heated instead, you might say. Well, let me explain that in just a few words. Rosalind has no actual feelings or emotions for Booker, but rather has got a "thrill" for him, or in other words, experimental, as with everything else she has ever tried out, including manipulating time and space with the use of tears. Also, it is basically impossible at this point (unless things change later in the story) for Rosalind to have any real feelings for her "brother," Robert Lutece, considering that they are in fact related because they are one and the same, just from two different realities. And it just so happens that a version of Rosalind Lutece in that alternate reality had a different chromosome, which resulted in her male counterpart, Robert. They're basically like "twins," but not really. I hope that cleared it up.
Now for the second thing I should explain...
As revealed in the last part of the chapter, Irene DeWitt (OC) gives birth to Booker's second child, and son, who turns out to have exactly the same name as Comstock, except for the surname, of course. Yes, that's right, Zachary Hale DeWitt sounds a lot like Zachary Hale Comstock. Well, that's because they are the same person. I know, that is really confusing but I will explain it all now. Just bear with me.
Remember guys, this is in an AU (Alternate Universe), which means that there are some things in this story that were never in the game's original storyline. Things that I've changed to fit my story. For example, Elizabeth and Booker are not father/daughter, and Booker and Comstock are not the same person, for reasons that I hope I've made clear before. But just as a reminder, these are the reasons. First, Elizabeth and Booker are not related in this AU, so that means there will be a pretty good chance that there will be a romantic and sexual relationship between the two later. And second, Booker and Comstock are not the same person at all, so that ensures that there is no direct lineage between Booker/Comstock and Elizabeth. However, Booker and Comstock are directly related in this AU. In other words, they are biologically related, father/son. And now, I will explain the why and the how...
Booker's first child, and daughter, Anna, dies in a fire, which confirms that Elizabeth is not Anna and is therefore not his daughter in this AU. So the events that unfold in the game never happen in this alternate reality of the story. However, something very similar happens later at a different point in time. We all know that in the game, Anna is sold to Comstock on October 8th, 1893. In this story, and this is your spoiler warning, Booker's son, Zachary, suffers the same fate. Now, I won't explain it all in exact detail because you will see that in the next chapter, which will be chapter eleven. But let's just say for now that time travel is very much involved in the plot, which means that the timeline will be completely screwed up and out of place and might not make any sense. But hopefully in time it will. I hope that partially clears it up in the meantime.
Plus, you're also probably wondering where Elizabeth comes from and who her real parents are if she is not Booker's daughter or Comstock's daughter. Well, don't worry, that will all be revealed in a future chapter.
Anyway, back to our story! Please review, follow, and fav! Thanks and enjoy! :)
Chapter Ten: Last Chance
Elizabeth's POV
Columbia, 1918...
Three Years Later...
"Do you know where you are? Elizabeth?"
The smell of antiseptic and chlorine disturbs my nose. I groan and keep my eyes close.
"Elizabeth? Can you hear me? It's Dr. Pettifog. Open your eyes." There is no one trust I now. Not even myself.
Beside the pain I am feeling, the pain that numbs my entire body and mind, I mumble and try to move in my tightened restraints. Am I still in the operating theater, or is this a different room...? "Go to hell..."
I can hear Pettifog chuckle under his breath. I then feel his gloved hand caress my cheek. I quickly reject his touch.
"Good. At least you can hear me. But I will put here on your chart that you are not completely lucid just yet. How much pain are you in at the moment, Elizabeth?"
I want to say, "In enough pain to kill you," but I know I will only receive more than the chance to end him right here, right now. He always has his hand on the trigger, ready to send another round of electrical current through me. Yes, how long has it been since the torture started? Oh, God, I don't know... How long has it been...? Am I even in the same place? Oh, God, please... Please, help me... Somebody...
"Well? On a scale from one to twenty. Are you still in pain, Elizabeth, or do you need-"
"GET AWAY FROM ME YOU BASTARD!" I scream and thrash in my secured chair, my senses lighting up as I feel a sudden surge of power racing through my veins. What's happening to me?!
Pettifog shouts a number of obscenities, punching a black button on the side of the wall. An alarm then sounds and the entire room shakes.
Oh, God... No, what is he doing? No, no, no!
Dr. Powell and a team of Columbian soldiers barge in through the doors, weapons at the ready as Powell's armed with a needle in hand.
I try as hard as I can to rip away from the restraints, unleashing my full power. All this time, they've been hurting me, killing me with the "cure." The cure that my father had found for me, the cure to rob me of my ability, my curse, and my identity. Who is Elizabeth without her ability to create these... mysterious tears? As a young girl, I was always marveled by my unusual power and saw it as a form of wish fulfillment, but somehow haunted by it because of what I could truly be capable of. Now, I can see what I am capable of, and why I am this "special" girl, this specimen they've kept locked up in a cage for so long. And I've realized now that my father wasn't trying to murder me, but was, in fact, trying to create this destiny for me, this future he had planned for me. I am my father's greatest creation. I am the flame that shall ignite the world.
"Elizabeth! Hold on tight!" The familiar voice suddenly penetrates my subconscious, unraveling a rushing wave of memories and tears. I immediately and without hesitation, recognize the voice.
It's his voice...
It's... it's...
Him...
Beyond the haze of my wrath and the thickening cloud of my pain, I finally see him for the first time in... Oh, God, how long has it been...?
I am still trying to break away from my chains, but when I see him, I scream his name, "Booker!"
One by one, a Columbian soldier is blown away with a single bullet, making Powell and Pettifog cower in fear. Such cowards, but I will show them what death really looks like...
"I'm coming for you, Elizabeth!"
I almost want to say something, but I can't quite get the words to pass from my lips. I know what I want to say... I know how I feel...
"Oh, God, it's him," I hear Pettifog say. I watch the poor bastard hide behind a desk beside Powell. Two poor, cowardly bastards.
"What are you doing with her?! Let her go!"
A jolt of pain suddenly tears into me and I scream. Oh, God, no! NO! MAKE IT STOP! OH, PLEASE!
One after another, the pain grows exceedingly worse with each volt, permeating my spine. All my senses become numb... I can't see, I can't hear, and...
...Now I can't feel my... my...
The entire room then starts to spin, going black and descending deeper into the abyss below...
This is my death, my last gasp for air, and the last thing I'll ever see...
"...B-Booker..." I grumble, my words slurred.
"Elizabeth? It's okay, it's okay, I got you." Through the blackness of death, I can see him... Those eyes... Those green eyes...
My hero...
"W-where are they...?"
A short pause and then he says, "I... killed them. All of them. You're okay now. Here, come on."
I try to move, but I can't... I can't feel my body... I can't feel anything!
"I-I... I can't... c-can't move..."
His face falls, "No, it's okay... E-Elizabeth... Where does it hurt...?"
"E-everywhere..." I mumble.
"It's okay. Let me help you up. Here we go." With his strong and steady grip, he forces open the restraints and pulls me up into a sitting position on the chair.
The feeling in my body slowly and painfully returns to me, but my mind is still hazy and numb, immersed in a deep ocean of confusion.
I then hear Booker say something inaudible. Whatever he said, I know it's not good news.
"B-Booker?" I stammer, "W-what's wrong...?"
He quickly says, "I just need... You know what? Just take a deep breath, okay? Ready?"
I simply nod, inhaling deeply until my lungs are full. It is hard to breathe as it is.
"One... two..."
GOD!
"Three."
I turn around to see a dripping spinal tap in his hand. This is the thing they were using on me... To kill me, to hurt me, to torture me... This is the cure.
"B-Booker..."
"What the hell were they doing to you..."
My eyes then meet his, and my heart nearly stops beating.
"Oh, Booker... Y-you're here!" I say. At that very moment, I can't help but reach my arms out to him. It still hurts to move, though I could care less. My last hope has arrived, my last chance to live.
He's Booker DeWitt. My shepherd, my man...
"O-oh... Elizabeth... I wasn't gonna give up on you," his voice nearly cracks, his eyes filling with tears. He pulls me into a strong and tight embrace, his arms wrapping all around me until I am buried into him.
"B-Booker...?" I then whisper. My face is still in his chest, wetting the fabric of his vest with my own warm tears.
He pulls back for a moment and looks into my eyes for a long second, "Yeah?"
I smile, placing a trembling hand on his cheek and stroking it softly, "L-let's... let's go home. Please?"
He shakes his head, his face changing into that of... fear...?
"B-Booker...? What's wrong?"
A long and eerie silence, and then the words that send my heart racing.
"We've still got work to do."
Author's Note: This concludes chapter ten of "The Girl for the Debt." Thanks so much for reading! And I hope my explanation of the last chapter cleared everything up. :) Anyway, please stay tuned for the next chapter! And don't forget to review, follow, and fav! Thanks so much again and I'll see you all again soon! Much love! Seeya!