Welcome to the fourth chapter of Wipe Away The Blood. In this chapter, we are leaving Booker and Elizabeth and going to be with Nathan and his war buddies. We will return to the two after this chapter or later. Still have not decided. Also, one thing I seem to notice is that Booker and Elizabeth in romance fanfics seem to have more reviews than one mostly focused on adventure. You know, for those of you reading, you know, try and at least give the story a review as long it is not about the dialogues. I know this dialogue structure I'm using is confusing, but there is some people in other categories who use it and the reviewers don't mind the structure. Just in case, I'm going to put an example on my profile. Anyway, at least give this story a review because it would help my self esteem a little bit. It would be great if you could give me self esteem. It would be nicely appreciated. Let's just go on already.

Nathan and his wife walked down the halls to find Booker's apartment. Reason why Nathan came is to try and see what this fancy apartment looked like. He was even willing to break in to see what's in the room. Of course, he would either be held by gunpoint by Booker or either hit by a wrench or kicked in the testicles by Elizabeth.

"Nathan, are you sure this is okay? This is wrong."

"Well it's too late, Martha. Can't do anything about it now."

"Did you honestly had to knocked those guards for Fink out?"

"Hey, I enjoy doing that."

"You're not in the army anymore, Nate."

"And you are an annoying, stuck up, wife."

"What?! What did you say?!"

"Nothing hon. Nothing."

"You better." After dodging his wife's fury, thank god, the two had found the room they were looking for.

"Know how to break in, hon?"

"Nate, this is Booker and Elizabeth's place. Why would you break in to your best friend's new home?"

"Hey, I wanted that place in the first place."

"For what? Our kids? We don't have any yet."

"So, we can plan for the future, love."

"This is ridiculous. I'm going home." Martha marched down the stairs to return to their own place, leaving Nathan in a tight situation since he no one to escape with as a witness. He gets caught, he would get thrown in the slammer. This wouldn't be his first time. When he came home from Wounded Knee, the massacre had an effect on his life. He had resorted to drinking heavily and even got into fights. He was mostly arrested for that. Other time's is breaking into people's home, mostly his friends, or stealing a person's possession like a wallet, purse, or jewelry. Booker on the other hand resorted to drinking too, but he also resorted to gambling. Least he had it better than him. Nathan lay his hand on the door to think on how he would get in when the door just opened.

"Looks like the two forgot to lock the door." Nathan enters the household to find out it was all empty. "Looks like the two also left. Forgot to close the door." He begins looking around the room. Not a bad place to live. Possibly a great place to raise kids, in Booker's term, considering he lived in an old, dirty, hotel. The kitchen and living room seemed nice. Well set up together. Nathan decides to enter the two's quarters. After entering, the bedroom is really set up nicely. One thing he seemed to notice is the book shelf with lots of books. Booker told him how Elizabeth loved to read books on her spare time. He wasn't joking and Nate was surprised by the amount of book.

"Looks like someone's a bookworm." Suddenly, Nathan heard a creek. It was probably just his imagination. Then without warning, the creeks turned into footsteps. Now he was going to be in trouble. Where was he going to hide out? He searched around the room and found the open closet. He ran in it and closed the door. The person who was coming up entered the room without finding Nathan. Nathan peeked out through the closet door to find out who it is. All he could see was a man dressed in black clothing with a black hood and strangely had a coffin with a lady attached to his back by chains. He also noticed a sword that he clutched in his hand, probably for defense. This was not a good sign. Something told him that this would end with death and blood. The hooded man simply whistled.

"Man, someone who owns this must books has an obsession. Oh well. Looks like nothing important is here." The hooded man said then he walked back downstairs. He also took a picture from the dresser. Nathan opened the closet door and peered downstairs to see what was going on. He hears a conversation between two of the three hooded men. What did these guys want?

"Hey, Baker, found a photo upstairs."

"What is it this time, Chris?"

"Remember that Lamb of Columbia? Lady Comstock's daughter."

"I don't think the Lamb is really her daughter. I heard rumors that she was actually a person kidnapped since Comstock and his lady couldn't conceive a child."

"Baker, don't listen to those type of bullshit. Those are rumors trying to degrade Columbia."

"Whatever you say, man."

"Anyway, found out what the Lamb looks like."

"Really? How?"

"Just take a look." Chris showed the picture to the two and they looked over it. "She's a fine sort."

"Really, Baker. A fine sort? No man, more like a major cutie. I would do her any day."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Chris, you're actually telling me that you would have intercourse with the Lamb of Columbia, the daughter of Lady Comstock and Zachary Comstock?"

"I don't see the problem with that."

"The Lamb is the important symbol of Columbia. Basically, you are desecrating it if you have your way with her."

"Another thing on my mind, what's the deal with the False Shepherd?"

"I don't get what you mean."

"How did Zachary Comstock know of his arrival in Columbia?"

"Don't look at me Chris. Maybe it's one of those tears in the city."

"I guess that seems reasonable."

"Let's not talk about Comstock. Can't believe he died."

"You think Saltonstall should take his place?"

"No way. I heard that guy's a nut job or something. I heard that when one of his supporters try to abandon him, I heard they cut off his face and gave it to the crows."

"Jeese, Baker, that sounds dark. What of the Vox Populi though?"

"I heard we gave those Vox bastards half of our city to control mainly thanks to that sympathizing party."

"Calm down, Baker. It was either that or face the extinction of the city."

"I guess you're right, but still, we could have at least still share the city as one. This is like the Confederacy and the Union again."

"That is the way it is. On the bright side, we're still Zealots belong to the Fraternal Order of the Raven."

"You're right about that, but remember Chris, we divided ourselves up in the city. We are with the Founders while the others chose to go pick a fight with the Vox and that new party."

"New party? You mean that new order?"

"Yes. I forgot, Chris, what were they called?"

"I think they called themselves the Red Guards. You know much about them?"

"No, do you Chris?"

"Me neither. Guess we will find out later. By the way, where did they take the Lamb and the False Shepherd from here?"

"I heard they used one of the tears to get them to Columbia. At least that is what I know."

"What is to become of the False Shepherd?"

"When the voice of the Prophet speaks, we will strike him down and grind him to ashes."

"That sound great." Nathan knew he had to get out of there, but how would he? He looked around to see what was on the desk when he noticed one of Elizabeth's book.

"Sorry, Elizabeth." He grabbed the book and after he grabbed it, he rolled it down the stairs. "Chris, what was that?" Baker asked.

"I don't know."

"Then go check it out nitwit. Don't be a dimwit. Be a duke."

"Ha, ha, very funny." Chris goes back to the room where he once was. When he did get back into it, this time he was different. This time, he had seen Nathan. Chris reached for his sword, but Nathan beat him to it and used it to stab his legs and shoulder. He covered his mouth so his friends could not hear the screams. To make sure he doesn't cause any trouble, he knocked him out with a kick to head, then dragged the unconscious body to the closet. After he had done that, Nathan carried the sword with him down the stairs. Time to deal with the invaders. Thankfully, the two hooded men were talking to each other, so no problem. Crouching and walking slowly, he had reached the back of the chair of one of the men. Quietly, he stealth killed the bastard. The bastard had turned out to be Baker, who screamed in pain. It didn't take long for him to die due to Nate stabbing his throat. He grabbed the corpse to defend himself against the final hooded man.

"You bastard, the prophet will show you no mercy nor will fair Lady Comstock!" The hooded man shouted in anger, trying to send fear into him.

"What did you do with the two people that lived here?"

"I'm not telling you. Time to meet your maker shortly." When the hooded man drew out his sword, Nathan, with all his upper body strength, threw the body at the man. Now with an opportunity, he lunges at the man and stabbed him in the shoulder. The man let out a blood curling scream that bounced off the walls.

"Tell me now or you throat will be slit!"

"Never, you and the Union are all lovers of the colored and potato eaters! Burn in hell!" Nathan drew the sword even deeper into his shoulder, making him even shriek in pain more.

"Think about what you have to lose if you do this."

"What will I lose? My faith in the city? Hah! Never!"

"Suit yourself. Hope you like one arm."

"What?" Nathan removed the sword from the man's shoulder with the zealot wondering what he was doing. Was he stupid or what? It didn't take long until he had discovered what was going to happened. Nate jabbed the sword into his arm and began trying to cut it off. Shrieking, blood curling, screams are let out through the body and soul, both wanting to end the torment.

"Tell me now!" Nathan shouted. The zealot refused to answer. Bad move. Nate continued cutting and more howling screams came out of the man, hoping it would all come to an end. Eventually, it all ended, but the result was a lost of a limb and part of one's soul. Blood now covered both the sword and floor, blood from the arm leaking onto the floor, forming a pool of blood.

"Are you ready to answer, you bastard? Huh?!"

"Okay, okay, I will. Please don't take my other limbs." The zealot pleaded. Nathan accepted his offer for now.

"Tell me everything. What did you do with the two people living here? Where did you and your hooded friends take them?"

"All I know is that the people living here were the False Shepherd and the Lamb."

"You mean Booker and Elizabeth?"

"Yeah sure, whatever. Anyway, I don't know where the others take them. The three of us weren't here until later."

"Well, where can I even find them? Can I find them in that city your talking about?"

"Columbia? I don't know. The others said they have plans for them, but they didn't tell us exactly where they would take them. They're possibly there if you hope."

"If they are there, how could I enter this city?"

"Like I said, I don't know, but I do know a couple of person who can. You need to visit Fink Factories in order to find the passage into the city."

"That is all you know? You swear on your god and prophet?"

"Yes sir, I do. I am a believer."

"Good." Nathan let the man go, letting him retreat to whose know where. Looked like the janitors were due for some heavy cleaning. Leaving the apartment, Nate goes and finds Martha, waiting for him in the lobby. She wondered why he was all worked up until he had told her everything. At first, she didn't believe him when he had shown the sword he had gotten from the zealot. Immediately, she wanted to go to the police, but Nathan disagreed, thinking they were making it up and would be thrown in jail. There only option is to head for Fink Factories, scum of New York. First, they headed to the bar and retrieved the friends of 7th Calvary Regiment. Jonathan, Thomas, and Robert, like Martha, didn't believe him at first until he again showed the weapon. They soon took off to the factories.

"So what you're trying to tell me is that Booker and Elizabeth were kidnapped by men from a city in the sky? That's ridiculous, Nate." Jonathan said. "Really, Jonathan? I showed you a weapon."

"What if this is some kind of cult?"

"It's not... Well, it is... Get a move on already."

"Fine, chill down."

The five walked down the factories and have already met the factory life. Fumes filled the sky, leaving no sight of the blue and fluffiness of the white clouds, which were engulfed by the smokes. Machines were banging all over the place and it was not a safe place for kids to be. Believe it or not, Fink actually hired kids to work at the factories, thinking it would be good environment. Sadly, their vision and dream were shattered. Work has turned the kids into some sort of labor force and what's even worse is that the machinery were so dangerous, they could lose a limb or even their lives to it. How come a man like Fink is not arrested? Police must have been bribed or something. The point is that the children have become the slaves of the greedy. One day, this would come back to haunt the rich somehow. As they made their way to Fink's office, a boy came up to Martha, pulling on her skirt.

"Miss, miss, miss." The little boy said, no more than 12. "What is it child?"

"May I please have some food?" Martha started to feel guilty. She didn't even bother to bring food along.

"I'm sorry, child, but I have none."

"Please, miss, I'm hungry. Fink won't let me and some others get food because we lost that privilege. Please, I need something." Tears started to come down the little boy's eye. Something had to be done. Luckily, one of them became a hero.

"Here." Johnathan said, handing him some leftover bread from the bar. The boy, filled with joy, ran back to his friends. Time for them to move on unless they were to be surrounded by the workers wanting food. Would not look good for them. They came across the main building of Fink Factories. It was like every business man's dream. A proud statue of them glorifying them, covered in gold, outshining the poor and middle class. To them, it was an achievement, but to Nathan's group, it was offensive and degrading because they showed that they were filthy rich while the poor struggle to survive living off the government's dime. The main office building was all clean, many windows placed, bricks neatly placed, and it was big enough to be the size of a mansion or a castle fit for a king. Although, when there comes time of an invasion, the castle would fall and with it, possibly the king or in this case, Benjamin Fink. The group entered the building to be met by the busy workers, scattering around like bees, hard working and on task. Seems they were too busy to talk to someone, so they had to take the stairs up all the way to Fink's office. When they come across the office, Nathan knocked on the door.

"Come in, don't be shy." The group entered the office to see Fink in a happy mood. The office was basically like your everyday boss office. It was filled with things like a painting of a lighthouse and a plane crash, filing cabinet filled with documents and papers, an oak table with Fink's belonging including his money scattered on it, a fine chair could be seen belonging to the man, a hat rack with Fink's hat on it and lastly, a map hanging of America.

"Ah, Nathan and friends. What brings you here? Want to take Dewitt's apartment?" Fink asked. "Not anymore, but we do need to know something." Nathan said.

"What is it, dear boy?"

"Ever heard of a city called Columbia?" Fink almost completely froze from what he had said. He didn't want to hear that word again after what had happened to his brothers.

"Yes, I do. What about it?"

"You mentioned that your brothers were in the city."

"Yes, and they met their fate, didn't you know."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"No time for apologies. What is it that you want?"

"Do you have a way to enter the city?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Are you kidding me?! We need to get there and save our friends."

"I wish I could, but I don't know. I did heard of a way to get there. I believe not long ago a way to the city have been setup. I believe there is one off the coast of New York."

"And you expect us to go there?"

"Yes, but however, you do need some help."

"From who?"

"From us." A mysterious female voice said. The group turned around to see a lady and gentleman wearing the same clothing and same hair color. Nathan completely recognize them.

"Aren't you the Luteces?"

"Indeed." Robert responded. "And to who are you?" Rosalind asked.

"My name is Nathan Hale."

"Ah yes." She said. "Ah yes indeed sister."

"Indeed Robert."

"Indeed it is great."

"Will you stop saying that please?" Nathan asked. "I apologize for Rosalind's behavior."

"Pardon?"

"You do talk a lot."

"So do you."

"Touche. Come now. Follow us and we will take you to the entrance of this city. A passage and journey awaits." The group followed the two out of the office. Fink waved them goodbye and gave them a good luck. May they have luck and god on their side. The trip to the coast took a while. Had to take a long walk from the city to there and by the time they had reached the destination, it was raining and energy ran out of all them. The Luteces already had rain coats on and were ready to set off. Lucky them. Nathan can't help but think what would be awaiting them in this city. From what he head from Booker, it was not going to be good. Even the thought of it bothers him, but he had to do it. Nathan owed his life to Booker after what happened at Wounded Knee. No turning back from here. Soon, the boat sets off and now they wait as what is about to unfold upon their arrival in the clouds. Martha and the others hope this would all come to an end so they would get on with their lives. Nathan, in his mind, hope they could get Booker and Elizabeth out in time before something happens.

"This better be worth it." He said. It will. It will be worth it, but secrets not known to him will begin to escalate and unfold. Wish he knew what is to become of all of them.