Second chapter here! Hope you like it!

The rocket where I was deposited itself on a roof and it descended slowly. A song started playing in the background while sentences appeared before me, illuminated by the light coming from a large window. But now I was too busy trying to understand what the hell was happening. Probably in less than a day I suffered an accident while I was walking for Montreal, I woke up in the coast of Maine and learnt that I couldn't be back to home until I rescued a girl I don't know. In addition a rocket/ spacecraft had sent me to the heaven to find a floating city. I didn't know if I became crazy or I was dead but I was starting to think it was the second option.

The platform finally stopped in front of a large mural of a man leading people and one of the walls of the rocket was removed. The metal strips finally released my hands and rubbed them as I descended. The whole place was flooded with strangely warm water, with murals and figures from the same man and lighted only by candles. I continued my way and saw a sign up: "The seed of the prophet shall sit the throne and drown in flame the mountains of man". More religious things and this one was weird. I continued through my waterlogged road and surrounded a huge statue. Then I saw a man wearing a white robe.

'Excuse me sir, could you tell me where I am?' - The man smiled and nodded.

'Heaven, friend. Or as close as we'll see until the Judgment Day.'- responded and began to pray. I nodded even though it hadn't cleared my doubts and went downstairs. I was obviously in some kind of church. Arriving at the lowest room, I found myself in a long corridor with figures of angels on both sides and illuminated by more candles. In the background a man gave a speech to a group of people who were also dressed in white robes. As I approached, I saw that behind the preacher there was a tunnel with a bright light that seemed to come from outside. I pushed the crowd and tried to break through.

'Is it someone new? Someone form the Sodom below?' - asked the man when he noticed my presence.

'Huh yes... I would like to reach the city. Can you help me?'

'Brother, the only way to access to Columbia is through rebirth in the sweet waters of baptism.' - Said the man while smiling. - 'Will you be cleansed, brother?' - Said offering his hand to me. Although I wasn't exactly a devotee of the present church, I was baptized when I was small and I still believed there was a god or heaven... but who cares.

'Okay. I will.'- said approaching him and grabbed his hand. The man smiled and pulled me closer to him.

'I baptize you in the name of our prophet, in the name of our Founders, in the name of our lord and make him born again, in the bosom of Columbia!' - Then abruptly pushed me down and put me in the water before I could catch a breath. When he pulled me out, I coughed and breathed hard as I grabbed the arm of the preacher. - 'I don't know, brothers and sisters but this one doesn't look clean to me...'

'Wait!' - He turned to push me again to the water and I still had a second to catch air but it didn't work. This time he kept me in the water and I tried desperately to free myself from his grip but he was too strong. Before I could continue fighting, my vision went dark.

In the dark I heard a knock and opened my eyes slowly. I was back in my room and someone was knocking the door. I got up from my bed and looked around confused. Maybe it was a dream and I was really at home...

'Marc! - That voice... It was my brother Daniel! - 'C'mon Marc! We'll be late for the game!' - again he knocked more insistently and sighed with relief. Yes, it must have been a dream.

'I'm coming, I'm coming.' - I said smiling as I approached to the door. Then I opened it and I froze. In front of me was Montreal... in the middle of chaos. Several airships threw missiles at the buildings and destroyed everything. Up in the sky there was the floating city, Columbia... Then one of the airships turned to where I was. Before he could react, a fireball went straight to me.

My lungs were burning and I started to cough, trying to pull out all the water I had swallowed. I opened my eyes and saw three statues in front that were familiar. Despite that I remembered what had happened with the preacher and grimaced.

'That stupid priest should know the difference between baptizing a man and drowning one...' - I got up and looked at the statues. I realized they were George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, and the pedestals called "Father" to every of them. I saw three pilgrims praying to the statues. I looked curiously at them and went on my way for the sideways. Going up the stairs I met another pilgrim.

'The Prophet lungs full of water, to better appreciate the air.' - It made sense in a way but try to drown a person wasn't nice. I followed my path and finally found the exit doors.

'Well, here we go. I must find the girl...'- I opened the doors and I was speechless. There it was, Columbia, and I had to admit it was beautiful, really beautiful. I descended and walked toward a kind of square with the figure of the prophet who all mentioned, with a sword and pointing to the sky. On my way there were some couples talking, others enjoying a little picnic at the foot of the statue... In front of it there was a couple talking.

'Hmm. Oh, that statue... I just think it fails to capture Father Comstock's absolute... You know... Divinity!' - Comstock... I remember seeing a poster of him as the rocket went down to the church before. Then I noticed that people were wearing clothes that looked antiquated compared to mine. I saw a boy announcing the news of the day and delivering newspapers.

'Here is a newspaper sir.' - he said while offering me one and I accepted. I looked at the front page and it commented as principal holder something of a declaration of the prophet about Columbia and Lady Comstock. Then I saw the date and turned pale. It said it was 1912...

'Excuse me, could you tell me what's today's date?' - I asked to the child.

'12 July, 1912. Sir, are you okay? You're pale...' - said the child a little worried.

'Y-Yes, it's just the heat.' - I said hastily and went to a bench to sit and calm. Okay, what was happening to me became to supernatural. In addition to all the things that happened to me, I had stepped back in time, exactly 102 years. This wasn't good... In this situation, how the hell I was going back home to MY time?! I was starting to feel very bad... but I shouldn't give up. NO. Right now Ethan would have punched me in the face if he looked at me in this way.

'Don't give up. Go, find the girl and then... We'll see.'- said to myself, trying to feel better. I got up and went on my way. First I had to find the Monument Island to know where to go. In the street I saw a cart with a horse and I realized it wasn't real. It was mechanical and it seemed to work thanks to electricity. In my mechanical engineering career they didn't show me anything like that... It's 1912 and they already have really cool things.

I kept walking and found the street blocked with a police was watching around. When I went to go back, a kind of parade with banners and blimps walked past the street. The owner explained the story of how an angel (Columbia) appeared to Comstock and taught him the future. He then decided to mount a floating city to get away from Sodom below. Of course, as simple as that... The bridge rose after the parade passed and the road was opened.

'All clear! Good luck at the raffle, folks!' - said the police after he allowed to pass. I followed my path and I realized that people looked at me weird because of my cloths. I quickened my pace and came to another entry in which I found myself facing a huge golden figure. It was floating away from my location. Then I took the brochure of the Monument Island and saw it was the same. Okay, that's where she is...

'Telegram, Mr. Clark.' - looked down and saw a child with a card. - 'A telegram for you, sir.'

'Thank you.' - I took the card and read it while the guy made a salute and ran away.

"Clark. STOP.

Do not alert Comstock of your presence. STOP.

Whatever you do, do not pick number #77. STOP.

- Lutece"

Again those Lutece... Well, at least someone was watching for me though the message let me quite confused. I followed the path until I reached a fair and saw a group of people gathered in front of man. He was promoting bottles with- OH MY GOD. On each side of the barker, there were two men who were disguised like demons and were showing what looked like super powers: fireballs, electricity control... Okay, I want those bottles. I moved through the fair and I saw another barker on a stage showing... A mechanical giant! It had the head of a normal man and in the middle of his body I could see a human heart beating inside of a crystallized hollow, everything else was mechanical. I'm starting to think our time hasn't advanced as much as I thought. I kept walking around the fair and found a small tent with an aiming challenge.

'Here sir! Come here and prove your aiming by defeating some Vox!' - said the man of the tent. A little fun wouldn't hurt so I went and he gave me a pellet rifle. - 'It's free and if you make a good score, you will get a great reward.' - I nodded and he activated the game. Several figures appeared and I fired quickly, moving the rifle to all the sides. The barker encouraged me and heard people whispering behind but I stayed focused on the game. I kept firing nonstop and only missed two shots so should have secured the first position. The time ended and the man approached me.

'Awesome! It looks like we have a future hero who will defeat the Vox!' - said the man giving me the prize (20 pieces of silver). My grandfather taught me to shoot if one day something happened and I played hockey for a long time. I can say my aim was pretty good. I turned and saw a small group of people who applauded me for my performance. I laughed nervously and I saw a small group of girls who were throwing me glances and laughed. I noticed I was getting red and I continued my way. I think I hadn't been so nervous since I started dating my ex-girlfriend.

I went to the next way but I was blocked by a gate and there was an automaton which also seemed to be a kind of vending machine.

'Sorry son but all tickets for the raffle have been sold out!' - Great, now I have to find another way to continue and this city wasn't easy. A woman with a basket with bottles called me.

'Dear friend, have you ever lost a penny to a vending machine? Well, it's time to regain control of the Metal Men! Show who's the boss with "Possession"! - I liked the sound of that and approached to her.

'How much?' - The girl smiled seductively at me and gave me a bottle.

'Since this is a new vigor and you're my first customer of the day, it's free for you.' - I took the bottle and examined it. The bottle contained a green liquid and the lid was a woman lying with an elegant pose and a heart on the top. I removed the lid and drank the content that tasted like lemonade but more sweet. My vision became blurred and the woman formed a green heart with her hands in front of me. - 'With just a whisper, they're all ears...' - She whispered me seductively and threw to me the heart by blowing a kiss. Suddenly the vapor of the same heart returned to her and covered her while she was laughing. After that, I had a little shake and everything returned to normal.

'Wow... Thanks.' – I thanked her thoughtfully and she nodded still smiling at me. I went to the automaton and looked it doubtful. - 'What now?'

Then, I didn't know how but I had like an "idea" and raised my arm to the machine, as I was going to throw something. In my hand the same green vapor from before appeared and take the form of a woman. It went to the machine and this took a green aura.

'Well, if it isn't Assemblyman Buford! Your spot at the raffle awaits.'- said the robot and the gate was opened. I looked surprised at the automaton and then at my hand. The same female figure appeared at my fingers and curled them, like it was embracing them. I didn't know how but it was like my mind knew what to do with that power without any instructions.

'Not bad.' – Passed the gate and found myself face to face with a man and a woman who were clearly twins: they were redheads and both wore the exact same clothes (brown jacket and vest with a white shirt and green tie), except that she was wearing a brown skirt. He had a table with "Heads/ Tails" and there were marks in the first part. She only had one dish.

'Heads?' - He asked.

'Or tails?' - Then asked her.

'Excuse me, I must go.' – they didn't move and the man gave me a coin.

'Heads?' 'Or tails?' - asked both again. I sighed and threw the coin onto the plate she was carrying.

'Heads.' - They both looked at the coin and the man looked at the woman.

'Told you.' - She made a little grin and marked in the "Heads" side. Looks like she didn't like the result... - 'Never find that as satisfying as I'd imagined.'

'Chin up. There's always a next time.' - She said while lifting his chin with a touch.

'I suppose there is.'

They both went to a side and I looked at them curiously. That was weird and the fact they spoke in different times was even more but they were twins so... I went to continue my journey and I noticed something strange. I turned to ask them a few questions but they were gone. I looked around but they had disappeared without trace and that made me nervous. I didn't know who those two were but I had the feeling I was being watched.

This chapter was another intro but this time of Columbia. The next ones will have more action, promise to update the next tomorrow (or try it). If you have something to say, just post a review. It would help me a lot to improve the story and also to make me write more faster! :)