I heard some groundstrokes and I gradually waking up. I was very tired and all my body was hurting. When I opened my eyes, I noticed I was in my room but I was lying on the floor beside my bed. I should have fallen while sleeping...

'Marc?' - Called me a familiar voice from the door. - 'Marc!' - I got up at the insistence and saw Elizabeth resting on my desk.

'Elizabeth? W-what are you doing here?'

'Save the girl... and you can go home.' - She said in a monotone voice, showing no expression.

'Are you okay? ' - I asked to her over and she just hummed the same song I heard in the church without showing any reaction. Then again someone knocked the door again.

'Marc! Get up now and get out there!' - wait, that voice…

'E-Ethan?' – I couldn't believe… It's impossible. Maybe I was dead and therefore I could listen him...

'Don't stand there and MOVE!' - Again he knocked more insistently and I approached. It was impossible but... what if he really was behind the door? Finally I opened it and instead to find him, a blinding light engulfed me.

While my senses awakened, I noticed that something my chest pressed several times and something soft pressing my lips. Then I noticed a familiar feeling when the water that I had swallowed wanted out and I started to cough hard. I turned to the side and finally the drowning feeling disappeared.

'Water… I hate it!' - I swear I won't go to any beach or pool in a long time.

'Marc?' - Back to a normal position, I saw Elizabeth looking at me very worried.

'Where am I?

'Back to the land of the living.' - Responded with a smile. - 'Are you all right? '

'Yes but I are hurt... ' - I said trying to sit up.

'Let me help you ' - she pulled my hand but suffered a sharp pain. When I complained, she left my hand. - 'I'm sorry! I didn't...'

'It's ok. Just… give a minute…'- . I said feeling to exhausted and fell in the sand. I need vacation...

'Do you hear that?' - I looked and saw her looking aside. Then she looked at me with a huge smile. Those blue eyes... – 'It's music!' - I listened carefully and could hear music in the distance.

'Go, I'll stay here a while.'

'Really?' – I nodded and she smiled again. – 'I won't be long. I won't be long, Marc.' – she said very anxious and left running. I could not help smiling at his reaction and closed my eyes. Just 5 minutes...

. . . . .

I opened my eyes and blinked. I didn't know how much time passed but hoped it wasn't much. I got up and my ribs were still hurting but with less intensity than before. I looked around and saw I was beach. And yes, a floating breach. I didn't know how they did it but it was awesome. The area was full of bathers but didn't see Elizabeth anywhere. I found that my guns were fine and hid them under my jacket, plus hide my tattoo. I went to the only way out of this beach and saw two men talking near a stairs.

'Excuse me, have you seen a girl come by? Brunette, blue skirt...?'

'She passed this way. That doll is with you?' - said with a smile and could not help myself red.

'Uhh, yeah. Something like.'- . The other man laughed and patted me on the back.

'You're a lucky bastard. Don't let her escape.' – I let out a nervous laugh and thanked the men your support. Climbing the stairs, I saw a sign that caught my attention.

'The First Ladyairship... We could use it to get out of Columbia.' - As I approached to the next beach, the music sounded clear so I should be doing right. The area was much larger and also there were more people. A band was playing at the end of a pier with couples dancing in front. I walked down the runway and saw Elizabeth dancing with a man. Then she separated from him and danced alone while people clapped to her following the rhythm. He looked so focused and happy that she didn't realize that I was approaching. - 'Miss?'

'Hello! Oh, this is wonderful! Oh come, dance with me, Marc!' - she said extending her hands toward me. I felt really nervous, I haven't danced since I was with my ex-girlfriend at a party and that was quite some time ago. Furthermore, I didn't know the type of dancing they were doing.

'Uhh... I-'

'Come on! Come with me!' - she said grabbing my hand and dragging me to the center. I had no idea where to start but Elizabeth guided me with his movements and people cheered us. She kept laughing and I couldn't help smiling. How have they locked someone so cheerful and innocent in a tower all her life? The song ended and I took Elizabeth to drag off the track while the other couples returned to dance.

'Elizabeth, I know you're having a great time but we gotta go.'

'Why? What could be better than this?' - she said extending her arms and turning on herself. Escape from the city before they started to shoot me? Then I saw the airship passing over us and I had an idea after I remembered what happened in the tower.

'What about Paris?' - after I mentioned the word, she looked me surprised but his eyes shone with curiosity.

'Paris? I don't understand... How we could get there?' - then I pointed to the dirigible.

'That airship could take us there but if you prefer to stay here and dance ... ' - I glanced at her with a grinning. When she saw the ship, she grabbed my arm.

'No! Let's go! C'mon let's go! C'mon let's go right now!' - exclaimed dragging and pushing me down the catwalk.

'Easy! Easy!' - Elizabeth danced down the ramp and looked around her...

'I'm out. It's hard to believe but it's true… isn't it?' - then she sniffed the air. - ' Oh, can you smell that? I've never smelled anything like that before, have you?

'It's the smell of freedom, Elizabeth. Now you are free '- . I replied with a smile.

'I still haven't thanked you for what have you done for me.'

'It's okay. For now let's go to find the First lady.'- . She nodded with a big smile and we moved.

'I don't how they did it but this place looks almost looks like a real beach.'

'It's just a complicated series of rain collectors.' – after she saw me looking at her, she shrugged. – 'I read a book about this place.'

We entered into a shop and passed the security turnstiles. Inside there were a few barrels with posters of Comstock and some of them were hanging on the walls.

'Marc look, Comstock. I've read about him. They say he can see the future.'

'Give a man a little power, he falls in all kinds of love with himself. ' - I muttered so no one else heard.

'I don't like his look.' – when she said that, the shop owner looked at her with a frown.

'Do you dislike the look of the Prophet? Or his gaze?'

'She wanted to say... Maybe his expression doesn't show his greatness.'- . I said quickly.

'Oh, I see! I'll have to return this material then... Thanks for your opinion sir.'- . I nodded and dragged Elizabeth out of the store.

'Why did you lie?'

'Trust me, it's better not to speak bad of Comstock in this city.' – we left the store and went up the stairs. Then my ribs hurt again and Elizabeth realized.

Huh. That fall into the water did you no favors. I'll keep an eye for something that might ease your pain.'

'Thanks though I owe you a big one for getting me out of there.'

'You owe me nothing.' – replied smiling. - 'You got me out from the tower so I'm the one who should be in debt.' - Then went ahead and told me to come over me. - 'Marc, here! Come, see this ' - . Closer to were the Lutece holding a pillow each other.

'Look who's there... '

'We are glad you still stand, Mr. Clark. '

'Yeah, right.' - If they had warned me about the giant bird, things would be better...

'A choice for the lady.' - informed Rosalind and both offered the pillows to Elizabeth. They had two little boxes.

'The bird?' 'Or the cage?' 'Or perhaps the bird?' 'Nothing beats the cage.' - Again with their turns when they talk. I approached to Elizabeth and she turned with the boxes in each hand.

'Look at these, they are amazing! Which one do you like more? This one.. or this?' - she said while showing me two brooches. They had a black center with an elegant contour and one had a bird and the other a cage, both in white. - ' The bird is beautiful, and... the cage is somber, but there's really something special on it.'

'Eh, well...' – Some time ago I had to choose some jewelry and gifts for my ex or my mother/ sister but it was always a difficult choice. As she had said, the bird was nice and somehow represented freedom. I was about to choose that but then I looked more closely at the cage. There was something special on it...

'Which one would you choose?

'I choose the cage.'

'Are you sure? ' - I nodded and she returned the bird brooch to it pillow. Robert stared at me thoughtfully.

'Interesting, the cage...'

"... and the key. Perhaps this combination can make work everything.'- . Rosalind continued looking at me too. Then I remembered that I had taken the key from the door of the tower and instinctively put my hand in my pocket, touching it. What did they mean? Elizabeth put the brooch on the chocker on her neck and showed me.

'I love it! How do I look? '

'It suits you.' - replied with a smile. - 'Maybe you should thank-' - I turned to the Lutece but they were gone. -I hate when they do that!

'My God... Look.' - I followed and everyone was looking in the same direction. The Monument Island was still standing but the top was completely destroyed and smoke was coming out of there. I looked at her and saw Elizabeth with a sad expression.

'Are you okay?'

'It was my home...' - put a hand on her shoulder trying to comfort her and saw people shattered. Some were crying, others were kneeling on the floor, praying.

'We should go.' - I said looking around uneasily and she nodded. We went into a building and saw the police at the center checking people in search of "anarchists". I quickly looked for an alternative way and saw a door. I took Elizabeth there and a man who was sitting on floor looked at us suspiciously.

'Hey, hey copper! Look at these! They look suspicious, if you ask me!' – he said clearly drunk. I looked at him feeling angry and nervous.

'But we don't... " - Elizabeth said clearly confused.

'All right, all right. Quiet down there, Pete. Just go home and dry yourself out.'- . replied the police without looking in our direction. The man grunted and fell back asleep. After checking that no one was looking, I went to the door but I couldn't open it.

'Damn, it's closed.'- Elizabeth looked curiously lock and pulled out her hairpin. - 'What are you doing?!' - I asked/muttered her when I saw she was trying to pick the lock. I covered her so nobody could see what she was doing.

'You're a roguish type, what does it look like?'

'Should I feel offended?' - I asked myself frowning. That had hurt me a bit...

'Done!' – Well, she had managed to open the door in under a minute. That was… awesome. We went quickly and looked amazed.

'Where did you learn to pick locks?'

'Trapped in a tower with nothing but books and spare time? You would be surprised what I know how to do.'- . she Said with a proud smile.

'Maybe you could teach me some day.'

'Maybe ... ' - said thoughtfully and I knew she was trying not to smile. We reached the employee area and saw a vending machine. - 'Hey Marc, I found a silver eagle. You could buy something to ease your pain.'- She throw me the money and I took it in the air. I went to the vending machine and bought a small first aid kit with various treatments and pain killers. I took a vial from it and immediately eased my pain. Then we advanced and we met a couple who looked familiar to me.

Hey… hey mister. ' - Called me an African American woman with a smile. Then I recognized them.

'Hey! You two are the couple from the raffle '- Said with a big smile. Elizabeth looked at us curiously but she said nothing. - "I see you were able to escape.'

'Yeah, and we wouldn't have done it without your help.' - Said the man really grateful. - "We wanted to thank you in some way. This is all we have.'- he offered me his hand that was full of coins.

'I can't accept your money. You need it more than me so...'- I looked in my pocket and took out several coins. - 'This is for you.' - I deposited the money in the same hand of man and the couple looked at me surprised.

'But sir-'

'No buts. Now put yourself safe and be careful.'- Said with a smile and offered my hand to the man. She almost started to cry and looked at me very grateful.

'God bless you.'

'Daisy always said someone like would come along.' - Said the man accepting my greeting. - 'We'll never forget you, sir.'

The couple left embraced and I looked with a smile. Then I turned and saw Elizabeth staring at me with the sweetest expression I had seen so far.

'Did you help them?'

'They were in trouble and I just did what I could... ' - said with a shrug. The two continued walking and Elizabeth kept looking at me with a grin.

'I'm glad to have a partner with such a good heart.' - I looked surprised and smiled.

'Well, I'm glad to have a partner with an amazing ability to open locks. Seriously, you have to show me how to do it.'

'We'll see.' - Replied laughing.

We went into a kind of arcade shop and, considering I was used to cool arcade games, watching those games with automated small animals and puppets was... weird. Elizabeth approached to a seller who had cotton candy and watched him curiously.

'What is it?' - The man smiled and gave her one.

'One for the lady. It's free.'- She picked it up and I laughed at her expression of confusion.

'Try it, you'll like.' – she didn't look sure so I took a piece and ate it. - 'If you don't eat it, I will.' - In the end it took a piece and try it, her eyes widened.

'It's really sweet!' - Said with a big smile I smiled and took a bottle of soda which also was free. After finishing, we continued our way and went to pass another security turnstiles. Then a woman with official cloths stopped Elizabeth.

'Annabelle?'

'Excuse me?'

'Annabelle, it's me! Esther!'

'Oh, no. I'm not Annabelle.'

'Are you sure?'

'My name is Elizabeth. Do I know you?'

'Elizabeth… Isn't that a lovely name?' - Said the official and passes the security turnstiles without another word. We both looked at each other confused.

'That was odd.' – muttered Elizabeth.

'Let's keep moving.' - I had a bad feeling. After passing the security zone, one of the employees announced the park was closed. What a coincidence... When we finally arrived at the ticket office, the bad feeling increased. Didn't know why but everything was very quiet and the people who were around seemed to be placed very carefully. I rang the bell from the ticket office and the seller looked at me while talking on the phone.

'Two tickets for passage to the First Lady airship.'

'Yeah, just a minute, friend.'- then he returned to the phone. I didn't know what he was talking about but we really needed to keep going quickly...

'We are in hurry.' – I said nervously but he ignored me. I didn't like this... - 'Excuse me, can I get some help here?'

'Certainly… Sorry for the WAIT!' - suddenly he pulled a knife from under the table and stabbed it in my right hand before I could react.

'Get off me!' - I looked over my shoulder and saw a man trying to grab Elizabeth. I quickly went to take off the knife and -

'FUUUCK!' - I couldn't help crying when I felt pangs of intense pain as I took it off. My hand was bleeding and hurt as hell but I had no time. I pulled out the machine gun and shot at the man who had tried to get Elizabeth. She screamed in terror and turned away while I was going to attack a man who brought a shotgun from a violin case. He dodged and attacked me. One shot was enough to break my shield and I had to cover behind a pillar. After recovery, I fired again and finally got rid of it but there were two more men. I moved fast and I was shooting non-stop until finally I finished with them. After that I went to Elizabeth but she was gone and the place was completely blocked by gates. Then I heard whistles and footsteps approaching quickly this way. I took the shotgun from the first enemy and prepared. Alone against the world again…

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! The story will be more entertaining now Elizabeth is around there. Udpate soon!