After seeing that Elizabeth was gone, a large number of police had entered in the room and tried to kill me in all the ways. Honestly, I had been in serious trouble and after breaking my shield several times, I suffered several wounds. But thanks to the shotgun I picked and some good luck, I could finish them. Now I had to find Elizabeth.

On my way I found another infusion that helped me to ease the pain and I finally got to the gondolas. In the boarding area saw Elizabeth going to the gondola.

'Elizabeth, wait!'

'Get away from me!' - Shouted and entered to the cabin. Okay, it was my fault that she reacted that way. I shouldn't have shot that man who was trying to catch her when she was in near... but I had no choice. I went upstairs and saw her trying to move the control lever but she wasn't strong enough.

'Elizabeth...'

'Stay away from me!' – she shouted to me a went to the most furthest wall from me. The cheerful girl who was always smiling and asked me for a dance now looked at me with hatred. - 'You killed all those people. I can't believe you did that... they're all dead… You killed those people!'

'Elizabeth, I-' - tried to speak as I approached but she cut me off.

'You're a monster!' - Shouted and pushed me back. Monster... The perfect word to define me myself in that moment. Also it reactivated all the memories of all the deaths I caused. I felt my legs were shaking and the forces abandoned me. I had to lean against a wall to keep from falling, but slowly I was slide to the floor. After several minutes of silence, Elizabeth calmed down and realized I hadn't said a word and was looking down. - 'Marc?' - I came back to reality and looked at her. She gasped when saw my eyes full of pain and despair.

'You say I'm a monster... You think I wanted to kill them? If there was another option I wouldn't have done it but I had no choice... Since I set foot in this damn city, they have tried to kill me when I did nothing wrong.'- . I said almost in a whisper. - 'I try to repeat to myself over and over again that I do it in self-defense and to survive. It's the only way for me to not collapse so I can move forward but becomes increasingly more difficult ... '

'Marc... ' - I got up and stared at her.

'They won't let you go like that, Elizabeth. You are an investment for them and you won't be safe until you are far away from here.'

'What... what do they want from me?' - she asked me with an expression full of doubt and fear.

'I don't know... but this is the last time anyone gets the drop on me.' – I said focused as I clenched my fist. My wound hurt then.

'My god, Marc! Your hand!' - She gently took my hand and examined it. The court had passed my hand through the middle and, of course, also my marc. I was still bleeding but not as much as before. - ' Let me see it.' – She took her blue scarf and wrapped it around my hand to tie it firmly. - 'What happened back there... that's not the last, isn't it? '

'I don't know but if we can avoid any fight, it will be better. I'm tired of all this ... '- I said feeling tired. I activated the lever and the gondola began to ascend slowly.

'I'm sorry to call you monster. It wasn't your fault, you just did what you have to do to defend yourself.' – said feeling guilty. – 'I didn't know-'

'It's ok, you were scared and I understand your reaction.'

'But there's something….'

'What?'

'I-I want to trust you, Marc. I really want but I don't know anything about you. You appeared suddenly and I don't even know why you saved me or why are you here... you know.'- She said nervously and I nodded. It was normal that she wasn't feeling sure at all when I was a stranger to her.

'OK, I understand. But I warn you my story it's really… incredible. '

'I don't think it can be that bad. Stranger things have happened.'

'It's quite difficult. Even I can hardly believe it sometimes... I suggest you to get comfortable.'- She leaned against one of the railings of the windows and looked at me intently. I also got comfortable and prayed that she believed me because if not... I would have a big problem.

'It's… incredible' - Elizabeth finally said after hearing my story and I couldn't help but laugh.

'Well, it's the truth.'

'Now I think… everything in you is different. The way you dress, the way you speak... Even you move like a soldier.'

'I can assure you I'm not. But in my time we have progressed much in this kind of things.'

'You told me the deal was to save me so you could return to home...' - she said softly and looked at me. - 'So you saved me because of that? To go back with your family?'

'At first I had no other option. Anyway they haven't told how or when I would be back... '- I said thoughtfully. - 'Anyway, even if they did, I won't leave this place until you're completely safe.'

'But... but you don't have to risk yourself!'

'I made a promise before I met you, Elizabeth. I swore that I would take you out of this city and put you in a safe place. I'm going to do it and neither Comstock nor his friends won't stop me.'- I said really serious. She looked at me like she was going to cry and then hugged me. Her arms didn't reach around my back but she held me tight.

'Thank you.' - said in a whisper without letting me go. I smiled and hugged her. I felt something special her small form so close to me. Then the gondola reached its destination and we parted.

'Well, the sooner we get to the First Lady, the sooner we leave this place. Partner?' - I said offering my hand. She smiled and took my hand.

'Partner.'

When we entered at the Soldier's Field, I knew immediately for what was built this site: it's the typical place with subliminal advertising for children to join the army or police force. As I was looked at the huge figure of an eagle with a uniform while frowning, Elizabeth went to one side of the room.

'Look, it's a pick.' - Said picking something up.

'Do you know how to use it?' - She glanced at me and went to a door that was locked . It just took her a few seconds to open it.

'That answers your -' – I quickly grabbed her and pulled her away from the door.

'Rule N. 1: Never enter to a room that has been closed without checking any enemies or security.'

'Understood.' - She nodded. I pulled out my pistol and entered at the room. I pointed to all the sites but there wasn't any danger.

'Weird... There's usually a lot of security when a site is closed.' – We move into an office that was in the background and found a large amount of money in an open safe, an infusion and a carbine.

'With this amount of money, there should be more security.' – muttered Elizabeth. - ' It's okay to take it?'

'While they don't catch us, it's ok. And we need it more than them.'- . I replied while I was checking the carbine ammunition.

We left the room and just when we were going to move to the next part of the building the tesla that held the open area was turned off and a gate was closed immediately in front of us , forcing us to step back. Elizabeth stumbled and I caught just before she was going to fall.

'Thank you... Now how are we going to get to the airship?'

'Let me see if I can get that gate open by hand.' - I approached to the gate and put my hands in a little hollow on the edge. I could raise the structure enough to let Elizabeth and me pass through it.

'Shock Jockey. Who needs the power of company?' – said Elizabeth repeating the slogan of a vigor's poster.

'An alternative to electricity.'

'Doesn't seem to work very well.'

When we turned to a wall, we entered in a huge broadwalk with different shops, some attractions and more. Then the ground shook.

'Look!' - Elizabeth exclaimed pointing upwards. The First Lady airship passed over us at full power.

'The First Lady… Looks like it's heading for the dock'

'That will really take us to Paris?' – asked me Elizabeth feeling very anxious.

'I guess ... If not, I'll think of some way to convince the captain.' - Said with a wink and she grinned. Then I saw an ice cream shop near us and had an idea.

'Hey Elizabeth, have you ever tried vanilla ice cream with chocolate? '

'Ice cream? What's that?' - she asked clearly confused. Okay, definitely I was going to take her there.

'You are going to discover it.'

'This is delicious!' - Elizabeth cried without stopping to taste each scoop of ice cream. Since she had never tried it, I decided to ask an ice cream with every flavor available.

'I'm glad you like but eat slowly or your brain will freeze. ' – I said with a grin .

'That's impossible.' - She replied with a frown. Oh sure...

'Let me guess... You read a medical book that proves it.'

'Yes.' - Responded while lifting her chin haughtily. She looked cute when she was angry... Wait, did I really thought that?

'Well, that book didn't teach you that when you eat ice cream so fast, then you suffer a really bad headache. But go ahead... '- said while grinning more. She looked at me thoughtfully and then ate the ice cream again but this time slowly. Good girl.

'Aren't you going to eat ice cream?' - she asked me looking at my huge cup of coffee.

'No, I prefer this. I have to stay alert despite the fatigue.'

'You must be exhausted after all what happened.' - Said worriedly.

'Yeah but I'll manage.' - said and smiled to calm her. When we finished, we walked slowly while looking for the next boarding area.

'Hey Marc, how is your life in you "world"?' - she asked curiously.

'Well, study mechanical engineering at a university in Montreal. '

'Montreal... Wait, you aren't American? ' - asked me surprised.

'No, I'm Canadian. Unless I was born somewhere else and they didn't told me.'- replied laughing.

'Now I think...' - she murmured staring at me.

'What?'

'I notice a slight French accent when you speak.' - Said with a twinkle in her eyes .

'I speak French since I was a child but depending of the location and the person, I speak English. - Replied with a shrug. - 'I have never realized I had a French accent... How did you know?'

'I read a book about French phonetic and you spell some letters different.'

'Oh, I see...' – simply… wow.

'Could you teach me to speak French?' - she asked me with pleading eyes. In that moment she had the same look of a puppy that looks at you in that way to go for a walk or give it food. It was impossible to say "No" to those blue eyes...

'When we get outta here, I will... but you have to teach me how to pick locks.' - Then I offered my hand. - 'Deal?'

'Deal.' - replied with a big smile and shook my hand. After that we returned to our walk. - 'So you were telling me you were studying mechanical engineering...'

'Yeah. Before I get into this mess, I was living alone temporarily in my house because my family had gone to Halifax to see my brother Daniel. He is playing on a junior hockey team.'

'Ice Hockey?'

'Exactly.' - Said with a smile. Sure she read any book about the sport.

'Do you also play?'

'I played a while ago... Then I left it and focused on my studies.' - Honestly I didn't want to keep talking about it...

'That's why you have such good aim...

'Yes.'

'... And physic.' - After hearing that, I stopped walking and stared at her with a raised eyebrow. Her cheeks flushed and she flustered. - ' I-I... I didn't mean...'

'It's ok.'- Said calmly but I had to turn my face so she couldn't see my smile.

'How is your family?' - Asked trying to change the subject.

'My mother is a teacher in a school and my father y doctor in a hospital. As I said, my brother Daniel is playing on a junior team while he is finishing his studies and have a little sister, Juliet.'- Said with a smile while remember all them. I missed them so much...

'Your family sounds nice.' – said Elizabeth said with a sweet smile.

'It is.' – after that, we were silent for a few minutes

'Marc... Is there someone important? Any woman in your life?' – a personal question but after the others, there was nothing wrong to answer.

'I had a girlfriend but we broke.'

'Why?' - Asked me sad.

'Things didn't simply work and I was going through a bad time but both talked about it and now we're just friends.'

'Oh, I'm sorry.' - Said sadly and took my hand. - 'They say Paris is the city of love. Maybe there you can find someone special.'- Said with a smile. I smiled at his gesture but when she took my hand… I liked.

During our talk, we went to the boarding area to reach the aerodrome but the tesla allowing circulation of the gondola turned off when I activated the lever. I was having such a bad luck with electric machine… Ironical.

'Great...'

'Looks like this runs exclusively on Shock Jockey.'

'Where are we going to find that?' – asked while examined the tesla to find a way to make it work but without electricity, it was useless.

'Look! Come see the future of power in the Hall of Heroes.' - said reading a poster.

'Well. Now just have to find that place.'- Said looking around. Then a PA system rang.

'Gentlemen, the False Shepherd is loose in the streets of our fair city! Will you suffer the shame of allowing your wives and your daughters to fall prey of his machinations? Or will you act? Act for your women folk! Act for your Prophet! Act!'- I just love how they say lies and exaggerate things during an announcement...

We made our way and saw a huge sign indicating wherein the right way. In the top of a stairs that were in that area I saw movement. I dragged Elizabeth to coverage.

'What is it? Isn't that the right way?'

'Yes but we have company.' - I said as I peeked to see how many enemies there were. - 'Okay, I want you to stay behind me all the time. If you see that things get worse, run.'

'But-'

'You just do if things went wrong.'

'I won't leave you alone!' – protested her. I sighed and prepared the shotgun.

'For now stay close to me.' – counted mentally and ran out of the cover. Climbing the stairs, one of the cops saw me.

'It's him! The false -!'

Before he could finish, I shot at him and went flying by the force of the shotgun. The other policemen came running and went to shoot me. Before they could do it, I threw them several crows and they were distracted while trying to scare them. Quickly I threw a grenade to a group and I ended up with the other with my shotgun. I walked slowly to check that they were dead and sighed.

'Done.' - I turned and saw Elizabeth looking down and the look of fear from before. - 'Are you okay? Need a minute?'

'Yes, it's just a little hard for me... but I'm ok. '

'I'm sorry you have to suffer this...'

'Oh no, seriously. It's ok-'- I heard shots and turned back. I saw several policemen running from where we had been before. I changed the shotgun for the carbine and fired several times.

'Go ahead!' - She ran towards our destination and I followed her as I fired at my enemies.

'There's an elevator!'

'Call it!' – I kept shooting and while my shield was muffling the attacks. But then this just broke and then a bullet hit my shoulder. - 'FUCK!'

'It's here!' - I turned around and saw Elizabeth entering to the elevator. With my right arm, I threw crows to my enemies and ran towards her. Just as the doors were going to close, I entered in the last second. I leaned against the wall and grabbed my shoulder in a gesture of pain.

'Are you okay?' – asked me very worried. She approached and examined my shoulder injury. - 'The bullet only grazed you shoulder. The wound isn't deep, it will heal quickly.'- She gave me a health y vial and I accepted gratefully.

'That was close... At least finally we are coming to the Hall of Heroes.'

'I read a sign that it was closed until further notice.'

'Look at the good side, there won't be a line to get in.' - That made us both laugh. Suddenly the elevator stopped and the lights went out. Again, I was having such a bad luck...

'C'mon...'

'Is something wrong?' - Elizabeth asked looking at me through the emergency light. I saw a fuse box and I approached to it.

'Nothing I can't fix.' – I opened the box and pulled out the panel covering that was covering the fuses. These had a very old design compared to those that already know but I knew what to do. I took the old fuses and changed them by the spare ones. Then I heard Elizabeth let out a little cry. - 'What?'

'It's a bee, I-I hate these things!'

'Just kill it.' - I replied with a shrug.

'No, it'll sting me!'

'Elizabeth... - I warned her while giving a long sigh. It wasn't a good time to have a childish behavior...

'I have a better idea.' - I turned and saw her making a gesture that looked familiar.

'What are you doing?'

'I'm… opening… a tear! – she opened her arms and, where the wall was, now there was a window with flowers. She just did the same from the tower but seeing it so close was incredible.

'What... what is that?' – asked surprised as I approached.

"It's a tear. I used to open them all the time in my tower.'

'I see... What's a tear?' - I asked again.

'It's like... a window. A window to another world. Most of the time they're dull: a different colored towel, or tea instead pf coffee. But sometimes? Sometimes I see something amazing. And then I pull it through.'- Said as she approached the window.

'Isn't it dangerous?' - I asked not feeling sure. She smiled and offered me her hand.

'Come.' – I hesitated a few seconds and finally took her hand. Just as I was going to pass through the tear, took a deep breath and stepped. I looked at my feet and Elizabeth laughed.

'See? Nothing happened.' - I couldn't help but smile. I approached the window of the tear and a felt the fresh air. I looked at the small plants and picked a flower to give it to her. She blushed and accepted the flower.

'Thank you.' - She said, putting the flower behind her ear.

'I was thinking... maybe you could bring me back to my world.'

'What?' - I said surprised.

'The twins never told me how to go back home but after seeing your power, maybe you can do it.' - I said hopefully.

'I ... The truth is that don't dominated my power at all. Not always I can open all the tears and sometimes I have trouble even finding some of them.'- . Said sadly. I just sighed. - 'I'm sorry, Marc. I know you had high hopes on me.'

'It's ok, maybe I have been a little hasty on thinking about that option. As I said, the twins have not told me how back so there can be another way.'- . Said with a smile. - ' Is there at least a minimal option that you can find an airship there?'

'I don't think so. But there is... th-there is something... I... '- she stared at the window and a familiar figure flew on the outside. -Oh , no!

'Close it.' - I ordered to Elizabeth as I pulled out my rifle.

'I-I'm trying!' - She said spreading her arms and made an effort to close the tear. The bird came closer and went to the window.

'CLOSE IT!' - I shouted when I saw the huge monster lunging toward here. Elizabeth closed her arms and there was a flash of light. When I blinked, there was no trace of the window and the bird. Elizabeth leaned against the wall and tried to catch her breath. I was still pointing to the window that no longer existed and I gradually lowered the gun. - 'For now, better leave these tears for a while.'

'I agree.' - Elizabeth replied frowning.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! After writing this chapter, I thought to include a future scene of Marc showing some French to Elizabeth... I don't know anything about French but I promise I'll think about it, it would be awesome to write it.

See you soon qith a new chapter guys!