After meeting the Lutece, we saw people boarding a flying boat with all the belongings they could carry and encouraging others to go up.

'It's incredible how things have changed... Comstock's people now are trying to escape. '

'Where do you think are all these people going?'

'Wherever the Vox Populi aren't.'

Both continued moving towards a square and then I heard gunshots. As I pulled out my rifle, Elizabeth called a tear to make appear a cover and both hid there. I was shooting enemies I had in sight but then I saw a rocket going to me. Before it reached me, I hid behind the cover. I looked out and saw a tear... a water puddle?

'I have an idea. Call the tear from there and cover.'

'Done.' - Elizabeth did it and quickly hid as I ran and moved in a way so my enemies would go to the puddle. When they were all inside, I sent an electric shock and finished them quickly. After making sure the area was clear, Elizabeth and I continued on our way. We saw a door locked by a lock and Elizabeth began to work with it.

'What is it about that song that brings in the bird?'

'It always has. When I was younger, I used to be excited when I heard it.'

'Excited?' - I repeated in surprise. She nodded, still focused in the lock.

'He was all I had. He fed me. Bought me books. He was… my friend.'

'It's understandable after being alone all your life.'

'Until I grew up. And then I hated him. Because he was my warden. But he's just Comstock's mascot, isn't he? Just like me.'-Then there was a click and the lock fell to the ground. Elizabeth went to move but I stopped her taking her hand.

'You're not Comstock's mascot. You are Elizabeth, the girl who is going to get out of this place.'- Said with a smile. She smiled sweetly and we walked inside. Then our smiles disappeared. On the top of a fallen Comstock statue, there was a board with the scalps of the most important men of Columbia on there and bloody corpses everywhere. On the board there was a place ready for Comstock's scalp.

'Fitzroy's no better than Comstock ... You meant this before, right?' - said Elizabeth, looking horrified at the scalps.

'I feared this was going to happen. Once there's a revolution, it's very difficult to calm down people and do the right... things.'- saw her pale and made her to turn away. - 'Let's go.'

We collected supplies that found around the room and continued our way. In one corridor we found two Vox but they were too distracted moving bodies. In a few minutes I ended up with them and continued. We went to a gondola station and one coming through the rails.

'This prophecy business ... You don't think anyone can really see the future, do you?' - asked Elizabeth as we approached.

'I saw something once, when I first got here… a dream. It was Montreal in my time, but burning and being attacked by Comstock airships while Columbia was floating in the sky.'

'Hmmm. Hope none of the Prophet's "magic" is rubbing off on you.'- I smiled and saw the gondola was reaching our position. Then I dragged Elizabeth to a cover when I saw Vox inside the ship and with a motored patriot that had Lincoln's face. I heard a flash and another patriot appeared beside me but this was on our side. As the two robots were too busy shooting to each other, I went out and shoot the vox who were still in the gondola. When I finished with them, I saw the "bad" patriot destroying the other but when it turned to me, a shock and a grenade were expecting him. After finishing with the enemies, we went to the cabin and Elizabeth opened the small room where the gondola controls were. When I activated the lever, it slowly began to move up and saw two figures placed on a platform on each side of the rails. As we approached, I realized they were the Lutece.

'I just realized who these two are.' - said Elizabeth watching while them. I saw them playing baseball and I frowned. - 'They... well, at least she... invent the technology that allows the city to float.'

'Giant balloons?' - She shook her head.

'Quantum particles, suspended in space-time at a fixed height.'

'No giant balloons then...' – said, pretending disappointment.

'But the thing is, my books said they disappeared several years ago...' – the gondola approached to other two platforms and with big billboards. This time Rosalind was posing with an apple and Robert was painting on a canvas.

'I told you they'd come.' - Robert said.

'No, you didn't.' 'Right. I was GOING to tell you they'd come .' 'But you didn't.' 'But I DON'T.' 'You sure that's right?'- When we passed them, I turned and saw that on the canvas he was painting himself.

'Something tells me they're not exactly what they appear.' – muttered Elizabeth.

'I was going to HAVE told you they'd come?' - Robert asked.

'No.' 'The subjunctive?' 'That's not the subjunctive.' 'I don't think the syntax has been invented yet.' 'It would have had to have had been.' 'Had to have… had… been? That can be right.'- Hearing their bewildering conversation, I frowned more. Each time I heard them, I was more confused...

'They seem to want to help. '- said Elizabeth.

'Yes, indeed they have helped me since I came here. Although they also seem to be totally crazy.'-Said with a long sigh. I saw them in next platform with another billboard, this time dancing with a gramophone.

'Odd, isn't it?' – said Rosalind.

'What's odd?' 'The fact that we sometimes...' '…finish each other's sentences?'

'Exactly.' – I said at the same time like Rosalind and Elizabeth couldn't help laughing.

'It would be odder if we didn't.' - Robert said.

'How do they suppose they manage that?' – asked Elizabeth.

'I'll answer your question when I finish figuring out the "floating city" things. - I said frowning again and Elizabeth laughed again. I really liked the sound of her laugh. When the gondola stopped, we were in another small station and we climbed the stairs. We saw a sign of a baby with a halo illuminating her figure.

'The seed of the Prophet shall sit on the throne. He was grooming me, wasn't he?'

'So it seems. I've seen signs like this throughout Columbia.'

'Then why he locked me up?'

'Frankly, I'm not sure. I also think it's strange.' - we continued up and heard voices. In the next room there were two Vox mocking at a few corpses. I saw that they were above a pool of oil and threw a grenade before they could react. They began to scream in pain until they fell dead. - 'Sorry...'

'Sometimes you apologize when you kill your enemies.' – said Elizabeth, looking at me sad.

'They are my enemies... but no one deserves such a death.' - said crestfallen. We walked through the long corridors and found a bar called "Salty Oyster". - 'There's a bar. We could get some rest. '

'Sounds like a great idea.' - Elizabeth went to the door and opened the lock that was blocking it. She was to going to enter but I stopped her.

'Stay here a minute. I'll make sure it's a safe place '-. Elizabeth nodded and stood at the entrance while I prepared my rifle. I entered and walked slowly as she looked around me. Suddenly three enemies appeared on both sides of the room and quickly fired before they could do anything. After that, I didn't see anyone else. - 'All clear.'

Elizabeth came in and then we looked around. It seems that hurried to leave this place, probably to escape from the Vox. There was still food and drinks on the tables and also and some bottles were broken on the floor. Then we saw a table that was empty and both sat there. As I sit in the comfortable seats, I took a long breath and leaned my head on the table. I noticed how Elizabeth I was staring at me while laughing.

'You are really exhausted.'

'Getting shot every 5 minutes is not funny.' - Raised my head and looked at the bar. - 'Do you want anything? What about food, drink...?'

'Whatever you find.' - said with a smile and I stood up. When I approached to the bar, I only found bottles and bottles of alcohol. When I looked inside, I saw a small bowl with fruit. I took the bowl and a soda, and went back to the table.

'It's the most decent thing I found.' - I said while sitting and letting the fruit bowl in front of her.

'Thank you.' - Said picking an apple. I opened the soda and took a drink. There was nothing better than sugar after several battles... - 'Can I ask you something?'

'Sure.' – replied and saw Elizabeth looking thoughtfully at the apple.

'Why did you break up with your girlfriend...?' - I looked surprised at her for the question.

'Why do you want to know?'

'It's just curiosity.' - He said with a shrugging but I knew that wasn't the real reason. Anyway… I didn't care.

'We were a normal couple. We knew each other since high school, we became friends and… well, we decided to be more than that. When Ethan died, she was very attentive with me and tried to help me as she could but... when everything passed, both talked and we realized that our relationship wouldn't work. '

'But... nothing happened between you?' - Asked surprised. - 'Anything that had caused your break?'

'The truth is that... no, at least not to my knowledge. Anyway we are still friends and they told me she has a new boyfriend. He seems to be better than me.'-Said laughing, remembering the jokes that my friends made. Just because he was 1.90...

'I don't understand that another man can be better than you.' - After hearing that, I looked at her surprised.

'Huh... what?'

'I mean... I've never had a boyfriend but you are brave, sweet, funny...' - as we kept talking, was more surprised. - 'You're like the perfect man for women.'

'Wow... thanks.' - I said scratching my head as I felt my cheeks burning me. - 'Although sometimes that isn't enough. Some prefer them to be much stronger, more handsome...'

'So you are.' - I forgot what I was going to say and watched her, with my jaw opened. She had her chin in one hand as she looked at the apple while frowning. She still hadn't noticed...

'Let me make an observation but you're the first woman who tells me all that directly.' - Then she looked up and her eyes widened. When I saw that her face was beginning to acquire a bright red tone, I knew she had realized. Then I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

'Don't laugh!' - Said as she was throwing a grape from the bowl.

'Sorry.' - I said trying to calm down and then smiled. - 'I'll get supplies at bar.'

'I'll go with you.' – she said avoiding my eyes. I stood behind the bar and looked for anything that wasn't alcohol.

'How is having someone... with you?' - asked timidly.

'It's difficult to explain in words...' - said something dubious. – 'It's like you have the person you love next to you, for anything.'

'How do you know that that person is the ideal partner?' - asked and looked at me intently. These questions were really difficult to answer...

'Only time will show whether or not the relationship works.' - said with a shrug. Elizabeth nodded and sat on a stool that was in front of the bar. I put a hand over hers and approached to the bar. - 'Are you trying to tell me something with this?'

'I...' - I saw her cheeks getting red and looked down. - 'Eh, well ...'

'Well, if this helps you...' - she glanced at me, waiting me to continue and noticed that I was trembling slightly. I also noticed that my whole face was burning. - 'I…. well, I... I like you.'

'Oh...' – muttered Elizabeth and her cheeks reddened more. We both stared to each other and slowly approached. Elizabeth looked like she wanted to say something but we were so close... Suddenly I heard a click and something moved aside. Both jumped by the surprise and I turned with my gun raised. The noise had been a door that had opened.

'That door wasn't open.' - said her, approaching the door.

'Yeah... I'd checked before.' - I said, lowering my gun and cursing mentally. We had been so close... Then I noticed that under the cash register there was a button and was the one that opened the door. We walked to the secret room which was the kitchen.

'Strange... Why block the kitchen?'- asked Elizabeth as I walked through the small room. Inside one of the tops there were two bottles: an infusion and a bottle that looked like a vigor.

'I suppose for this. These bottles are highly valued here.'- first drank the infusion and then I looked the other bottle. I had a bright golden hue and the lid was shaped like the head of a Spartan. I removed the cap and drank the contents that had a very strong flavor but I couldn't figure the taste. Then I felt a strong tingling in my fingers and I looked at my hands. My fingers blackened with the rest of my hands and the bones showed up but I was surprised that these were transparent. Small waves of energy fluttered at full speed around my hands until there was a flash and everything returned to normal.

'That was weird.' - Said flexing my fingers.

We'd better keep going.' - Said Elizabeth and I nodded. When I went to the door, Elizabeth went next to me and then took my hand slowly. I looked her surprised and saw her blushing looking down. I couldn't help but smile and squeezed her hand.

'Let's go.'

When we follow our path and climbed to the next floor, we found several Vox and an fireman waiting us. After several minutes, I took care of them easily and we went to another floor. The room was more spacious and there were Vox everywhere plus a motorized patriot. I saw some sandbags and both ran toward it. I started to shoot all the Vox I could but they were everywhere.

'MARC! NEXT YOU!'- warned me Elizabeth. I turned and saw two Vox ready to shoot me. I went to attack them but one of them shot first and my gun fell from my hands. Seeing that they were going to attack again, I stood in front of Elizabeth and covered myself with my arms. I heard the shots but nothing happened. When I looked at them, I saw they were looking at me surprised and then I looked my hands. Small balls of energy were floating in my hands and saw the bullets inside. Without hesitation, I threw the ball to them and it exploded with all the shrapnel. I turned to the others and saw a gunner ready to fire with his RPG. When he attacked, I raised one of my hands and the rocket was absorbed by the ball. I threw the ball with the rocket into my enemies and it exploded, killing several enemies at once. I returned to my cover and looked at my hand.

'That power... Maybe you can use it to...' – muttered Elizabeth. We looked at each other and smiled. I left my cover and let the Vox attack me. I absorbed all the bullets I could and threw them against the patriot. It fell to the ground after two explosions and stopped moving. I took advantage of the confusion to get my rifle and attack all Vox. As I went to the cover again, Elizabeth handed me a bottle of salts and drank it quickly. I heard how the fireman roared and I left my hide. I shot him quickly and threw bucking bronco to raise him and the enemies up. After finishing with them, I kept going, shooting the rest of Vox until finally the room fell silent. Elizabeth and I moved quietly through the long corridors, trying to ignore the civilians who were been executed and were still kneeling under a pool of blood. Elizabeth opened the lock of a gate that was blocking the only possible way. When it opened, she called a tear and a metal coverage appeared. We run to it and hide before our enemies could attack.

'It's him! I'll get him...' - said one of the Vox trying to attack me with his but I was well hidden.

'Like hell!' – replied another Vox and started to fight about who was going to kill me first. I wasn't sure whether to laugh.

'Dibs on his boots...' 'Ha! Dibs on the girl!'- Oh no, that won't happen.

'You won't lay your hands on her, you bastard!' - I shouted and fired with my rifle into the second man. Before he could react, he fell dead to the ground. I saw that the first was on a balcony and saw a tear with a hook above him. - 'That one of there!'

'Done!' - replied Elizabeth and ran forward as she called tear. My shield protected me from the attacks and went up to kill my enemy quickly. After that, I went back down and Elizabeth and I walked up to the turnstile.

'You've got a little violent when that Vox has spoken in that way about me.'

'It makes me angry they talk in that way, especially about you.' - replied clenching my fists. We passed a security turnstiles to go to the next room that was a small office and moved towards the only exit was a elevator. When I pressed the button to call it, I realized a code was needed. - 'Can you do something with this?'

'It's a simple two dual-dial lock.' - said Elizabeth as she approached to examine the panel. – 'My books said most fools keep the combination no more than twenty feet away.'

'Hopefully one of the many fools of Columbia was here.' - I said as I approached to the long tables laden with papers, books and junk. While I was looking for anything helpful, I couldn't help thinking how easily she had deduced the type of lock. - 'You're really good with the locks.'

'If you put a person in a cage, they develop an interest in such things.'

'Well said.' - said smiling. I put away a few books and then I saw a paper with four numbers. - '0451. I have it.'

Then Elizabeth put her hand over mine and looked at her. She put a finger to her lips to be quiet and pointed behind her. A curtain wall slid up, revealing a golden statue and began to whistle a familiar tune. There was a strong tremor and heard the big bird whistling. Elizabeth put her hands on my shoulders and forced me to hide under the table. Songbird's whistling whistles sounded louder and suddenly there was a strong tremor that made several objects to fell and traces of dust fell from the ceiling. When everything calmed down, I looked carefully and looked at the huge window. Suddenly the bird came and looked through the glass and then he broke it into pieces. He used eye as flashlight to search us and I hurried to hide again. I saw how the light was passing around above us and I noticed how Elizabeth grabbed my hand tightly. Finally Songbird whistled again and disappeared from the window. Slowly I got up as I looked out again and gave a long sigh.

'That was close.' – I looked at Elizabeth but she wasn't next. I looked around and saw her approaching quickly to the elevator panel. - 'Elizabeth?'

'Promise me.' - said quietly staring at the panel.

'I'll stop him.' - I said with determination, referring to the giant bird.

'No. That is an oath you cannot keep. '-. Said looking down, like she surrendered. Then she took my hand and held it to her as if she wanted me to touch her face. - 'But promise me, if it come to it...' - then looked at me with serious gesture and put my hand around her slender neck. – '... won't let him take me back.'

I looked at her in shock as I tried to assimilate just asked me. She was... she was really asking me...

'No... NO!' - I said removing my hand from her neck and stepped away from her.

'Marc, please...' - she said pleadingly but I kept refusing.

'It won't come to that. Never! I would rather kill myself than do that to you.'- Said looking into her eyes and then I grabbed her from her shoulders. - 'Listen to me: I'll get you out of here even if I have to die and neither this Comstock nor the giant bird will stop me.

She looked at me as she was going to cry and nodded. Then I hugged her and felt how her body tensed in surprise. When we separated, I smiled widely.

'Let's find the old man and let's get out of here.' - Said offering my hand. She finally looked at me and smiled.

'Thank you.' - Said grabbing my hand. I turned around and put the code into the panel. The doors opened and we stepped inside the elevator. This began to descend slowly and saw the outside from the glass. There were ships flying around with Vox and the founders attacking them with RPGs. – 'Look! The Vox are tearing this place apart.'

Then a saw two rockets coming towards us from the ship and I hugged Elizabeth to protect her. One of the rockets stopped the elevator and the other one broke the glass with its explosion. As everything calmed, I looked out. The elevator couldn't continue and the only way out was via skylines.

'Follow me and keep close to me.' – said to her and she nodded. I pulled out my machine gun and looked out again. I saw the lines went until a huge balcony and decided to go there. I jumped and moved fast my skyhook while I was shooting some enemies but I noticed they were busy attacking themselves. When I reached the balcony, quickly I covered and took a sniper rifle that was close. I shouted the biggest enemies as the gunners and attacked them quickly, trying to not fail my shots. I saw some enemies approaching to us from the skylines but a few grenades were enough to beat them. Elizabeth called a tear that was a air turret and it attacked the enemies from the ship so I had less work to do. When I finishing attacking the rest of enemies, I heard a loud horn and looked confused around. I saw another ship coming and it had several gunners and… Oh crap…

'¡Handyman!' – warned me Elizabeth as the giant jumped from the ship to the other one and broke hitting it with his big hands. Then it took a piece of metal and threw it to the turret, destroying it instantly. When he finished, he looked at where we are. Yeah, I had a big problem.

I'M BACK! First of all: I'm sorry. It so long to publish the next chapter because I was finishing my last works and days of this course... but good news! I finished uni for this year so I'm free!

Second: I had some problems to finish this chapter as I wasn't finding new ideas but I managed to make it decent. About Liz asking Marc about his ex, I thought it could be weird but she still doesn't know how "love" works so I'm trying that things go more slowly.

As always, I'll try to publish the next chapter as soon as I can and don't forget to post your opinions!