When I saw the handyman moving to get to our position, I grabbed Elizabeth and took her behind some sandbags that were further away.

'I have an idea but I need you to stay here.'

'But-' – she was going to protest but I stopped her.

'Listen, I have a plan but I need you to stay here to watch for tears. If you see he is going to discover you, hide again.' – when she assimilated everything I asked, she nodded.

'Okay.' - Then she hugged me tightly. For a second I thought she was going to kiss me... and I liked that idea. - 'Be careful.'

'You know I'm quite difficult to be beaten.' - said with a huge smile. After that, I turned and jumped to the skylines. I saw the handyman who was down and roared when he saw me. I moved at full speed to reach the other side but then the giant jumped and grabbed the rails. Then I heard a whistle that sounded like a defibrillator charging at full power. I had a bad feeling and without hesitation jumped to the ground. Then I saw electricity running through all the rails and that came from the handyman's hands.

'Son of bitch...' - I muttered with my jaw dropped. I had to reach the ship but just when that giant was in the ground. When he finished electrocuting the skylines, he fell to the ground and saw him crestfallen. It seems that doing that spent all his energy and needed to rest. Quickly I jumped back to the lines and I went towards the ship. I saw the gunners ready to attack and used my free hand to absorb the rockets with return to the sender. When I returned the rockets, they rushed for cover and I took the opportunity to jump to the ship. I ran to the nearest enemy and pushed him to throw him out from the ship. After that I pulled out my gun and attacked the rest of enemies. Then I heard a roar and looked over my shoulder to saw the handyman moving through the skylines. When he jumped to the ship, this bent, making to everyone stumble. I waited the right time and, as he was going to hit me with his huge metal hands, I rolled to the side and jumped to the skylines. I moved at full speed and saw Elizabeth on the balcony.

'That tear from there!' - She looked where I was pointing and called the tear, making appear a double of me. After that, I jumped to the ground and ran into a wall. As I turned the corner, I leaned and looked out. The handyman had destroyed the ship with his last attack and had jumped onto the lines. Then he noticed the double and roared. I smiled. - 'That's it... come closer...'

I saw the handyman jumping to the ground and run to "me". I leaned against the wall and waited him to pass long from my position. When he arrived, my double stood in front of him like he didn't care. The handyman hit him but his hands passed through him. The giant looked confused at his hand and roared while trying to hit him again and again. While he was too busy, I left my hide and stood behind him from the distance. I activated my skyhook and the wheel began to turn while charging air around it. When I noticed that my arm was shaking, I pointed directly at the center of the giant's body where his heart was. My body was thrown forward and hit him hard. I heard how the glass was breaking and felt my arm pierce the hole until pass the other side. The handyman body went completely rigid and fell forward, with me behind. While I was trying to get my arm out of the handyman's hole, I heard Elizabeth approaching.

'Marc?'

'I'm okay.' - I said as I made a last effort and I finally could get my arm out. I went to her and took a long breath.

'I must admit that that plan was very good.'

'Hey, I have a brain.' - said smiling. Then I saw more flying boats approaching from afar. - 'We'd better get out of here before those arrive.'

Both went to a gate that was leading to an area that was called "Emporia" and Elizabeth started to work to open it. While I was watching the boats that were still far, I couldn't help thinking about what she asked me before.

'Elizabeth, about what you asked me earlier in the office...'

'Let's not discuss it.' – I ignored her words.

'What did that thing to you?' - I asked her seriously. She took a deep breath and continued working with the lock.

'If he were to take me back... that's death, Marc. Or something so like it, I cannot tell the difference.'- She opened the gate but didn't move, looking down. I stood beside her and took her hand.

'You won't die. And won't return to that tower.'- She looked at me and squeezed my hand.

'I don't want... but also don't want to lose you.'- my eyes widened at her confession.

'As I've told you before, I'm pretty difficult to be beaten.' - Said with a smile. Then we walked without letting go our hands.

If a place was called Emporia, I knew it was one of the richest and most beautiful areas in the city. But with the arrival of the Vox, it wasn't. Everything was destroyed, with corpses all around and some buildings were burning. Both moved through the streets, facing some Vox on the way and arrived to a small plaza. The Vox and the founders were fighting and took Elizabeth to a cover.

'Let them fight.' – gradually the Vox were winning and eliminated their enemies but only two remained standing. Then I left the cover and I killed them quickly with my revolver. Then I looked to one of the stores that was on fire and from the window, I saw that someone was inside. I walked to the entrance and saw it was a woman and I was surprised she was brooming, ignoring the flames.

'I'll get her out.' - I said, keeping my gun.

'But it's too dangerous!'

'It will be quick. I'm just going to get her out.'

'O-okay.' - said very nervous. I ran to the store and approached to the woman while coughing.

'Miss! We gotta get out of here! This building is going to collapse!'

Although there was a lot of smoke and the flames were fanning, she didn't react. Then I walked around to look at her face and saw that she was in she was in shock and also mad. Without hesitation I took her and I put her over my shoulder. After that I ran and, when I passed the entrance, it collapsed. While I was coughing, I went to another store that was in front and got the woman to sit her on a curb. Elizabeth walked to her and knelt down to examine her.

'She seems to not to be hurt physically but I can't say the same mentally.' - said sadly.

'Wars and revolutions have negative consequences.'

'We can't leave her here...'

'Can you open this store? She could be safe inside.'

'Let me try.' - Elizabeth came to the door and opened it in few seconds. Slowly took the woman inside and drove her to an interior room which was an office. Elizabeth sat down her in the chair that was next to desk but she was still staring at nothing and muttering unintelligible things.

'We can't do more for her.' – said giving a long sigh. I closed the door of the office and left the store. Elizabeth made sure the curtains were drawn and went well.

'With luck the Vox will ignore the store is they see everything is closed.' - After that, we continued our way to Comstock's house. After eliminating several enemies and walk through several streets, finally we got to the square where entrance was. In the center there was a statue of the Prophet but with several holes and covered with red banner while in front of the gate there was a Lady Comstock's statue praying. Around there were bodies of dead founders and Vox, and Elizabeth and I had to make a great effort to not look at them while were walking. We approached to the gate and saw it was blocked by some kind of panel.

'Lady Comstock, how lovely to see you!' - said a robotic voice from the same panel. - 'Wonderful of you to make the journey, especially considering you painful death 19 years ago.'

'Lady Comstock?' - repeated totally confused.

'The dress... The thing has mistaken me for my mother.' - said Elizabeth looking at her suit. Then she went to the gate and put her hand on a fingerprint scanner... Again, here the technology had advanced too much.

'Your fingerprints do not seem to be your own today, Lady Comstock.' - said the panel without opening the door. – 'Are you unwell?'

'This isn't going to work.' – muttered Elizabeth.

'Okay. I didn't want to come to this but we will have to destroy the gate '- said like I didn't care... but I liked the idea of destroying part of Comstock's house. A LOT.

'If the Vox have been unable to go inside after all this time, we couldn't as well.' – Damn it, she was right…

'Well unless Comstock comes to us, we can't pass. And Lady Comstock is dead.' - said scratching my head thoughtfully.

'Yes, she is.' - said Elizabeth with cold voice and then left the entrance quick step

'Wait!' - I said as I hurried to follow her. - 'Have you thought about another option?'

'Yes.' – simply said without looking at me.

'Where are we going...?' - Then I saw the sign from afar of an entrance with great walls around and I realized what she was doing. - 'Wait, Elizabeth... There must be another way.'

'There isn't. And it's time I paid my respects to my mother.'- said so coldly I felt chills. Her pace was so fast I almost had to run to follow her. When we entered at the memorial gardens, I had a bad feeling and looked at Elizabeth nervously. Her eyes were so cold that for a moment I didn't recognize her. – 'There it is... Let's go.'

'Elizabeth, please wait...' - she ignored me and went down stairs to get to the cemetery. As we were approaching to Lady Comstock's grave, my bad feeling grew. When we reached the entrance, a lock Elizabeth materialized and began working to open. - 'Elizabeth, listen...'

'They have her preserved in an airtight chamber. Her fingerprints will get us into Comstock's house.'- again, she ignored me.

'It's your mother.' - said to make her reason.

'A mother who abandons their children doesn't draw a lot of sympathy in my book.' - replied coldly.

'This is wrong.' - I whispered running my hand down my face. Then I heard how the lock fell to the ground.

'Will you open the door, or do I have to go in without you?' - Said in the same cold voice. I sighed and pushed the gate that creaked. When we entered, I couldn't help but be surprised to see Lady Comstock's body with the same look after all the time that had passed.

'How are you, mother? All locked up in there, huh? Looks like you and I have some common ground.'- said looking with contempt the body. I could understand why she hated her mother... but this was wrong.

'Let me do it.'

'No.'

'LET ME do it.' - She went to protest again but when she saw my look, decided to not discuss. I circled around the glass coffin and looked at the small lock. I pulled out my skyhook to break it but just as I was going to hit, the lights went off. I listened how gears were spinning from inside the building and some things similar to large speakers appeared.

'You see, child?' - Said a voice from the speakers and I recognized Comstock. – You chose to follow a false shepherd, and he has led you astray!'

'Comstock, you think you can control me as you want. But you're not going to stop me.'

'Oh, my sweet Elizabeth... I doubt about that.'- Said in a tone that I didn't like. Suddenly those speakers lit up and began to drain energy from Elizabeth. She squirmed and began to scream in pain.

'Elizabeth!' - I cried as I hurried to approach her.

'What I do, I do for love!'

'YOU SON OF BITCH! I SWEAR I'LL KILL FOR HURT HER!' - I shouted as I tried to grab Elizabeth but when I touched that energy, it was like touching fire.

'What lion does not cringe to see their cub in pain?'

'If you don't want to see her suffer, stop NOW!' - I cried, this time shooting at the huge speakers.

'Make it stop! Marc, make it stop!'- asked me Elizabeth and screamed in pain. I kept shooting but those things didn't stop draining energy. Then they stopped and Elizabeth collapsed on the floor. I rushed to catch her and cradled her in my arms. I went to examine her but then I saw the speakers redirect all the energy into Lady Comstock's body.

'If you won't listen to me, perhaps you will listen your mother!' - then there was a flash and a loud whistle. I closed my eyes and hugged tightly Elizabeth. When I looked up, I felt how I was getting pale. Something looked like a ghost was in front of us, floating. Then it gave such a high scream that I felt my eardrums were going to burst. Then the ghost passed the gate left us alone inside the tomb. I blinked several times and I felt like my whole body was shaking.

'W-what... the hell was that?' - I asked in a whisper. Elizabeth moved in my arms and looked at her. - 'Are you okay?'

"I-I… think so. Where... where she is...?'- replied softly but she was pale and a cold sweat was covering her face.

'You need to rest. You are too weak now.'- told to her while pulling her gently against the wall. Then she looked at me with eyes full of guilt.

'This is my fault. I'm sorry...'

'It's okay.' - said stroking her face. - 'Stay here. I'll take care of that... thing.'

'Be careful.' - said with fear in her eyes.

'You stay here and don't leave until everything has calmed down.' - She nodded and I went out of the grave. I made sure the gate was closed so no one could enter inside. When I looked out, I saw the ghost began to circle, forming a small whirlwind and the air was introduced into the bodies of the dead founders that were around. Then they began to move and got up. I have to face a fucking ghost and ZOMBIES! This was getting worse than "The Walking Dead"… I saw the dead men catching weapons that they had close and started to attack me. I ran to one of the many graves that were around and covered there. Then took my rifle and started to attack all enemies from the left side. When I finished with them I focused on the right side and then I saw the ghost approaching to the enemies I beaten first. When I saw them moving again, my jaw was dropped.

'You have to be kidding me…' – I had to beat that ghost sooner or that battle would never end. Threw a grenade to each group of enemies and focused on attacking the ghost. She gave a sharp cry and suddenly disappeared. I looked around and then I noticed that the air was moving behind me. When I went to turn around, I felt how the ghost pushed me and threw me across the cemetery. My gun fell from my hand and crawled to catch it but the ghost came to me and grabbed my leg, digging her nails. I winced and then she drove me to throw me to the other side, this time making me hit a gravestone. Felling a bit stunned, I looked around and saw a RPG close to me. Quickly I took it and leaned against the stone. I saw the ghost approaching to me and first I threw some shock jockey. While she was momentarily paralyzed, I started firing rockets and she gave another sharp cry. When she was going to approach again, aimed at her head and fired. When the missile exploded in her face, gave another cry and disappeared after squirming on herself. I looked around waiting for another attack but I relaxed when I saw that there was no sign of the ghost and the zombie stopped moving.

'Marc!' - I saw Elizabeth getting out of the memorial and run to me. - 'Are you okay?'

'Yes...' - I replied feeling exhausted. - 'I don't know how she does it but your mother can raise the dead. What the hell is she?'

'I don't know... I don't even know if I've created her.' - said in a whisper and, as she was totally confused.

'Okay, for now let's focus on continue.' - I said trying to cheer her and picked up my rifle that was in the other side. - 'But the truth is that I would like to know what she is... alive or dead.'

'Why do you ask "what"?' 'When the delicious question is when?' - we turned and saw the Lutece digging two graves. Look who is here...

'Do you have an explanation for this?'

'The only difference between past and present...' – said Robert.

'…is semantics.' – finished Rosalind.

'Lives, lived, will live...' 'Dies, died, will die.' 'If we could perceive time as it truly was...' 'What reason would have grammar professors have to get out of bed?'

'Can you just focus about what really matters?' - I said wearily. Their conversations were really exasperating.

'Like us all, Lady Comstock exists across time...' 'She is both alive and dead.' 'She perceives being both.' 'She finds this condition… disagreeable.' 'Perception without comprehension...' ...is a dangerous combination.'

'Look!' - said Elizabeth and turned. I saw something on the floor that they looked like ghostly footsteps.

'She goes to unfinished business.' - Rosalind said.

'Well, the only option we have for now is follow her and try to convince her to help us. Is there anything else we should know?'- I turned to look at the Lutece but they were gone. Then I saw the graves and felt chills. The tombstones said "Lutece"... they were digging their own graves. - 'Every time they do that, I get more scared.'

'We better move on. We have to find her quickly.'- said Elizabeth. We went to the cemetery entrance and, just as we were going out, the twins appeared from nowhere in front of me. Elizabeth and I jumped in surprise and I looked at them furious.

'For God's sake, DON'T do that!' – shouted at them and the twins looked at me grinning.

'We forgot to mention an important fact.' – said Rosalind.

'There is a way to bring her to reason.' – said Rosalind.

'Three truths you must discover first.' 'Truths which, in this world, Comstock has destroyed.'

'If only one of you had the power to alter time and space.' - said suddenly Rosalind with a twinkle in her eyes.

'That would be blessing, wouldn't it?' – said Robert in the same way and I felt chills again with that weird looks. Then there was a thunder and a light blinded me for a few seconds. When I opened my eyes, once again they were gone.

'I… hate… when they… do... THAT!' - I said very angry. Both left the cemetery and followed the footsteps slowly.

'There's something... off about Lady Comstock.' – muttered Elizabeth.

'Yeah, I noticed...'

'No, you don't understand, she... she doesn't belong here. I brought something through, I'm just... I'm not so sure it was her.'

'If we find these truths, perhaps we will understand what she really is. Let's go.'

Both followed the footsteps that were appearing as we went and stopped when she saw Vox in a small square.

'Wait till I clear the area.' - I told Elizabeth as I pulled my gun and walked to the square. I threw bucking bronco to my enemies before they could react and ended up with them in the air. When Elizabeth approached, pointed to a building where the windows had a picture of a L.

'Look! The Lutece Laboratory.'- then I saw the footprints that were heading towards the entrance.

'It seems that one of the three truths is there. '- Elizabeth came to the door and opened the lock. We entered to the reception that was full of bookshelves and small bottles. We passed to the next part and saw a large hall full of huge cables and heard how electricity passed through them. We crossed the hall and entered to a spacious back room where there was a great machine that worked thanks to the large cables that were throughout the building, and I saw that they even arrived in the second floor through a hole. Then I noticed something that was vibrating in the center of the machine.

'That... that looks like a tear.' - said approaching.

'Do you think I should open it?'

'Only if you're sure about it.' - I said with a smile. She nodded and approached to the tear to open it. As she extended arms, it didn't open at all but enough to hear what was inside.

'You... You whore!' - Suddenly shouted a female voice.

'That's my mother.' – said Elizabeth shocked.

'I assure you, madame, my sexual interest in your beloved dear Prophet is non-existent.'

'And that's Rosalind Lutece.' - said recognizing her voice.

'Furthermore, the man is quite sterile.'

'That's a lie! Come and get your little bastard. I want her out of my house!'- said the other in a fit of rage and then the tear closed. It had been a few seconds, but they showed so much...

'Comstock is sterile...' - I said thoughtfully. - 'So... if they had a son and lost him...'

'They... they are NOT my parents!' - said Elizabeth and slowly a big smile appeared on her mouth. Then she began to repeat the same fact as I jumped around like a little girl.

'Hey! Easy!'- said laughing and then she hugged me.

'Finally... That man... he's not my father.' - said this time quietly and I could feel the relief she was feeling. When we separated, I saw that she couldn't stop smiling and I let out a small laugh.

'I know you're happy now but we must find the other two truths. Let's go?'- said offering my hand and she took it quickly.

'Come on!' - she said leading me to the entrance and, again, I couldn't help but smile.

We followed the footsteps through the streets of Emporia and in the way that I had to take care of some Vox and a fireman but didn't have many problems. We continued our path and the footsteps led us to a photography shop.

'Our next stop.' - I said as Elizabeth stepped forward to open the door. When we entered, we saw the tear between tables full of sample photos. As Elizabeth opened it, a man's voice talked.

'But you two are dead… I took your funeral photo!'

'Yes... and made an absolute hash of it...' - that voice...

'That's ... Rosalind!' - said in shock and my mind tried to assimilate what was happening.

'One doesn't expect a picture of one's corpse...' - then said Robert's voice.

'To come across so lifelessly.' - and with Rosalind, the tear disappeared.

'I think... I think I'm lost.'- I said, looking totally confused to where the tear was before.

'They died... but maybe something happened to them before, allowing them to be scattered in space-time, so that they would always be present.' - said Elizabeth slowly while searching for the right words. I got to understand a part of what she meant but it was all so confusing... We left shop and followed the next footsteps. As we walked, I saw Elizabeth and frowning nervously touching her thimble.

'Have something to say? Any ideas on what's going on here?'- I suggested.

'I don't think that's... the real Lady Comstock. I think she's... I think she's a combination of herself and my feelings towards her.'

'What?' - I didn't understand what she meant…

'I'm just so angry. At her… and my father... '- said looking down. - 'And as Comstock used my powers to revive her, she's part of herself but also a part of me. The part... that hates her.'

'Elizabeth...' - I went over to her to cheer her up but she shook her head.

'I'm not even sure I understand it myself... but great part of this is my fault.' – said looking sad and passed my arm around her shoulders.

'This is not your fault. Like you said, he used your powers to revive her when you didn't want - plus he hurt you.' – she kept her head down and lifted her chin up with my other hand. – 'No sad faces.'

'You're not my mother.' - replied pouting.

'Don't force me to make something.' - said maliciously.

'What kind of "something"?' - she asked curiously but stepped back and I grinned.

'Are you sure you want to know?' - Then we heard shots and looked back at the entrance. - 'We better get out of here before the enemy arrives.'

We left the store and followed the latest footsteps.

After following the steps and open a gate, got to where I fought against the handyman. The footsteps went to the front of the building, where there were a stairs leading that were to a doors. I went up but then the doors flew and two crows appeared. I crouched to dodge the sword of one of them and quickly hit him with my skyhook to the head. He fell dead on the floor and turned to hit the other but disappeared in a cloud of crows. When I went to follow him, I noticed that my shield was being hit and saw several Vox out of the entrance.

'To the skylines!' - I indicated to Elizabeth and both I jumped to them. From there, I shot with my rifle and Elizabeth called a tear to make appear a turret. I saw a gunner above the roof that was covering the entrance and absorbed his rockets with return to the sender. After returning them and see how it staggered back, I moved quickly to him and I finished him with my skyhook. I returned to the lines and ended with the last enemies, finishing with the crow who couldn't discover me in time. With my enemies defeated, both moved to the entrance and entered inside. There were some dead founders who probably were killed by the Vox from before but otherwise, there appeared to be no more enemies. We entered to a large room with pillars and plants and walked through them.

'What could this place have to do with my mother? '- asked Elizabeth. As we walked through the room suddenly the plants brightened momentarily and vibrated with vivid colors.

'I don't know but this gives me chills.' - I said firmly holding my gun. Moved into an elevator and waited to reach the next destination. When the doors opened, we walked into a hall that looked like a huge bank. A few Vox were waiting but I killed them easily. We toured the bank in search of the last truth and meanwhile I thought about everything that was happening between us.

'Elizabeth.'

'Yes?' - she said as she was looking around watching for the tear.

'When all this is over and the zombies disappear...'

'Zombies?' - repeated looking at me confused. Of course, she didn't know the modern language.

'Undead. As I was saying, when all this is over, we could talk about... you know, us.'

'Oh, well... Yeah, we should talk about it when… we have more time.' - said blushing. After that we went silent and I got a little nervous. I had already been through this situation and it was supposed to be easy for me... but when I thought about Elizabeth becoming something more... I was so nervous. After taking a long detour, finally we could enter to the armored room and Elizabeth pointed a large statue. - 'There it is!'

In front of the statue was the tear but when we get closer, above the pedestal a crow with red robes appeared. Quickly put myself in front of Elizabeth and blocked his sword with my skyhook and both wrestled. I hit him with my knee but when I went to hit him again with my skyhook, he disappeared.

'Down!' - I told Elizabeth and pulled out my shotgun. I turned and shot. Behind us was the crow that fell dead to the ground. I kept my gun and Elizabeth got up.

'Well...' - Elizabeth muttered. When she looked at me, I offered my hand to shake it.

'Good teamwork.' - said with a smile. She smiled and shook my hand. Then she approached to the tear.

'Let's see what truth will discover this time.' - Opened the tear and a familiar voice talked.

'And if I do this, this uh… sabotage… all their patents…?'

'Fink...' - said when I recognized his voice.

'All of them, Mr. Fink.' - said a voice of a man.

'Now, why does the Prophet want these two killed?'

'For the same reason Lady Comstock lies buried: the child.' - After that revelation, Elizabeth and I looked at each other in shock.

'God...' - she said looking down.

'And why does he want me to do it?'

'Because only you can make it seem an accident.' - After that, the tear disappeared. Elizabeth was still looking down and saw that she was trembling.

'Elizabeth...'

'He killed Lady Comstock and the Lutece... He killed three people because of me '- said in low voice and suddenly clenched her fists in anger. - 'Comstock... He must pay for what he has done.'

'And he will.' - I said with determination. Then I heard a very familiar ghostly cry. We advanced slowly toward the armored door and then it opened. At the bottom of the main hall was Lady Comstock.

'We have to make her reason.' - said Elizabeth as we walked through the door. Then the ghost was circled on herself and revived the dead which were around.

'That will have to wait.' – I replied as I pulled my out my gun and got ready for another battle.

Another chapter finished! After writing the last one, I had the idea for the handyman battle and I wrote it quickly... and then the three truths came and finished it. Not bad... Hope you liked it and remember to share you opinions if you have anything to say!