Author's Note: Hey guys, welcome to chapter three of "The Girl in the Tower"! I hope you all enjoyed reading the last two chapters! And for those of you who might be thinking, "Now where in the world is Booker DeWitt?" We all know that Infinite is not complete without the one and only Booker DeWitt! Well, not to worry, he'll be introduced in the next couple of chapters! :D Please review, follow, favorite, and enjoy! :)

Chapter Three: One of a Kind

I was in Columbia Square, standing in between my room and the outside world. It was a gateway to reality, to civilization, a portal to freedom, my great escape.

My last hope...

"Isn't it amazing?" Aunt Rose exclaimed, keeping my arms spread out like an eagle's mighty wings.

"Where am I, Aunt Rose...?" I asked, feeling more frightened than mesmerized by this new-found power.

She chuckled quietly, "It's Columbia, of course! Dear, look all around you..."

I kept my arms as wide as possible, opening the tear further, "It's..."

"Beautiful?"

I slowly nodded as the fear of losing control was now paralyzing my arms, "Mmhm."

"You are special, Elizabeth. So very special indeed. In fact, you are a one of a kind."

I shut my eyes, feeling a trickle of heat run up and down my arms as they started to ache, "Can I..."

"Close it? Only if you are ready, dear."

With a sharp inward movement of my arms, I snapped the tear shut, the force of it pulling me back and pushing me down to the floor. She then helped me to my feet, taking both my hands in hers. She rubbed and pressed them softly in-between her palms.

"What was that, Aunt Rose?" I finally asked, feeling secure in her warm and close embrace.

"It's a gift, Elizabeth. Your gift."

"But what was it?"

She propped me onto a chair near by and turned it towards herself. Her expression changed from that of joy to now one of seriousness and scrutiny, "Tell me, Elizabeth. What do you think that was?"

"You said it was... was... a tear...?"

"Yes. Exactly, Elizabeth. It's a tear. A tear in our world, our reality."

I fell silent, not sure how to respond.

She frowned, "It's a door to another point in time! Think of it as a gateway to another universe, another dimension, just like what I've read to you. Remember?" She took a book from the table next to her, handing it to me. It was one of her other works, Barriers to Trans-Dimensional Travel, "This explains everything. Or most things."

"A tear to another world? Not just here?"

"No, not just here. Everywhere, Elizabeth. Anywhere. There are tears all around and can be seen with the naked eye. You can find them, but you can make them too."

My eyes widened at the thought. Creating your own tears? That had to be impossible, but now the impossible was no longer impossible. Only possible was acceptable now.

"It's an unique ability that no else has but you."

I took the book from her hands and skimmed through the pages, "But how...? How do you know that, Aunt Rose?"

"Because I just do, dear. I just do."

I'm not sure if I had taken her word for it, but I was very eager to exercise my "gift," and possibly use it to my advantage, but even this new power had its limits.

Day after day, I would experiment with these tears and open ones that I would find hiding behind tables, curtains, and shelves. I unraveled a tear to other parts of Columbia and even strange lands of grass and cattle from below. One night, I snuck into the library and grabbed an atlas from one of the shelves. It was the map and geography of Paris, France. I spent the entire night reading about it as I had myself squeezed tightly into the back corner of the room between a shelf and a table. I found myself deeply immersed into the rich history of "the City of Love," or "the City of Lights" as some call it. The photos, the illustrations, and the flowery descriptions captured my ever-growing thirst for knowledge and enrichment. My imagination soared to new heights as I began to fantasize about opening a tear to Paris. Oh, Paris! I then remembered what Aunt Rose told me that day when I discovered my ability to open tears, "...There are tears all around and can be seen with the naked eye. You can find them, but you can make them too." I can open tears and create them. I wasn't sure how I could though, since opening them was a lot easier than actually creating them. I did ask Aunt Rose one day how I could. Strangely, she didn't have an answer for me. There were no tears to Paris, only ones that already exist. I started to wonder, though, if I could create a tear as if I were opening one.

The day came when Aunt Rose had to leave me alone for a while, but while she gave no explanation other than running important errands, I stuck on the assumption that maybe it was for personal reasons, or as I hoped. I did take advantage of the time I was given to be alone. I still dreamed of going to Paris, reveling in the sights of the beautiful city in person. I knew I couldn't, but only if I tried...

The first attempt was tiring. Extending my arms out in front of me and closing my eyes, pretending I was opening a pair of curtains or a window. Second attempt, and I nearly snapped my arms back. Third attempt, but to no avail. Fourth attempt, my last try.

It happened so fast, seemingly lasting for a single second before disappearing into thin air. Did I do it, I thought. Did I finally open a tear to Paris? I tried once more.

"Take me to Paris! I shouted, and I opened my eyes.

"Elizabeth, dear?"

I gasped and turned around. Aunt Rose nearly dropped the bag she was holding in her hand.

"Elizabeth?!" She screamed, her mouth agape and her eyes as wide as my outstretched arms. All the blood drained from her face, her skin as pale as clouds.

I spin around to see the most impossible sight.

There I was... In Paris... In Paris indeed.

Author's Note: This concludes chapter three of "The Girl in the Tower," and we're finally introduced to Elizabeth's ability to open and create tears. Thanks so much for reading, and don't forget to review, follow, and favorite! Thanks again! :)