Author's Note: Welcome to chapter seven of "The Girl in the Tower"! I know I haven't updated since the 16th (catching up with homework and stuff) but here I am! :D How's it going guys? I hope all is well with you, but I definitely hope you've been enjoying the story so far! As always, please review, follow, and favorite! Thanks a lot with much love! :) Enjoy!

Chapter Seven: Stranger

I tightly clutched the letter in my hand, tight enough to have nearly crumbled it. I then gasped slightly as I felt something sharp break my skin. I quickly let go of the paper, letting it slowly glide back to the floor. The sharp edge of it had cut the tip of my index finger.

"Oh..." I groaned softly, examining the small drop of blood that trickled from the wound and down my finger. I began to fear the worse now. Where have Aunt Rose and Uncle Robert gone? I thought. Their letter was not enough to quell the thoughts that ran amuck in my head, not enough to bring any comfort. I grew increasingly tense with each second that ticked by.

A low rumble then sounded just below my feet. I knew it was the Songbird looking for me, as He had detected I was under some sort of stress, and I assumed it was part of His programming. His high-pitched shriek startled me and I nearly fell back but grabbed the edge of a table near-by to catch myself.

The question still lingered in my head where my Aunt and Uncle could have possibly gone, but there was no answer to be found in the mysteriously abandoned lab. Not even one trace of evidence.

The Songbird's screaming became louder and louder now as He neared. I finally left the lab, making my way back to my room before He could find me. I didn't want Him to worry and think that I was in danger. Aunt Rose and Uncle Robert could have been the ones in real danger, but I refused to believe that. I then immediately ran into my room, locking the door behind me and looking around the place for any sign of Songbird; a few seconds later, He appeared. My giant savior stood tall before me with His mechanical wings spread out and His glass eyes a bright red, indicating that He was in combat mode. His protective presence put many of my worries at ease at that moment.

I then reached out for His metal beak, softly petting its hard and cool surface. My fingers ran along its curved shape, feeling every dent from every fight that He had ever been in to protect me. Not only was He my one and only true protector, He was also the guardian of my tower, my home, my inescapable prison. But it was His cage too, a bird cage for the two of us. And even though He was just a giant, mechanical bird programmed to keep me from harm's way, I believe He could feel pain just as much as I did. He felt suffering, He felt lonely, and He felt imprisoned, just like me. And I think we were two of the same. Just two lonely souls looking for a way out. I was held captive in a tower, the monument of Columbia, and He was held captive in a body made of metal, a steel cage. And I could see that in His eyes the guilt and grief He was feeling. He knew He had a heart and a mind, but had no moral strength of His own, for He was just my protector and my Songbird. He had no choice but to obey and kill anybody who would dare threaten to hurt me. I did wonder, though, what was in that body of His. Was He just scrap metal and rusting parts? Or was He a man trapped in His own body, without a choice and without a will?

"Shhhh..." I whispered, trying to calm Him. I gently stroked His entire beak and down the tubing that was attached to it with the back of my hand, "Don't worry. It's okay. I'm here. I'm here, Songbird..."

He slowly shook His head from side to side, His glass eyes turning from red to green, which meant He was on His best behavior now. I embraced His beak with the full length of my arms, reaching all around it. I held it close to my body, wanting Him to feel the beating of my heart against Him.

Suddenly, there was pounding at the door. I gasped, slapping my hands over my mouth and hoping I wasn't heard. And as part of Songbird's programming, He also reacted, His eyes turning red again, but kept as quiet and still as possible like I was. I knew immediately that it wasn't Aunt Rose or Uncle Robert. They would at least call my name, not pound the door to get my attention.

Then there was a pause, a short moment of eerie silence before the pounding returned...

Thump, thump, thump.

Pause.

Thump, thump, thump.

...Another pause...

Thump, thump, thump.

...And yet another pause...

The pounding continued for what seemed like minutes.

But once more, there was a pause, and then a word, "Elizabeth?"

My heart skipped a beat.

"I know you're there, Elizabeth. I know Songbird is with you."

I was now in danger. Nowhere was safe, not even my tower in the sky. And who was this stranger at the door? I did not know. I then turned to Songbird, but He didn't know either.

"Elizabeth, don't make me do this. I will find a way in, so you better open this door NOW!" I realized that the stranger sounded like an older man. I still did not recognize him, though, "Elizabeth, please!" He kept pounding the door relentlessly.

I had to speak up now, I had to answer to whoever was trying to hurt me or take me, and I had to protect my home, my guardian, and myself, "Who's there? Who are you?" I shouted at the door.

There was a brief pause yet again, and then he spoke, "I'm not here to hurt you, Elizabeth. Just let me in. Everything's fine!" It didn't sound fine to me...

"No, I don't believe you! What do you want from me? How do you know my name?" I screamed this time, as loud as I could.

"Elizabeth, just open the goddamn door!" He started hitting the door with much more force now. I then heard a crack.

Songbird let out a deafening shriek, extending His wings and retracting the claws from His massive gloves. He then charged at the door, exerting His weight against it; the great force of His strength completely destroyed it.

What followed sent a shiver of fear down my spine and the hairs on my neck stand on end. The man screamed in agony as Songbird grabbed him and threw him across my room. It happened so fast that I couldn't see him at first, but from a short glimpse, he looked very familiar, too familiar...

It was as if I... I knew him...

Songbird then picked up the man, nearly crushing him in His mighty grip. I could hear the sound of bones cracking, which made my stomach turn inwards.

"Elizabeth! NO! NO! NO!" He cried painfully. I took another look at his face, trying to recognize who it was, who it might have been...

My eyes then shot out in shock, absolute shock...

His long, white beard was covered in his own blood, and the gashes and bruises on his face did not cover up his wrinkles. I remembered seeing that same face in some of the books I read, the ones about Columbia's history. I read that he was the city's leader, founder, and prophet...

They called him Father...

Father Comstock.

Author's Note: This concludes chapter seven of "The Girl in the Tower." This chapter took me FOREVER to write, since I had to revise it and do some research. Sorry if I'm a little late, guys! Homework has been kind of delaying me as well, as I mentioned in the first author's note, so I wanted to get that taken care of first before working on this chapter. But don't worry, I'll try to submit the next chapter as soon as possible, hopefully in the next few hours or so, so stay tuned! :D And don't forget to review, follow, and favorite! I'll see you all again very soon! :) Thank you for your patience!

P.S. Since I took so long on this chapter, I'm not sure if it came out as well I wanted it... Please let me know if I made any grammatical mistakes.