The Fate of Elizabeth (Bioshock Infinite)

Chapter 3: False Paradise

Mathias is running in muddy and cold trenches among the explosions of enemy shells falling everywhere. Around him, dozens of allied soldiers were killed by the explosions and their bodies lie in the mud and the blood flows freely. Mathias continues to run while shooting with his gun to try to reach an enemy, but suddenly a shell exploded near him and throws him back, and everything becomes dark around the young man, who can no longer move.

After a flash of intense light, Mathias suddenly opens his eyes and sits up to cough and spit out the water that he swallowed. While catching his breath, he looks at around him. He is sitting in the basin of a fountain in a square in the city of Columbia. Mathias pushes a sigh of relief. The vision of the trench warfare was a nightmare. But while he rises up, Mathias sighed furiously thinking of the baptism in the chapel.

(Mathias): "This pastor moron should learn the difference between a baptism and drown someone."

Mathias goes out of the fountain and stretches out his shirt to run water, and around him, people seem surprised to see him here, and also because of his military uniform. A policeman, not very nice, came to Mathias and looks at him with dark eyes.

(Policeman): "Hey, what are you doing in this fountain?"

(Mathias): "I ..... I don't know. I don't even know how I got here."

(Policeman): "Ha! Go away drunkard, or I'll lock you up in a cell for the night, it will calm you."

(Mathias): "Ok ok, no need to upset yourself."

Mathias walked away a little towards the city center and start walking in the street, under the curious eyes of citizens. Mathias observed while he walking. Columbia is a real city. There are homes, shops, restaurants, theaters, terraces, etc ..... A true modern city. But with a difference: It's a flying city! the carriages are pulled by robotic horses. Mathias is really surprised, but since he is here, he has more and more difficult to understand what happens. Mathias also sees small parks with grass and trees, or people come for picnics or to talk, sit on the benches and enjoy the sun. Two other officers on patrol arrive facing Mathias, but the young man avoids to get noticed, even if the two policemen look at him with a puzzled look when he walks past them.

This city does not seem to suffer from the world war, moreover, Columbia seems completely cut off from the world. A haven of peace. A paradise. Everywhere on houses and on floating billboards, Mathias sees ads about a prophet, Zachary Hale Comstock, who is the leader of the city and from the advertising, has gifts of clairvoyance.

"The father Comstock showed us our new Eden, through his visions, he saved us. Blessed be the prophet."

(Mathias): "Hmmmm.... Apparently, it's this Mr. Comstock who seems to make the law here. Clairvoyance gifts? Pfft, what bullshits."

Passing in the street, he heard two men discuss about something strange that attracts attention of the young soldier.

(Man 1): "So, have you got a new tonic?

(Man 2): "Yeah, it's called "Possession". Look at this."

The hand of the second man is surrounded by a strange green energy and the man sends it on a phone out of order. The phone starts to work again, and Mathias can not believe what he just saw and decided to leave. He rubs his eyes, almost terrified by what he has just seen.

(Mathias): "Damn, but what happens in this place?"

(Child): "Telegram for you Mr. Booker."

Mathias suddenly lowers his head and sees a child shabbily dressed before him, who hands him a paper. Mathias took the telegram, and the child goes away as soon by running away, without Mathias have time to ask him a question. Mathias decides to look at the telegram and reads it, intrigued.