Rapture Noir: Auld Lang Syne

It was New Year's Eve and the masquerade was in full swing. The Kashmir was all lights and splendor; A regular who's who of well-to-do socialites,  Rapture's best and brightest on display. Each wearing their best dress or suit, and each hiding behind a mask. A contradiction I never quite understood, myself.

But that was the last thing on my mind as I danced with Elizabeth. She clung to me, physically distant, but through her rabbit-eared mask I could see a desperation that told me the whole story. Things unsaid, regrets, and not enough time to make it right.

There were a million ways this could go south. Two men start the attack by setting off a bomb hidding in the large statue in front of us. Stopping the bomb was easy enough, Elizabeth assured me. But if they started pulling guns all bets were off. And then there was the matter of Atlas' men waiting in the wings.

Atlas, the would-be king of Rapture. Elizabeth had even supported him at one point. She attended secret meetings and handed out fliers. Until she learned the truth. She explained it to me as some kind of tunnel vision. She could see things, but there were some things she had so desperately wanted not to see that she had blinded herself to them. I'm not sure I understood it all, but it seemed to disturb her. Figured it'd be best if I didn't push the subject.

"You see them?"

"No, not yet." "Take me closer to the statue."

"There, over by the table. Blonde hair, bird mask."

"I see him. What about the other guy?"

"Keep your eyes open. He should be near the fountain."

I noticed two men in Ryan Security uniforms hanging out by one of the staircases. Elizabeth had pulled some strings and managed to get some extra security stationed in key points. Sometimes it surprised me how well-connected that girl was

We parted as the music wound down. I knew what I had to do next, but standing there with Elizabeth my body felt like lead. I needed to say something.

"I...Booker?" Elizabeth said, breaking my out of my trance.

"Yeah?"

"Good luck."

I leaned in and kissed her. It was impulsive, stupid. I didn't need that hanging over me. I had a job to do.

Elizabeth's eyes met mine as I pulled away. She didn't have to say anything. She had wanted it as much as I had, and regretted it all the same.

"Go." She said, slipping from my grasp. She spared one last glance over her shoulder as she glided over to a young man handing out drinks.

Stalking over to the blonde haired man I recited the delivery again and again in my head, building up a genuine anger towards a man I had never even met.

"I told you to keep your hands off my wife!" I bellowed, striking the man across the chin before he could even answer. He hit the floor hard, no doubt he'd be out for a while.

Several people gasp in shock. A young woman's cry for security goes unheard and unheeded. Most? Most just clap, enjoying the spectacle. The only thing people in Rapture enjoy more than privacy is seeing someone else have their dirty laundry aired in public.

Turning my head sharply I faced the second man, but he was already making his way towards the exit and looking back at me knowingly. There was no way I was going to stop him in time.

I hastened my pace, trying not to raise any more suspicion than I already had. It was then that a young woman cried out. "Security! That man's got a gun!" My heart skipped a beat, but then I realized that the woman was pointing to the man with the detonator. She must have mistaken it for a firearm.

Everyone panicked. Chairs were overturned, glasses dropped. Men and women screamed as they made their ways to the exit. This was bad.

I broke into a run. No use trying to hide. Not now, anyway.

The man ducked into a small side passage, the kind used by staff to deliver food and drinks to the reception room. I followed closely by, hugging the wall and planning my next move.

Throwing myself to the ground I burst through the half-opened door with my gun drawn. Good thing, too. The man was ready and fired off two rounds. Rounds that would have been dead-center.  Before he could correct his error I placed a round just under his right eye.

I slumped to the ground, taking a moment to catch my breath. Elizabeth should be done with her part by now. And hopefully Ryan Security would take care of the rest.

Returning to the reception room I noticed the large bent statue was gone. In it's place was another statue, the same, but different. Rusted and ruined by age. Elizabeth did it. I fought to suppress a flutter of excitement in my chest.

By now the Kashmir was rotten with Ryan Security. Men in grey trenchcoats and gas masks funneled panicked masses out of the Kashmir, occasionally using a rifle butt or baton to keep things moving.

I was dimly aware of the sounds of Ryan Security opening fire on Atlas' men as they poured from their ambush points. The raid was a failure, we had done it. But that was the furthest thing from my mind right now, there on the ground was her brooch. Elizabeth's brooch.