A DEEP OCEAN OF SECRETS
Chapter Nineteen

Elisabeth had stopped crying in the A-Deck foyer. She was still leaning against the pillar. She wasn’t hugging it, but her back was pressed against it. Her cheeks were tearstained again and her curls were already deflating. They bounced on her shoulders with each heavy breath.

Suddenly, across the foyer from where she was standing, there was a scream of joy. It was a girl, looking no older than herself, with curly, strawberry blonde hair and big blue eyes. "Harry!" she cried, and ran across the foyer. Her eyes darted across the room to a man, looking to be in his early twenties, arms outstretched.

"Sarah!" he cried, and he pulled the girl into his arms. He was taller than her, with dark hair and eyes. She cried on his shoulder and they stood a couple of feet in front of Elisabeth. She watched them crying there, reminding her somehow of Jack and Rose. The man was dressed in a black tux, while the girl wore a beautiful beaded sea green dress and shawl. Her shoulders heaved with every sob and they kept kissing and holding one another. They were mumbling words to one another and thanking the Lord for bringing them together.

"I thought I’d never see you again!" the girl cried, tears streaming down her face.

"Nor I you!" the man replied, in tears as well. Elisabeth felt tears brimming in her own green eyes. She had to find Jack and Rose. She knew Rose had gone to find him and he was below somewhere. But where do I run? Where do I go? she kept asking herself. She didn’t care. With one final look at the young couple in each other’s arms, she fled across the foyer and down the Grand Staircase.

She ran past B-Deck and C-Deck until she reached the last deck the staircase went to—the dining saloon. She brushed past the few people that were down there and ran into the smoking room past a couple of gentlemen until she reached the back stairwell for servants. She flew down the stairs, her skirts flying behind her. Her curls whipped around her face, the dampness gone from above decks. She ran down the corridor, crying out her sister’s name desperately.

*****

Rose had run up from the water below and was in a corridor. She looked exhausted, her face and skin as white as snow. She leaned against the hallway wall, and cried, "Hello!" She waited a few seconds and then heard the sound of footsteps. A steward was coming her way and he smiled when he saw her. He carried a couple of lifebelts in his arms.

"Ah…miss, let’s get you to the decks!" he cried, and grabbed Rose’s arm forcefully. "Let’s get you topside, miss. That’s right."

Rose was protesting. "Stop! There is a man down here and he is trapped!" The steward wasn’t listening.

"There is no need for panic, miss. Right! Come on!" He kept dragging her down the corridor.

Rose kept trying to pull away. "No! Stop! You’re going the wrong way—" The steward waved her off. "Listen!" she screamed. He stopped, turned to her, and she punched him square in the nose. Blood poured from his nose and he caught it in his hand.

He stared at her. "To hell with you!" he cried, and ran off down the corridor. Tired, but not willing to give up, Rose leaned against the wall, breathing hard. Suddenly, the lights began to flicker and she closed her eyes in horror.

*****

Elisabeth ran down the corridor, hair and dress flying, when suddenly the lights of the ship began to flicker. She gasped and stopped running, looking around like a lost child. Her breath seemed to echo through the hallway. Suddenly, as the lights came on again, a steward came running, holding a bloody nose. He tried to run past, but Elisabeth stopped him.

"Sir!" she cried, grabbing onto his coat. "Have you seen a woman or a man down here?"

The steward nodded. "A redheaded devil!" he cried, and continued on. Elisabeth smiled to herself. Only Rose would have the guts to punch somebody if they were in her way. She was on the right track.

*****

Rose was about to move when she heard her name being called. "Rose!" At first, she thought she was hearing things, but then the voice got louder and louder. She looked around and saw her sister emerging from the intersecting hallway. "Rose!" she cried. Rose gasped and ran straight to her sister, embracing her. Rose was crying softly and Elisabeth was smiling. When they parted, Rose grabbed her sister’s face and kissed her forehead.

"How did you find me?" she whispered in awe, letting her sister go.

"Followed my gut," Elisabeth returned, smiling. Rose smiled as well, softening. "Have you found Jack?" Rose nodded.

"I found him, but he is chained to a pipe and I cannot find the key!" she cried desperately. "I’m beginning to lose hope." Elisabeth looked at her. Then her eyes darted to a glass case containing an axe. Rose followed her gaze and stared at the axe for a moment. Then, with all her might, she grabbed the fire hose next to the case and slammed it into the glass. Pieces spewed everywhere and Rose grabbed the axe.

"Come on!" she said roughly, and the two sisters ran down the hallway. They turned the corner and stopped dead in their tracks in front of the stairwell. The water had risen up to the bottom five steps. Rose gasped and Elisabeth’s jaw dropped in shock. Rose made her way down slowly first. "Oh, my God…" she whispered.

Elisabeth started down after Rose, but she tripped on her skirt. She let out a yelp and plunged downward. She caught the pipe at the top of the stairwell just before she fell into the icy water. The water felt like a thousand knives stabbing all over her body—the water was that cold. Rose put a steady hand on her back. Elisabeth’s dress was soaked up to the bodice. Her skirt and coat swirled near the surface of the water. She shivered at how cold the water really was. "Bloody hell…" she managed to breathe. Rose pulled off her pink coat and flung it behind her. She plunged into the water, carrying the axe above her head with both her hands. Elisabeth followed, grabbing the pipes to help her pull through the extremely icy water.

"Rose, I can’t breathe!" Elisabeth mumbled. It was partially true—it was difficult to breathe with the water that cold. Rose looked back at her and motioned that it was only a little farther. Elisabeth’s curls were nothing but little crimps because of the water splashes. Her blood-colored hair was wet up to her ears and was plastered to her face. She shook her head and water flew in every direction. At least it wasn’t sticking to her anymore.

Rose led them into a room, the door cracked open and water pouring in with every minute. Jack was at the pipe, handcuffed. He looked up when they entered, standing on a desk to stay away from the water. He smiled faintly when he saw Elisabeth. "Elisabeth! How did you find us?" Elisabeth walked over to him, gave him a quick hug, and Jack returned the hug to the best of his ability using his neck.

"I just followed my gut," she repeated. Rose held up her axe and Elisabeth stepped off to the side.

"Will this work?" she cried.

Jack looked nervous. "I guess we’ll find out." Rose, Elisabeth, and Jack were all terrified, but tried to keep their panic at bay. Rose lifted the axe up, but Jack stopped her. "Try a few practice swings over there!" Rose nodded and turned to the wooden cabinet nearby. She thunked the axe into the dark wood. "Now try to hit the same spot again!" Rose aimed and hit the wood. Where she had hit was four inches from the mark she first had. Elisabeth’s eyes widened and Jack swallowed. "Okay. That’s enough practice," he declared. He stretched his arms out as wide as he could so the chain was as long as possible on the pipe. "You can do it, Rose. Just hit it hard and fast. I trust you!" Jack, Rose, and Elisabeth all closed their eyes and Rose let the axe go. It cut through the chain with a metal clank. Jack started whooping and the two sisters opened their eyes. When Jack held his arms out, Rose smiled and Elisabeth clapped her hands happily. Jack kissed Rose and pulled her into his arms. Elisabeth trudged over to where they were standing and was engulfed in Jack’s happy arms, then Rose’s. They were all jumping with excitement.

Jack stepped off of the desk and gasped at the water’s temperature, which was up to his thighs. "Shit! This is cold!" he cried. "Shit, shit!" They all waded out into the hallway and as Elisabeth turned to lead, she saw that the stairwell had only a foot visible. They were trapped and the water was rising fast.

"This is the way out!" Elisabeth cried desperately, looking at the stairwell.

"Come on! We have to find another way out!" Jack replied, and he led the way in the opposite direction. Elisabeth and Jack noticed that Rose’s strength was dying, so they tried to carry her to the stairwell. They pounded up the steps, but came to a locked wooden door. "Shit!" Jack cried, and pounded on the door.

"Jack!" Rose cried, and grabbed onto his shirt. He held her hand tightly.

"I’m gonna bust through," he said. "One…two…three!" With all of his might, Jack slammed into the wooden door and he fell through, dragging Rose with him. They both toppled on the ground, but Jack picked Rose up quickly and hugged her to keep her warm. They looked at the broken wood, but Elisabeth didn’t come out.

"Help!" she screamed. Jack and Rose peered in and saw Elisabeth standing on the steps, her feet surrounded to the ankles in water, her dress caught in the stairs. When Jack had broken through the door, she had been knocked back on the steps. Her skirt was caught between the stairs. "Rose! Jack!" She tugged at the dress.

Jack ran down and grabbed her around the waist, his boots splashing in the water. It was crazy how fast the water was rising. "How the hell did you do this?" he cried. He tugged at the skirt.

"I have no idea!" she cried. Jack gave a hard tug on the skirt and it came loose, ripping up the side to her knees. Rose waited at the top of the long stairwell.

"Come on!" Rose cried desperately, her voice echoing through the stairwell. Jack put his arm around Elisabeth and guided her up the steps like a two-year-old. She broke away as Rose hugged her quickly and they walked fast down the large hallway. People bustled past them. A steward saw them, then the broken door.

"Hey, you!" he cried, as Jack and Rose, hands entwined and Elisabeth ahead, kept walking. "You’ll have to pay for that! That’s White Star Line property—"

"Shut up!" Jack and Rose cried in unison at the stupid steward. He looked at them in shock and they continued on their way. They came to another stairwell, where mobs of people were trying to get past the locked gate. Jack saw Fabrizio, his best friend, and ran straight to him, pulling Rose along. They embraced in a brotherly hug.

"The boats are all going!" the Italian cried.

"Well, whatever we’re gonna do, we have to do it fast!" Jack cried, hugging Rose tighter. She was pale, her damp hair hanging limply around her face. They looked up at the top of the stairwell and saw two stewards on the other side of the gates.

"Women only! Women only!" they kept shouting at the men. Elisabeth looked up at the gate with sad eyes, wanting to be up there so badly. She felt like she was suffocating. She was dripping wet, her hair hanging around her face, curls limp and damp. She was pale like her sister, the lights casting an eerie glow on her skin. She looked helpless and was shivering uncontrollably. Rose was watching her intently and sadly.

"Go, Elisabeth," Rose said. Elisabeth’s eyes turned to her.

"What?" she asked, perplexed, close to tears. "Rose—"

"Go up and get to safety! It’s women only," Rose replied.

"But you—"

"I have to stay with Jack. He needs me and I need him! Elisabeth, go while you still can! Please, for me, go!" A tear rolled down Elisabeth’s cheek and Rose pulled her into a tight embrace, hoping it wouldn’t be the last time they would see each other. Elisabeth was crying openly, the tears continuing to fall. Rose rocked her gently and looked her straight in the eye. "Get in a boat," she said, barely above a whisper. "Promise me that you’ll get in a boat." Elisabeth looked up at her with fear she had never known in her gleaming eyes. Another tear rolled slowly down her cheek. Jack was watching them both sadly, glad that Rose had chosen to stay with him. Rose stared down at her sister. "Promise me!" she demanded. "You’ll get to safety."

"I will, Rose," Elisabeth mumbled. Rose hugged her again.

She looked at her sister through sad eyes. A sister she had shared so much with. "I love you, Elisabeth. You’re my best friend."

"I love you, Rose." They hugged one last time, fearing for one another’s safety, and Rose gave Elisabeth a slight push up the stairwell. Jack hugged Elisabeth briefly but tightly. They smiled at each other and Elisabeth climbed up the stairwell, pushing through the people. Rose watched her climb, pushed around and pushing people. She reached the gates at last.

"Open the gate for the lady!" the steward cried. Another steward opened the gate, trying to hold back the mob, and yanked Elisabeth through. But as he was pulling her, her dress caught on the gate and ripped the skirt all the way to the knees on the other side of the dress like she had ripped it in the stairwell. As her arm slid through, her sleeve was ripped, too. But at least she was through. The steward shoved her past and demanded for the gates to be locked. Elisabeth tried to look down at Rose and Jack, but they were nowhere in sight.

She was on her own.

Chapter Twenty
Stories