DANGEROUS GAMES
Chapter Ten

A deep shiver ran through the ship. Savannah felt it softly beneath her feet as it passed through. They sat in silence for a moment, though neither was sure what they were listening for. Soon, Savannah felt the deep hum of the engines cease and the ship’s motion come to a halt. Bruce rose from the armchair and wrapped his bathrobe around himself.

He was halfway to the door when Savannah called out, "Bruce, where are you going?"

His hand was on the doorknob when he called back to her, "I’m going to find the captain."

She stood and watched him leave before going out to the promenade.

Savannah lifted the heavy window and stuck her head out as far as it would go. She braced herself on the windowsill and drew her gaze along the waterline. Below her, the normally choppy ocean was as flat as a piece of plate glass. The ship had come to a complete stop. She drew herself back into the room and closed the window.

"Much too cold out there," she muttered to herself.

She lingered for a moment on the promenade until she heard an impatient knock on the door.

*****

Jack stood behind Rose in the hall and watched as she hammered away at the door. Inside, he could hear Savannah calling that she’d be there in a moment, but Rose wasn’t listening. Savannah threw the door open, on the verge of shouting at the loud visitor, but held back her annoyance when she saw Rose and Jack waiting in the hallway. She beckoned them inside and quickly closed the door behind them.

"Rose, you look like you’ve seen a ghost," Savannah said as she stepped into her bedroom slippers.

Rose grabbed Savannah by the shoulders, forcing eye contact between the two.

"Savannah, the ship’s hit an iceberg."

Savannah shook her head in denial, but Rose only nodded and explained, "Jack and I saw it. It was massive. We were heading straight for it. That’s what shook the ship."

Savannah’s eyes went wide for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. She was about to speak when Bruce burst into the room.

"Savannah!" he called out to her.

When he came around the corner into her bedroom, she managed to squeak out a small, "Here I am."

Bruce ripped open her wardrobe and began sifting through her many gowns before finally noticing the presence of Jack and Rose.

"Miss DeWitt Bukater, you and Mr. Dawson should return to your rooms immediately," he said as authoritatively as he could.

Rose nodded and whispered, "Good-bye, Savannah." She pulled Jack out of the room behind her.

Savannah turned her attention back to Bruce, who was once again ripping through her wardrobe. He carelessly tossed her purple wool coat over his shoulder and onto the bed, as well as her wool stockings and high-button boots.

"Bruce, what is going on?" Savannah questioned as he sat her down on her bed and began to lace up the boots he had chosen. "Bruce," she continued to beg.

He helped her into her coat and buttoned it up before taking her by the hand and leading her out of the room.

It was thirty-five minutes past midnight when they reached the boat deck landing of the grand staircase. There were people milling around, all dressed in their coats and white lifebelts. She looked frantically around her as Bruce led her through the crowd of annoyed passengers. He pushed the doors open and before she knew it, they were standing on the deck of the Titanic in the frigid night.

The noise on the deck was almost unbearable. All around Savannah, there were officers shouting at seamen, whistles being blown, and the never-ending roar of the steam escaping through the enormous funnels above them. She brought her hands up to her ears in an effort to block out the sound, but found it a losing battle. Bruce pulled Savannah over to a small alcove just aft of a lifeboat. Savannah watched an officer and crewman uncover the boat and begin to hook it into its davits.

"Savannah, listen carefully," Bruce began.

Savannah kept her eyes on the boat to her right. The officer in charge had just begun beckoning ladies over to the lifeboat and helping them in.

"Bruce, what’s happening?"

Her voice cracked in fear as the officer glanced at her quickly. Bruce waved him off so he could continue speaking.

"Savannah, the ship will sink."

Her head spun as the weight of his words rested on her shoulders.

"Why aren’t they getting everyone into the boats?" she asked as she tore her head around to see the hundreds of clueless passengers standing one hundred feet from her.

Bruce shook his head and said, "Don’t worry. They will. But right now, I need you to get into this boat here. You’ll be safe, and God willing, so will I."

Savannah spun her head to face him and questioned, "What does that mean? God willing? There’s room for everyone, isn’t there?"

Bruce sighed heavily and responded delicately, trying to keep her panic to a minimum.

"Savannah, the order is women and children, and…and there are not enough boats for all the men aboard."

Savannah began to shake her head in denial.

"Savannah," Bruce said softly, "half the people on this ship are going to die tonight."

Bruce took hold of her arm and led her towards the waiting lifeboat.

"Officer Murdoch will take care of you, darling," Bruce said reassuringly as he handed her off to the handsome young officer who stood before them.

"Mrs. Ismay," he greeted cordially. "We’ve a seat for you right here."

Savannah stared at him for a moment. How could he be so calm?

Savannah tugged her arm away from Officer Murdoch.

"Savannah, get into the boat," she heard Bruce plead.

"I can’t," she whispered.

Around them now stood all the passengers she had seen inside. They were crowding around the boat, all awaiting their turn to enter. She stepped back from the railing and turned back towards the grand staircase. The only thought in her head was Thomas.

She had made two steps toward the entrance when she felt a tight grip on her arm.

"Savannah, where are you going? Didn’t you hear me?" Bruce shouted at her above the crowd.

"I have to find him!" she shouted back, not caring if he knew.

"He’s on the ship?" Bruce was on the verge of rage as he tightened his grip on her arm. "Who is he, dammit?"

Savannah gave up her struggle for a moment.

Pulling Bruce close, she brought her lips to his ear and said, "Thomas Andrews."

Her eyes clouded over with contempt as she took one last look at Bruce. He was truly stunned as he watched her back away and run down the deck.

Savannah passed through the entrance to the grand staircase. The hands of the clock read 12:55 as she ran past. Her eyes scanned every inch of the deck as she trotted down the stairs to B-Deck. Where would he be? she asked herself as she reached the landing. She heard voices coming from the corridor to her left. Without a thought, she ran towards them. She saw elegant matrons evacuating their suites, adorned with their furs and diamonds. She saw stewards knocking on doors. She didn’t see Thomas.

"Ma’am, please, get your lifebelt and go up to the boat deck," a young steward said as she pushed past him.

He took hold of her coat and soon found himself pinned against the white paneled wall.

Savannah had a fistful of the young man’s coat in her hand.

"I need to find Mr. Andrews. Have you seen him?" she asked urgently.

Beneath her feet, she could feel a slight tilt.

The frightened man only shook his head and said, "No, ma’am, I haven’t. Try C-Deck."

Savannah released him and pushed her way back towards the staircase.

She dashed down the stairs, pushing people aside and receiving looks of distaste from many of the older ladies and gentlemen. The forward corridor was packed with people trying to make it to the deck. Savannah glanced down at the diamond watch she wore on her bodice. 1:20. She pressed on through the hall, every few steps calling out his name. A multitude of stewards and stewardesses swarmed the hallway, all knocking on doors, all carrying armfuls of lifebelts.

"Thomas!" she called out above the noise. "Thomas Andrews!"

At last, a steward acknowledged her cries.

"He’s not here, ma’am. I just saw him making his way to D-Deck."

Savannah pushed away from the man and raced to the stairway at the end of the corridor. Checking her watch again, she saw that it was 1:43. As she descended the deserted stairway, she found she was having difficulty keeping her balance. She felt as though she was traveling downhill. Terrified of what that feeling meant, she picked up her pace and found herself among a maze of white hallways.

There was no one around. The stateroom doors were wide open. The occupants had long deserted their luxury for the safety of the lifeboats.

"Thomas!" she bellowed once again.

Her voice echoed through the hallways, but received no response. Farther down the corridor, Savannah heard the echoes of voices and knocking.

"Thomas!" she shouted again as she moved closer.

She turned the corner and glanced down the bustling hall. Men, women, and stewards all crowded the small space, all trying to get up higher on deck. And there, in the midst of it all, stood Thomas.

"Thomas!" she called as she shoved her way towards him, pushing everyone out of the way.

Thomas stopped for a moment. He swore he had heard his name. His eyes zipped across the faces that surrounded him before finally coming to rest on Savannah. She was charging towards him and he found himself doing the same.

"Savannah!" he called to her as she finally reached his arms.

She buried her face in his chest as her arms wrapped around him. She felt his lips on her head in a gentle kiss before he pulled her away from him. She looked into his eyes and saw worry and sadness staring back at her.

"Savannah, why aren’t you in a boat? I told Bruce to put you in a boat…"

He rambled on in an effort to keep his emotions in check. Savannah only shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes.

"I couldn’t go without you, Thomas. I love you."

Thomas smiled and pulled her into a loving kiss.

The ship around them began to creak as she took on more water. Thomas caught sight of her watch as he pulled away from her and saw that it was 1:55. An hour, two at the most. He thought back to his conversation with Bruce and Captain Smith on the bridge.

"We have to get you to a boat," he said hurriedly.

Taking her hand, he pulled her toward the grand staircase. As they climbed, they could hear the distant roar of water on the decks below.

On deck was a massive crowd of people, hundreds of them, all vying for a seat in one lifeboat. Thomas looked around the deck and saw that all the others had been sent away.

"Follow me," he said breathlessly as he led her through the bridge to the starboard side.

As they exited the bridge, Savannah heard gunshots in the distance. She squeezed Thomas’ hand as he pressed on, determined to save her from the fate he knew awaited the rest of them.

"Officer Wilde!" he shouted as they approached one of the few remaining boats. "Have you seen Mr. Ismay?"

Officer Wilde nodded his head and said, "Yes, sir. He was just lowered in Boat C."

He left me here, Savannah thought to herself.

Thomas nodded and asked, "Is there room for Mrs. Ismay in this boat?"

Officer Wilde nodded and led them over to the railing.

Thomas pulled Savannah to him for one last good-bye. He fought the tears that so desperately wanted to fall as he hugged her tightly. Savannah looked up at Thomas. She cried freely as they kissed one last time.

"I’ll see you in New York," he whispered to her as he draped his heavy wool coat over her shoulders.

He held her hand as she stepped over the railing, refusing to let go until she was safely inside.

I love you, she mouthed to him.

Thomas whispered, "I love you, Savannah." He stood with his hands gripping the cold deck railing.

Officer Wilde shouted to the seamen standing by at the davits. "Lower away!"

The boat lurched suddenly and then settled into a slow, smooth fall to the black ocean below. Savannah wept as she kept her eyes locked on Thomas’. She could see tears glistening in his eyes as she heard the gentle splash of the water.

Savannah turned her back to the ship as the lifeboat pulled away. Behind her, she could hear the crack that followed the launch of distress rockets. She heard the faint strings of the band as they continued to play, despite the horrible incline of the deck. Without warning, there were three more gunshots in the distance, accompanied by shrieks of terror.

When Savannah did finally turn around, she saw the dying Titanic and all those who would follow her to the bottom of the sea. She was still brightly lit from bow to stern. The bow was below the water, casting an eerie green glow through the surrounding ocean. Savannah watched on with the others as the stern slowly rose from the sea. Three enormous propellers began to peek out from below the waterline as the ship began to slip away faster. It was only minutes before the stern was near-perpendicular. Savannah held her breath as she watched the lights flicker once and then go out permanently, leaving them all drifting in complete darkness.

Savannah turned away again. In the distance she could hear the band playing a soft hymn, though which one she could not say. She silently prayed as she heard what sounded like a branch snapping from a tree. When she turned again, she saw the stern of the once mighty ship slide beneath the surface, a low rumble following it to the sea floor.

"2:20 AM," she heard someone mutter from the back of the lifeboat.

The screams of the victims echoed into the night. Savannah sobbed as she heard them all crying for redemption, hoping the lucky few in the boats would grant it. But they did nothing. Savannah pulled Thomas’ coat up around her head in an effort to block them all out.

The cold began to eat away at them all. Slowly, the cries of those in the water began to fade and then cease altogether. It was the longest night of Savannah’s life. The gentle lap of the swells against the side of the lifeboat was calming as she stared out at the horizon. Soon a ship would come to save them and she would be with Thomas again. In the distance, Savannah saw a green glow coming from one of the other boats. The sun was beginning to rise, turning the sky shades of pink and orange.

From somewhere in the back of the lifeboat, a woman cried out. "Look! A ship!"

Savannah raised her eyes and saw a small steamship approaching from the south. The gentlemen in the boat snatched up the oars and began making for the ship. As they came up alongside her, Savannah looked up and read Carpathia emblazoned in white letters on the hull. The lifeboat floated for a moment before a ladder was lowered to them. Savannah watched as the other ladies in the boat maneuvered their way up the ladder.

"You’re next, ma’am!" a sailor called down to Savannah from the deck.

Taking the sides of the ladder in her hands, she slowly lifted herself from the lifeboat and steadily made her way to the deck.

What was waiting for her made her sick to her stomach. Waiting all around were the widows of the gentlemen on board. She saw no hope in their eyes as the last lifeboat was emptied, only grief and pain. She followed the procession to the well deck and found a seat by the railing. It was not long before a plump woman brought her a warm cup of coffee and some soup.

Savannah nursed her coffee as she stared absentmindedly at the swells below. Bruce had yet to find her. She wondered if he was even looking for her. And Thomas. She hadn’t found him yet. She silently began to question whether or not he had made it into a boat. She buried her face in the collar of his coat and inhaled its scent. She had always loved the smell of his cologne.

"Savannah!" she heard from behind her.

She turned and saw Rose running towards her. Savannah dropped her coffee and ran to her friend. They met in a warm hug and held each other for a moment before separating.

"Where’s Jack?" Savannah asked tentatively.

Rose only shook her head and fought back tears. Savannah nodded. She didn’t need her to elaborate. Savannah glanced over Rose’s shoulder and saw Bruce standing at the foot of the metal staircase, searching for Savannah. She tried to hide her face, but it was too late. Bruce ran over to her and scooped her into a hug.

"Savannah, I thought I’d lost you!" he exclaimed as he held her tightly.

Savannah stood unresponsive, her arms resting at her side. When Bruce released her, he looked at her questioningly.

"What’s wrong, darling?" he asked, trying to remain innocent.

Savannah looked at him in disgust. Her voice was full of hatred when she spoke.

"You left me," she said softly.

"What’s that?" Bruce asked, unsure he had heard her correctly.

"You left me!" she shouted. "You left me on that Godforsaken ship to die!"

Savannah was screaming now.

"I hate you!"

Bruce hung his head in shame.

When she had calmed down, Savannah took a step towards Bruce and whispered venomously, "We may share a name, but as of this moment, that is all we share."

Savannah walked to the port side of the ship with Rose in tow.

"Savannah," she said when they had reached the opposite railing.

Savannah watched as Rose removed a brandy bottle from her coat.

She handed the bottle to Savannah and said, "Mr. Andrews asked me to give this to you."

Savannah looked inside the bottle and saw a piece of paper inside. The bottle fell to the deck and smashed into pieces as Savannah collapsed into tears. Thomas was gone. He had known he would not make it to New York. He had known all along.

Rose picked up the paper and said, "Jack and I saw him in the smoking room by the fireplace. He died like a gentleman, Savannah."

Savannah shook her head and said, "Gentleman or not, he’s still gone."

Rose handed her the note and said, "He made me promise to get this to you."

Savannah took the paper from her and unfolded it, revealing a letter to her.

My Dearest Savannah,

I met you when I least expected to. I was at my lowest point. You were like a shooting star...so bright and beautiful. You brought light where there was only darkness, hope where there was despair, love where there was none and passion where there was numbness. You made everything new and bright and shiny.

Every day was special...an adventure. Your kisses left me breathless. Your arms around me left me wanting for nothing. I never felt so loved or so safe. And then, as quickly as you appeared, you were gone.

I hope you understand why it has to be this way. When you think of me, remember me only with you. I will always love you, my darling Savannah. My heart will always belong to you.

Yours forever,
Thomas

The End.

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