FOR ALL ETERNITY
Chapter One
Rose couldn’t believe that she had actually
allowed Cal to blame Jack for stealing the diamond. Although extremely pricey,
which you could probably live off of for the rest of your life, who would want
to be caught with that gaudy necklace?
"You’re a nitwit, Rose! Here you
eventually find the love of your life and you just stand there in a
trance!" she angrily told herself, as she hurried away looking for Thomas
Andrews. "What a lot of trust you have to give! Imagine, you’ve just
trusted yourself an hour ago with Jack, and this is how you repay him?"
Finally, after many confusing corridors and
throngs of panicking people, she happened across Mr. Andrews.
"Mr. Andrews, please help me. I allowed
myself to be conned into thinking Jack was guilty of theft, and now I realize
it was all a lie. Please tell me where they keep people who are under
arrest?"
"Rose, what are you doing here? You must
hurry to a boat."
"Please, Mr. Andrews. I must free Jack.
Even he should have a chance to live."
"Yes, yes. Take the elevator to the
bottom, find the crew passage. On the other end, turn right. You should find
him there. Hurry, Rose. You know the situation!"
With those instructions, she ran to carry
them out. She encountered minor trouble at the elevator, but managed to be
quite persuasive! She knew the danger she was in. There was already knee deep
water along the corridors, and it was rising quite rapidly. Rose also knew that
her love for Jack would carry her through. Finally, upon reaching her
destination, she began to frantically call out for Jack.
"Jack? Jack, where are you? Please
answer me!"
"Rose! Oh, thank you! Rose, I’m in
here!"
"Oh, Jack, my love! I’m so sorry for not
trusting you. I just knew Cal was up to something as soon as you were dragged
out of the room. I love you!" she cried, amidst kissing him passionately
all over his face.
"Rose, I knew you would come for me. It
was only a matter of time before you would know for yourself what a slime Cal
is. Judging from this water, though…" It was now waist high. "I think
we need to act fast. Look in that cabinet there for the spare key. It’s right
at the top, left hand side." Jack was beside himself with joy. Rose had
unconsciously declared her love for him, verbally, for the first time. He
didn’t acknowledge it, as this was not the time for it now.
Rose successfully located the key and freed
Jack from those uncomfortable handcuffs. They just flew into each other’s arms,
full of apologies for their mistrust and doubt. However, they couldn’t delight
too long in their reunion, as the water was still rising quite fast. They
managed to make their way to the top deck, without too much incident. There
they ran into Fabrizio and Tommy. Everyone was quite relieved to see the other.
Realizing that the panic amongst the other
passengers was quite out of control, Jack commanded that now that there were no
boats left, they should make it to the end of the ship, in order to stay alive
as long as possible.
They began to push and stream along with the
others, to the highest point of the sinking ship. Jack looked around and was
amazed at how such a beautiful big ship could be slowly sinking to its death.
"Rose, try to keep up with me. Now that
we’re finally together without any hassles, I don’t want to lose you too soon.
If ever, at that!"
"Don’t worry about me, my love. You’re
my solid rock I’m leaning upon. Remember our vow...you jump, I jump? We’re in
this together, and I have no intention of leaving you."
"Fabrizio, Tommy! Are you guys okay back
there?" shouted Jack over his shoulder, looking at his two friends.
"Don’t you worry about us. We can look
after ourselves here. Just keep your mind on your beautiful Rose there, my
friend," answered Fabrizio, touched by his friend’s concern over him. They
had been friends from the first day Jack had left home, at the tender age of
fifteen. They had been together ever since, through thick and thin. There was
no way in hell that this sinking was going to change things now.
After much impatience and struggle, the group
of friends finally made their way to the very end of the ship. The ship was now
tilted completely vertical, and many unfortunate people were losing their grips
and falling to their deaths. This is such an unnecessary waste of human life,
thought Rose, as every now and again, she watched, helpless, while a new friend
of hers fell to the icy waters below.
Despite everything that was going on around
him, Jack had managed to think clearly in order to save himself and his
friends. He made them all, even a reluctant Rose, to climb over the railing so
that when the ship did finally plunge completely, they would not be caught
within the suction.
"Jack, can you believe that it was only
a few precious days ago that we met here, and you saved my life? Look at us
now, right where we started, and about to slip into the water after all!"
Rose stated, with a dry smile.
"Who would’ve known! Rose, no matter
what happens, believe me that I will always be there for you. Remember that,
but you must listen to me now. The ship is going to want to suck us down with
it to its watery grave. When I give you the signal, you must take a big breath,
and kick to the surface as soon as possible. I’ll be with you all the
time." Jack hugged her fiercely and gave her a quick kiss.
Fabrizio and Tommy heard this exchange, and
marveled at how level-headed Jack was thinking. Obviously, he was not really
thinking of himself, but of his lovely Rose. He was quite prepared to give his
life for her. Neither of these men spoke. Each were lost in their own thoughts
and dreams as to what life would hold for them next. They were not prepared to
die, either!