FORMALITY
Chapter Twelve

April 15, 1912
12:05 AM

I quickly knocked on my sister's door; no answer. I knocked on my parents’ door; no answer there, either. I took out the spare key Mother had given me and opened both doors. The lights were out. Where could they be? My heart was pounding as the thought of being on a sinking ship sunk into my brain.

"Their lifebelts are gone," I said shakily. "They must have gone up top already."

Rob nodded. "Let's check my parents’ room." We almost ran down the hall to his suite of rooms, and again, no one was there.

"Oh, for the love of God, where is everybody?" I asked in frustration.

"Belle, calm down," Rob said, holding my shoulders. "They probably went up top and are getting on a lifeboat right now. Our best decision right now would be to join them."

I nodded, my eyes misting. "Is she really sinking, Rob? Is it all just a dream?" I asked, not expecting an answer.

"I don't know for sure, Belle, but let's go up to be safe," he said, taking my hand. We jogged up the stairs--the lifts had been shut down. The chilly air hit me hard, sending chills up my spine and stinging any of my skin that was exposed. The air was still, no wind--we weren't moving. Rob led me over to the side of the deck. As we stood there, it felt awkward, like it wasn't level. God, the deck was tilted. Tilted toward the bow. I took Rob's hand and walked over to the railing, and leaned over to see what was going on. It was tilted, all right. Rob gasped.

"We're going down by the head, and fast," he said, almost in a whisper. I looked the other way, aft, where I could see a hustle and bustle of able-bodied seamen trying to get the boats ready, but hardly anyone was outside. Where were they all?

Two officers walked by hastily towards the bridge. "Where is everybody?" the first one asked the second one.

"They're all in the lounge where it's warm," the other officer answered them as they disappeared into the bridge.

"Let's check the lounge for our families," Rob said, squeezing my hand and leading me to the lounge. They had to be in there. If not, then where else could they be on a sinking ship?

My face burned as we walked into the warm and bustling lounge. The band was playing off in one corner, while drinks were being passed around by waiters. Ladies sat at tables in their fine jewelry and furs, chatting as if nothing unusual had happened. The men all stood off in groups, talking over brandies. Of course, the unusual thing was that everyone in the room was wearing a lifebelt.

"What are they doing in here, Rob? This ship is sinking!" I whispered in his ear as he scanned the many faces for familiar ones.

"I don't know. Let's walk this way. Maybe they're over here," he said, still looking around.

I clung to his arm, suddenly afraid. These people were acting strange. This certainly was not the reaction that I had expected from passengers on a doomed ship. I guess it was better than everyone running around in a frenzied panic.

As we walked around the room, I caught little bits and pieces of conversations.

"This lifebelt is so bulky..."

"Can we go back to our rooms?"

"I don't know what they're so worried about. This ship can't sink. Mr. Ismay said so himself."

"I don't know. The air seems a little cold to be going out in those little boats..."

Weren't these people in the least bit frightened? I knew I was. The one time I wanted my family around me, they were nowhere to be found.

"Do you see them yet, Rob?" I asked, scanning the room myself.

He shook his head. "No. If we don't find them soon, we'll just get on a boat without them."

Chapter Thirteen
Stories