The Ship of Dreams

Chapter 12: Sophiè and the Atlantic

We rushed through the upper decks of the Titanic, passing many places and rooms that make me sad to think that they will be at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean in less than an hour. I noticed a figure standing by the fire, drinking a glass of brandy, as we passed through the first class parlour. I recognized the figure as Mr Andrews as I slowed down. The closest thing I've had to a Father in two years. When he realized I wasn't following him anymore, Jack slowed down and walked back to me.

"Are you Mr Andrews?" When I asked, he turned and smiled, but I knew he was carrying a lot of weight.

"Aren't you going to give it a shot?" I inquired once more, and all he said was, "I'm sorry I didn't build you a strong enough ship, Amelia." In a low voice tinged with rage and sadness.

"Best wishes," he said, nodding to me, Jack, and Sophiè {My sister}.

"And to you," Jack continues. Mr Andrews pulls me back and hands me a life vest as I begin to walk away. When I pulled him into a tight hug as my way of saying goodbye, he smiled again before returning his attention to the crackling fire. I feel safest around little Sophie; it's a little too big, but it's better than nothing.

As we walked back up onto the Titanic's packed decks, I let out a deep breath I hadn't realized I was holding, and turned around just in time to see Jack emerge from the stairwell, Sophie clinging to him. His arm was protectively wrapped around her back, supporting her under her bottom. I could tell he liked her.

"Jack," I said silently, and he looked at me. "Perhaps we should tell her our names because she has nowhere else to go," I suggested with a light smile. He returned my smile with a nod. We both crouched down to avoid the panicked passengers who were hurling luggage and furniture into the water and jumping themselves.

"Sophiè, This is Amelia, and this is Jack. We are going to look after you." I wasn't sure if she'd agree, so I said.

She could understand because she was so young.

"D'accord," she said. "I took French when I was 13 and still remember most of it," she said, and judging by Jack's smile, I'm guessing he learned it in Paris as well.

"We have to stay on this ship as long as possible," Jack said as he scooped Sophie up, took my hand, and started running. We got to the third class Area boundary before getting stuck behind slow walkers, so I pushed past everyone and took off again, looking back to see Jack close behind. I haven't seen Tommy or Fabrizio since they left to find another boat, but I hope they're okay, and I know Jack will as well.

"As I walked through the shadows and into the valley of death," a stuttering man said. He was slowly making his way up the stairs in front of us.

"Would you like to walk faster to that Death Valley thing?" Jack said this while lightly pushing forward on the back. As we made our way up to the top of the ship, I noticed different groups of people. Some families, random people, and even priests offer one last prayer for the soon-to-die.

What struck me the most was a woman rocking her four-year-old son and whispering in an Irish accent, "it'll all be over soon," as he cried into her chest.

As Jack jumped from the railing that separated second and third classes and landed on the hard wood deck, I handed him Sophie because I didn't want her to jump. I jumped from the railing and landed on my side; a polite first-class gentleman approached to assist me, but I brushed him off and continued running with Jack and Sophie. We arrived at the back of the ship, where I had attempted suicide, just as the ship began to move on an angle.

"Jack, this is where we first met," I said as he cradled me and Sophie in his arms, kissing my head and rubbing my arm in a desperate effort to warm me up.

Suddenly, the ship began to rise higher and higher into the air. People were leveling the back rails and leaping into the water below. Which was a bad idea. I winced and cringed as a man took a sip from a flask, most likely of alcohol, and jumped. He hit the edge of the propeller blade and pinwheeled the rest of the way down, obviously dead.

Jack reached out his hand and grabbed the flagpole, the ship was nearly at a 90-degree angle, he handed me Sophiè and climbed over the railing and rested against it so his belly was flat against it, I put Sophiè over the bars and Jack positioned her so she could hold on and I climbed over the other side of her. So she was sandwiched between me and Jack. Suddenly, there was a loud CRACK and the entire ship split down the middle. I screamed as the ship free fell for about 300 meters before crashing back into the water. The ship had already begun to rise vertically within the next minute. I had a firm grip on the rail and on Sophiè waist.

"Oh my God, oh my God." As the ship approached the water, I began to sting.

"Hold on to me, Sophie," I said, and she clung to my side like a baby bear.

"All right, the ships are going to suck us under, so when I say go, take a deep breath and kick for the surface, don't stop!" While inspecting the ship that was now lowering into the water, Jack pointed that many people had died when the ship went completely vertical.

"1," Jack began to count, "2," he repeated. I was terrified. "3!" I took a deep breath and gripped Jack's hand and Sophie's waist as he yelled. I noticed her take a deep breath.

I felt a huge force pulling me down as I unlocked for the surface, and I looked to see Sophie with her eyes squeezed shut, but Jack was being sucked down by the ship. I reached for his other hand as well, but his grip on mine was soon severed. NO, NO, NO, JACK!! I quickly resurfaced and brought Sophie up, and was relieved when she took a deep breath.

"Jack?" I called hoping for a response. "Jack!" I called once more. As Sophie floated near me, I began to cry. I was relieved that she had that life vest instead of me.

"Come on Sophie, we need to swim and find something to float on," I said to the young girl, who nodded and swanted as best we could. I swam as best I could despite my legs being numb from the cold. It hits you like a thousand knives, as Jack predicted.

That's when I heard coughing and burbling coming from behind me.

CHAPTER 13 COMING SOON