The 96th hour

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I awake from another announcement from the speakers. There are none in my room so I only hear it mumbled from the hallway. I get Up into a sitting posittion, only now realizing that I have fallen asleep. I yawn. One would think I am now more relaxed and awake but I am more uneasy to be honest. I stand up and leave the room, not looking back.

"...will be awaited in the meeting room in five minutes. Thank you for your attention. I repeat: Please, all passangers get ready. You will be awaited in the meeting room in five minutes.", The speakers say. It echoes through the small hallways which gives it a creepy vibe I havent noticed before.

I try to remember the way to the meeting room but my sleepiness makes it hard to think. I go left then right again. I dont really think about where I am walking and only look at the ground. Suddenly I bump into someone and look up. Its Stockton, the Pilot. 

"Sorry, I wasnt looking", I mumble, then yawn again. 

He laughs then says:" Dont worry, in the sub we will bump into the others very often, believe me." 

This makes my stomach turn. Thinkin about the space we will be in and the bad air we will be breathing makes me sick. The boat moves over the waves, making everything shaky, including me, and I need to put a hand on the wall for support.

"Are you all right, Sha? We dont want you to be sick, do we? I would rather have you vomit here than in the Sub, giving it another thought, though." He says, putting a hand on my back and petting me slightly. This make me even more uncomfortable. What the hell does he thinke he is doing?

"I will be fine, please." I straighten my back and look him in the eyes. I want to seem cold and more business like, not seeing Stockton as a friend, and I want him to realize that. I only want him to get me to the Titanic and back up, nothing more.

But, he doesnt seem to get it because he starts walking while still having his hand on my back. "We will be in the meeting room in a minute, till then you can decide if you have to vomit or not." He laughs but I don't think he is amusing. I just keep my mouth shut, my stomach tightening even more. 

We turn one last time and then Stockton opens a door and leads me through it. I look up. The room has several armchair and sofas, surrounding a small glass table and looking towards a big TV screen. Hamish and Paul are sitting next to each other on a sofa. Next to them is Suleman my son on an armchair. They are talking but I cant tell about what. I walk towards them and plop into the armchair next to Suleman. Stockton makes his way to the front, remaining standing. He folds his arms, smiles, looks all of us once in the eyes, buliding tention with this. A bit of excitement rises inside of me. I am glad, that fear is not the only feeling I have about all of this. 

"Now, dear guests, we will leave the ship and enter the wonderful Titan. I ask you to leave your shoues here, we will, as said, not need them." Stockton says. 

We all start pulling our shoes off, including Stockton. I am happy to Not smell any perspiration from anyones feet yet and I hope it stays this way. 

After we are all done Stockton continues:,, Now, PLEASE follow me, the Titan is docked onto this ship". 

The same women that opened the gate to the boat for us appears and opens yet another door. It is made of steel amd looks heavy but she manages just fine. Without a creak it opens and lets a fine breeze of ocean wind into the room. I breathe it in deeply and relax my muscles a bit. Only now I see the Titan about five meters in front of us. 

Stockton goes down a small ladder with five steps to get to the Titan. Paul and Hamish follow, then my son, then me and lastly the woman. I wonder what she is still here for.

The Titan is already open. I only now see that it goes only to Stocktons shoulders. A claustrophobic feeling rises inside of me, even though I am Not even inside the submarine yet. 

Then Stockton enters. Following again Paul and Hamish. They seem so calm. Suleman looks at me. We have a conversation only by eyecontact. His eyes look worried about me and I nod at him to telle him, that I am all right. I wont show weakness infront of my son, especually when he is also so relaxed. He enters too. I take a last breath, duck and make my way inside.

We all sit down. Crouching. It already is uncomfortable, sitting on the hard ground. We are Not even able to lean against the wall properly because it is rounded. The air feels heavy and the "door" is Not even closed yet. Stockton sits in the Back, turned towards the entrance. On the right wall sits Paul, looking towards Hamish opposite him, leaning against the left Wall. Then right again is Suleman and I am sitting left. 

"Now my dear assistant will close the our door. As you know, we are Not able to open the sub from the inside. But do not worry, we dont need to anyway." Stockton says.

So thats why the woman has been still there. She appears are the enteance, casting a shadow into the sub. The sun is now fully set but I wont see it for atleast some hours from now on. I already miss its warmth.

She smiles at us and with a heave, grabs the heavy metal closing and pushes it shut hard. 

BANG.