Titanic Bound by Destiny

Chapter 21: Rising Waters

April 14th, 1912. (11:50 pm)

Nobody quite knew what was happening; the ship was alive, with stewards scuttling about the ship faster than they ever had before to raise passengers. Passengers were not just grumpy but deeply annoyed that they had been awoken, infuriated that the ship had seemingly stopped. A sense of relief washed over many when the stubble hum of the engines returned once more, but it did not last, and soon, the soft hum of the engines that had provided a strange sense of comfort and normality was gone; now all that remained was a deathly unnerving silence that hung over the halls of titanic like a heavy storm cloud. The stewards, unaware of the events that were transpiring, directed passengers to the common rooms, and so no, in the elegant confines of the second-class library, Nicholas and his fellow passengers sat enveloped in a tense but composed atmosphere, clinging to the hope that the situation was under control. The library offered a deceptive sense of security and normalcy. Laughter and conversation had dimmed to whispers and worried murmurs, but there remained a steadfast belief, almost a denial, that the ship would surely withstand any challenge the sea could muster. She was Titanic, after all, the grandest ship ever to sail. Indeed, nothing could have happened to endanger her.

Nicholas and his friends congregated near where they had always sat; they all sat together. An unspoken tension lingered as they all sought solace in numbers and shared concern. It was the first time they had all gathered all his friends in one place. This meeting would have been one for celebration in happier, more carefree times, but now only hushed conversation was possible. Around them, theories about what had happened to the ship varied wildly, from hitting an iceberg to mechanical failure, such as throwing a propeller. The uncertainty fuelled a growing anxiety, palpable in the tight voices and nervous glances exchanged. Nicholas was sure that whatever had happened would soon be solved. They would be on their way again, though he expected whatever had sent those vibrations through the ship would likely delay their entry into New York. Though that did seem to annoy some of the passengers standing in the Library to Nicholas, he was not that bothered, for it meant he would get to spend more time with not only his friends but Sebastian. a man he had yet to see since the ship stopped, he had been looking for him before bumping into conner and ending up here. He hoped he was okay.

The Other Stewards, their faces composed and voices steady, moved through the room, attempting to assuage fears with reassurances that everything was under control. Their calm demeanour never seemed to fail; they never once showed any sign of anxiety or worry. It contrasted sharply with the tense undertone of the passengers' whispered discussions. Nicholas's Eyes gazed around the room as he thought hard about what Sebastian would do in this situation. And so he tried to inject a note of calm rationality into the conversation to reassure his friends that everything would be okay. He took a long drink from his glass, using the moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. "Let's not jump to conclusions," Nicholas suggested in a calm voice but carrying an undertone of his concern. "The crew will inform us if we need to do anything. For now, let's stay calm and stay together." He took another swig of his drink, the bear warming his insides. He was not a heavy drinker; he had drunk for the first time on the ship, but the current events gave him the need for a strong drink.

As he set his glass down on the table, it slowly rolled off the edge and crashed to the floor, shattering with a startling sound that echoed ominously in the suddenly quiet room. Nicholas looked at the remains of the glass on the floor. He turned to look at the room's walls and, for the first time, realised Titanic seemed to be listing slightly; she was no longer upright as she had been for the last four days. The rolling glass and the Listing of the ship seemed a harbinger of the nightmare that was about to unfold. Yet Nicholas had not fully grasped what was going on, even as he and his friends looked upon the remains of the glass with horror in their eyes. "Surely Titanic is safe; this is just a small accident", Addie insisted in an attempt to reassure her friends; she took Dora's hands, staring out the window, her face now sheet white. If Nicholas had known the full extent of the danger at that moment, his instincts might have propelled him to take more decisive action, action to save his friends and the one he loved dearly.