The Price of Freedom

Chapter Eight

I don't know what it is-maybe just a feeling, a faint tremor beneath my skin. The evening air is cool, calm, but something doesn't feel right. My breath catches in my chest, and I lie there, gripping Jack's shirt as if holding him could steady the growing sense of dread inside me.
I try to shake it off. It's nothing. Just nerves. I've been on edge ever since... everything. But this isn't just in my mind. This is real. I can feel it-something is out there, something dark and dangerous, waiting. I can see it. Not with my eyes, but in my mind-a jagged shadow rising from the water, massive and cold. Ice. The thought of it sends a chill straight through me. I close my eyes, trying to banish the vision, but it only grows sharper, more vivid. The iceberg looms ahead in my thoughts, its edges sharp and unforgiving. It's there. I know it is.

"Jack?" I whisper, my voice trembling as I try to rouse him from sleep. We went to bed early tonight, at 9 p.m., because I was exhausted, but I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see it. I see it all going wrong. I see everyone dying, I see him leaving, slipping between the waves, and-then I'm alone again. Back to Cal.
"Jack."
"Jack!" I yell his name, tears dripping down my face as I desperately try to garner his attention
"What?" His voice is groggy, but concern flickers in his eyes as he sits up, his hand resting on the small of my back. "Are you okay?"
"We're gonna hit an iceberg."
His eyes widen, and he sits bolt upright, his grip tightening. "What? When? How do you know?"
"Tonight. I keep seeing it."
"What, like hallucinations?"
"I- I guess so."

He pulls me closer, tucking my head against his chest, fingers running through my hair. "Oh, Rose, come here. We're safe. I promise."
"No, Jack, I'm serious. It's going to happen tonight. Please believe me, I'm not crazy."
"No, you're not crazy but..." He starts to laugh, but stops short when he sees my face-how pale I've become, my eyes wide and lips trembling. His expression shifts from amusement to concern. "W-well, what do you want to do about it? I mean..."
"Can we find the Captain?"
His eyes soften and he nods, gently helping me out of bed, and pulling his coat over my shoulders. "Come on."

The corridors are dark and cold as Jack leads me up from G Deck to the Boat Deck. Each step feels heavier, as if I'm dragging my dread with me, an invisible weight pressing down on my chest. The air around us is still, but my mind is anything but calm. The premonition lingers like a biting wind, wrapping itself around me, gnawing at my every thought. I try to steady my breath, to push away the fear, but it's useless. Tonight, everything will go wrong. I can feel it deep in my bones.

Jack squeezes my hand, trying to ground me, trying to remind me that everything is fine-but it's not. "We'll be okay," he whispers, though I can hear the uncertainty in his voice. We reach the door to the wheelhouse, and my heart pounds in my chest. I glance at Jack, my lips trembling with fear, my throat tight.
"Go on," he encourages softly. "You can do it. I'm right here."
I raise my fist to knock, but before I can, the door swings open, and a man with a beard steps out. His eyes are tired, and I overhear him mutter, "If it becomes at all doubtful, let me know at once. I'll be just inside."
He's already turning away when Jack smiles at him. "Good evening, Captain. I-I hope you'll forgive us, but, uh, this is Rose, and she's worried about something."Jack nudges my arm, urging me forward, and I manage a sheepish smile as I step into the dim light. My heart races, and for a moment, I want to turn back. But I can't. This is too important. Lives are at stake.
Captain Smith looks down at me, his eyes softening with a kind smile. "Young Rose, what can I help you with? I was actually just going off shift."
"Oh... I... I'm sorry, I-" My voice falters, but I push myself to speak. "I had a premonition. A hallucination, maybe. But I believe we're in terrible danger."
"A hallucination?" He chuckles softly, the corners of his mouth lifting into a reassuring grin. "You shouldn't believe those, young Rose." He starts to turn away, and panic surges inside me. Before I know it, I'm reaching out, grabbing his arm. "No, please, Captain, wait. I'm serious. Please."

His smile fades, and he lets out a small sigh, turning back to face me fully. There's a kindness in his eyes, but I can see it now-he thinks I'm just a frightened girl. "What is it, Miss Rose?"
"Is it true we're steaming into the Labrador Current?" My voice is shaking, but I force the words out.
"That's right," he says with a nod, "but don't worry. We altered course south earlier this evening, so we should avoid any ice."
"But I think we're going to hit," I say, my breath catching in my throat. "Soon. Very soon."
Captain Smith glances at the clock. It reads 23:04. He sighs again, the tired smile returning to his face as he places a gentle hand on my forearm. "Not to worry. I'll inform the officers of the watch, just in case. But I strongly advise you to get some rest. Now, Mr-?"
"Dawson," Jack supplies quickly.
"Mr. Dawson," Captain Smith says, his voice low but firm. "I suggest you take your wife to bed. I assure you, everything will be fine."
"But-" I start, but the words stick in my throat. I can't say what I really feel-that nothing will be fine, that no matter what he does, we'll sink. Thousands will die. But I can't let him think I'm crazy. I can't let Jack think I'm difficult, hysterical. I swallow hard, forcing a smile. "Yes. Thank you, Captain."
"Good night, Mr. and Mrs. Dawson," Captain Smith says, tipping his cap to us. "You're safe, I promise. This is a mighty fine ship."

Jack thanks him, and I allow myself to be led away, but the chill of the night air wraps tighter around me, and my mind screams what I can't say aloud: We are not safe. We are running out of time. My legs feel heavy, my mind spinning with everything unsaid.
"What if it happens anyway?" I whisper, my voice trembling. Jack pulls me closer, but the comfort I usually find in his arms feels distant, unreachable. "It won't. He's the captain, Rose," he says, but I can hear the uncertainty in his voice. He's trying so hard to reassure me, but deep down, I know. I know it will happen. No matter what anyone says.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," he murmurs softly, his hand brushing through my hair. "We can talk tomorrow."

"There might not be a tomorrow if nobody listens to me!" My voice cracks, rising with fear, frustration, everything I've been holding inside.

"Rose-"
"No! I know how men think," I snap, my words sharp. "You all think I'm crazy, that I'm just some hysterical woman. You won't take my word for anything." My chest tightens, and I push away from him, stepping back. "Fine! Don't listen. But I'm not going to bed until I'm sure nothing happens."
Jack lets out a heavy sigh, raking his fingers through his hair. "Right. Fine. Where are you gonna go?"
Without answering, I run out onto the deck, the freezing night air hitting my face like a slap. The cold stings, but I don't care. I sit in front of one of the lifeboats, crossing my arms tightly against my chest, trying to fight off the shivers. It's freezing tonight, but I can't die. Not tonight. Not when I've been fighting to survive for so long, not when life has just started getting ... okay.
Behind me, I hear Jack's footsteps, his voice soft but filled with frustration. "Rose, come on, you can't stay here. You'll catch your death."
I shake my head, not turning to face him. "And so will thousands of others," I whisper, my breath forming small clouds in the cold. "At least half the people on this ship are going to die."
"No, they won't! The captain will make sure of it," Jack insists, but there's an edge of desperation in his voice now. He's trying to convince himself as much as me. "Listen, Rose, I understand how hard it is not to listen to the voices or believe the things you see, but we're safe here. I promise."

I want to believe him. I want nothing more than to melt into his arms and pretend none of this is real. But I can't. The vision in my mind is as clear as the stars above us.
"I want to believe you. But-"
"But what?" His voice cracks. "Please, Rose. Come back inside."
I shake my head, feeling the cold seep deeper into my bones. "No, Jack. I can't."
His voice softens, a pleading edge to it now. "Come back inside. Please."
My hands grip the edge of the lifeboat, knuckles white. "No, Jack. I won't." My voice is firm now, unwavering. I'm not backing down. Not this time.