Unsinkable

April 15th

"Rob..." I begin again as I pull my robe tighter across my chest. I slip my socked feet into my boots and then chase after him into the hallway. There's still relatively no activity. "Are we in danger?" I ask trying to keep pace with him.

"We're sinking." He states plainly. "I think we hit an iceberg." He turns back to me but continues down the hallway. "That was the shudder you may have felt."

"But are we in danger?" I ask again. This stops him.

"I've heard rumors that it breached 6 compartments... We can't stay afloat with that much damage." I draw a breath. He looks down the hallway towards the stairs. "I'm going to check to make sure. I want to see with my own eyes."

"I want to go too." I say. He shakes his head.

"Go to the deck." He says, his eyes wide.

"There's nothing wrong." I tell him crossing my arms, surprised at my own stubbornness. Could denial already be settling in? "I don't hear rushing water or see screaming people. You've heard lies surely. Is this not the Titanic?" I know I've said what I've said to reassure myself.

"That's not how it works." He says rather angrily. "You won't be able to tell at first but before you know it the deck will be slanting under our feet and then we'll be at the bottom of the ocean. Trust me I've seen a shipwreck or two." I've trusted him throughout this journey, but this ship has done nothing for me not to trust her integrity. He lunges forward and grabs my hand. "We don't have time to argue about this. We need to find out what's happening. Come with me or go to the deck." He says before pulling. To see this man who had been so charming and calm throughout the voyage panic like he is startles me. I've never seen such a look in a man's eye, ever. We start out walking but he demands that we run. I pull my hand away from his and stop.  

"You have to trust me." He says. I watch his calmness return just a bit. "I know this ship well Bridget. If we find out what's going on I'll be able to tell. If you'll not take my word then you need to see it with your own eyes." There's still no other passenger, no sign of trouble, and yet my heart is pounding, pleading with me that something's wrong. I give him a nod and then start to jog alongside him.

We descend deep into the decks and as the minutes tick by  more and more people make their way into the halls. There's no panic, but there does seem to be the slightest degree change in the decks. I start to think that maybe, just maybe there could be an issue, but then I remember that I'm on the Titanic, the safest ship on the sea. As these thoughts cross my mind Connor and I cross into the crew hallway we'd ran down two days ago. We reemirge a few decks lower in a third class hallway. Realizing that there is indeed danger, I remember what Connor had said about 3rd class being a maze. I struggle against Rob hard. "Do you still not believe me?" He asks.

"I do believe you!" I tear my arm from him. Belief in him was not a question, belief in the ship was.

"Rob!" Turning I see Oliver coming up the the stairs from steerage. The first thing I note is his pants, wetted to his knees. He barely acknowledges. "There's fourteen feet of water above the keel in less than 10 minutes." I look between them trying to understand what they're saying. "5 compartments breached." He says, his face grave.

"So we are sinking." I suddenly feel very faint admitting it out loud. Rob grips my shoulders again. 

"Do you know the way back up to deck?" He shakes me a bit to get me out of my shocked state. I crinkle my brow in confusion, not in the way back but in what my next action should be. If we're sinking by the bow I should be able to go to the stern and warn Nelly with time to spare. Rob shakes me again and I nod. "I need to go find my mates and then do my duty to my passengers." He kisses me then, on the forehead sending me head first back into shock. Even though I haven't responded to his sudden show of affection he embraces me. "Don't wait for me." He says pulling away. "Go tell Connor and his mother, but don't cause a panic. That won't help anyone. I'll meet you up on deck." He pushes me in the direction we came from and then he and his mate turn away towards a stewards passage. I take a breath. So much information had just been relayed to me. I turn back to the stairs. Taking a few steps forward I place a hand on the rail and then run forward, flying down the steps.