A New Beginning

Chapter 12: Trapped

Chapter 12: Trapped

"We'll split up!" Jack says. "You guys go and check down the grand stairs and by the gym. I'll head for the bow."

The three hovers in the doorway of the cabin, discussing their routes.

Rose notices that the safe on the mantle is ajar. There seems to be something sticking out of it.

Scratched on another piece of paper, next to Jack's drawing are the words.

Only you would have noticed this.

We must discuss what is going to happen. To find the child, meet me near the stern.

-C

Rose knows where to go and that she had to handle it herself, for the sake of Jack, Emma, Peter, and Sybil. She rushes past her friends, leaving them looking on in confusion.

Rose takes the nearest corridor out onto the deck and began to race towards the stern. She knows that Sybil's life could be in danger if she didn't get there fast enough. She shivers slightly, remembering that she'd left her coat in her room. Cold didn't matter at the moment, Sybil is her priority.

She runs the route she had taken to commit suicide, the night Jack saved her. She could feel the tears in her eyes as she runs up the staircase leading to the rail. Once on the top step, she scans in the darkness of the night desperately looking for Sybil or her abductor.

Rose spots a small bundle of blankets lying on the deck and she races over, as fast as her heels could carry her. She reaches down and scoops up Sybil.

"Oh, thank God!" she breathes in relief. She begins expertly cradling the still sleeping infant and fussing over her like she was a mother. Rose checks to make sure the little one is still breathing and warm enough. Sybil's eyes open briefly, and Rose swears she could see the recognition in the child's eyes. She smiles at the child, hoping one day, she and Jack would have children just as beautiful as Sybil.

"I knew you would show up," a cold and dark voice says behind her.

Rose turns, clutching Sybil to her chest. Just in the distance is Cal in his evening-wear walking out from the shadows behind the staircase, the same place that Jack had appeared from the other night.

"You left some pretty obvious clues," Rose says just as coldly.

"Only you could have noticed the safe open," Cal says with a slight grin.

Rose takes a step back again, trying to shield Sybil and keep her warm. She re-evaluates the situation and notices that Cal has his silver revolver pointed at her. She swallows hard but tries to remain strong for the sake of the baby.

"But what to do now?" Cal says with a slight chuckle. "Go running back to your gutter rat?"

"Or towards the lifeboats." The knowledge had been lost on her in the flurry of finding Sybil, but now she remembers that the ship is sinking. "Because this ship doesn't have much longer."

"So, I've heard," Cal grins. "Too bad you or he won't make it that far."

"If you're going to kill me, answer me this question," she says as boldly as she can. "Why Sybil? Why would you kidnap an innocent child?"

"You seem to have misunderstood my intentions," Cal says, shaking his head. "I'm not going to kill you...far from it. You are still my fiancée."

"Ex- fiancée" Rose corrects. "I'm done with you and anything involved with this society, I'm free now."