A New Beginning

Chapter 13: No Way Out

Chapter 13: No Way Out

Rose and Emma scream in horror as Peter falls backward onto the deck. Sybil wakes up and starts crying. Cal tosses his pistol onto the deck as if it was worthless. Rose wants desperately to run to Peter's side, but Cal's blade keeps her in place. Jack and Emma are beside Peter; Emma is sobbing, looking for the wound. Jack turns to Cal and dives after the gun. Cal makes no attempt to get it.

It is at this moment that Rose realizes what Cal has planned.

"No JACK!" she yells, but Jack has the gun pointed at Cal within seconds.

Emma is screaming up a storm, trying to revive Peter and there are pounding footsteps coming along the stern towards the noise. Rose tries to fight Cal, but the blade continues to dig into her side. Cal knows he must keep her quiet in order for his plan to work.

Several officers come running up to the scene, their guns out and raised at Jack. A few officers go to help Emma and Peter.

"Drop your weapon!" one officer yells at Jack. Jack obediently sets it down and steps back.

"What is going on here?" William Murdoch yells.

"Officer!" Emma tries to speak.

"This man robbed us at gunpoint!" Cal breaks in. He suddenly sounds like a helpless victim instead of the monster he has been for the last five minutes. "He took my wife's necklace and still wants more from us. It's clear that he planned to kill us"

"What necklace? What?!" Jack blurts.

"Stay quiet!" one of the officers says. They try to restrain Jack.

"These people were attempting to help us, and he shot this young man."

"No..." Emma says. "He's lying! He's the..."

"Poor child is distraught," Cal cuts in. "She doesn't know what she's saying."

"No! Rose please..." Emma begs.

Cal slowly rubs the knife along Rose's stomach daring her to say something.

"Is this true Ma'me I did he try to rob you?" Officer Lightoller asks.

"I didn't do anything." Jack protests. "That man right here threatened to shoot Peter, Emma and the baby."

"Silence." One of the officers barked and Jack falls silent. "Search him."

The officers come forward and remove Jack's jacket

"I haven't done anything, this is horseshit. I..."

Jack's words fall on deaf ears and he himself becomes speechless when a bright blue heart is removed from his coat pocket.

"Is this it sir?" the officer asks.

Rose's eyes went wide in horror and she tries to lean forward towards Jack, but Cal keeps her in his grasp.

"Yes, it is, thank you," Cal says, tightening his grip on Rose again and taking the diamond back.

"It is clear what we have to do now," Lightoller says grimly. One of the officer's handcuffs Jack.

"Don't you believe it, Rose, Don't! I didn't do this!" Jack says struggling against the hands that held him.

"Stop struggling son, it won't do anything for you," Lightoller says. He stares at the couple with the wailing baby.

"He...he couldn't have..." Rose stammers.

"Of course, he could have." Cal glares at her. "Easy enough for a professional."

"I was with him the whole time. He didn't know the combination or anything!" she says exasperatedly

"Maybe he did it while you were putting your clothes back on dear..." Cal hisses in her ear, tightening the blade again.

Rose feels like she is suffocating, either from Cal's grip or about how trapped she feels. She has been so foolish and ended up as the bait for Cal's trap to separate the two of them for good. Sybil whines in her arms and she continues to clutch the infant tightly.

"He didn't steal anything!" Emma screams, still laying next to Peter. A few other officers join her in examining Peter.

"He's not dead." one officer says. "But he has a nasty gunshot wound to the leg. He must be moved quickly before he bleeds out. Let's get him a stretcher."

"I didn't shoot him!" Jack protests. "And the diamond they slipped it into my pocket Rose...please."

"It's not even your pocket is it son?" Lovejoy says, speaking up. He holds up the coat that had been removed from Jack. "It says Property of A.L. Ryerson."

"That was reported stolen earlier today," another officer chimes in.

Rose looks horrified, hurt, and helpless at this sudden revelation.

"I... I just borrowed it, I was going to return it I swear," Jack says, staring at Rose with wide and pleading eyes.

Rose did not know what to believe now, she wants to collapse on the deck in a heap and cry. She wants to help Emma, Peter, and Jack, but she is ensnared in Cal's carefully planned web of deceit. She feels so betrayed and hurt, that she prays that this is all a dream... but it is a nightmare.

"He didn't do anything!" Emma wails anxiously.

Murdoch stands at attention and eyes the confusing scene in front of him. "Take this one away. The master at arms will have his way with him."

"I didn't do anything...Rose Please! You know I didn't do this...! Please! You know I didn't do this! Rose!" Jack calls back as he's forced out of their sight.

Rose can feel the tears welling up in her eyes as Jack disappears.

Emma stands up and grabs the arm of Officer Murdoch, which he promptly shakes off.

"Please sir he's innocent, he was only trying to protect..."

"The child is obviously distressed and in need of attention." Cal cuts it. "Perhaps she should be sedated or taken somewhere quiet and separate to recover."

Emma glares at Cal and turns back to the officer.

"Please, listen to the other woman Rose, the only monster is..." She stops and rushes back to where Peter is being taken away on a stretcher.

William Murdoch goes up behind Emma and grabs her arm with a firm, but gentle grip. He offers her his coat. She watches helplessly as Peter is taken to the infirmary.

"Young lady," he says gently. "You have been through quite a lot. I'm not going to force you, but I might suggest you come to the officers' quarters for some tea and to settle yourself down."

Emma has no words left. She's crying so hard; her head is spinning. She accepts that she is a mess, but she herself is also helpless to do anything else. No one would believe her in her state of mind. Her shoulders slump in absolute defeat, she sniffles again before residing to the officer's gentle suggestion. But as he leads her away she gives one last, almost hateful look at Rose before vanishing through the door. Rose's heart breaks, feeling so lost in a void of hate and confusion.