Ghost Mirror

Chapter 10 - The Final Circles of Hell

Alarms continued to sound as water started to fill the ships lower decks, and the water was rising fast, Spencer’s feet were already submerged in ice cold water.         “Jessie.” Spencer called, Jessie knew what Spencer was asking for, and she had the answer.

            “It says ‘Let nobility be your savior”. Jessie read.

            “What the hell does that mean?” Vince asked.

            “I don’t know, but I hope it doesn’t mean staying here and drowning.” Jessie said.

            “Agreed, let’s get moving.” Spencer said and moved toward the door and into the corridor.

            “We have to find some stairs, now!” Spencer said, they continued practically running down the corridor.

            “Spencer,” Vince began, “Is it me or are we going down hill?”

Spencer stopped to take notice.

            “You’re right.” Jessie noticed. The ship might be breached in more than one place.”

            “The other breach must be in one of the forward sections.” Spencer guessed.

Jessie noticed a diagram of the ship hanging on the wall and pulled it free.

            “There is main stairwell down the corridor.” Jessie said “It should take us to the lido deck.”

            “Then let’s go.” Spencer said.

Jessie headed down the corridor and soon came to a stairwell.

            Spencer took point and moved up the stairs, after fifteen decks they came to a severe blockage, one of the water tight doors had closed.

            “Is there any other way up?” Spencer asked.

Jessie examined the ship diagram for a few moments.

            “Yes, we go down three decks there will be a corridor that will let us bypass most of the watertight doors, but we’ll have to hurry.” Jessie explained.

            Spencer turned around and charged back down the stairs three decks and stopped in the corridor which stretched off in both directions.

            “Which way do we go from here, Jessie?” Spencer asked.

Jessie pointed and they were off, running down the corridor.

            After a hundred feet the ship bow pitched down by thirty degrees. It was another two hundred feet before anybody realized the situation; the front half of the ship was submerged and sliding into its dark watery grave.

            Spencer moved to the waters edge which was moving quickly toward the stern.

            “How much further is the way up?” Spencer asked.

            “We may have to swim thirty feet.” Jessie replied.

            “Are we actually going into the water?” Vince asked.

Spencer stepped into the water which now sat at his upper thighs before he turned back to Vince to briefly answer.

            “This is the only way forward; the choice has been made for us.” Spencer plunged into the water; Vince was quick to follow, Jessie put the ships diagram within the pages of the book and tucked the book in the back cuff of her pants.