AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story takes place after the Titanic. Caledon Hockley found Rose and they eventually married, but things are not all fine and dandy. And it's all up to Caledon Hockley to fix everything. And sorry, but Caledon Hockley is not the one-dimensional bad guy in this story he's changed since the Titanic sinking. And sorry if this chapter is just a wee bit short. Other than that, enjoy.
CHAPTER 1.
June 9, 1912
It was a quiet Saturday night. Caledon Hockley looked outside the window of his comfortable home. Inside was warm and lovely, but outside was a different story. As usual it was raining. It had been raining almost non-stop for three days, and so far, the weather wasn't showing signs of getting better. Instead, it continued to rain, with lightning lighting the sky ever so often. The raindrops tap-tapping on the ground outside and rolls of thunder were only sounds. Everything else was silent.
Cal, feeling numb and lifeless, was trying to read a book, trying to take his mind off his newfound worries and anxieties. But instead, he was looking outside the large window in his living room, just staring at the rain and the lightning, sitting in a cloud of misery and self-pity. For the first time in his life, he felt as if he was on the verge of a mental breakdown. He reminded himself everyday, that he couldn't give in though. He just couldn't. Why? Because upstairs, locked in his bedroom, a beautiful but sad creature was struggling with her own emotions. A woman that needed help. This woman was the reason why Caledon Hockley placed his own failing mental health aside. She was having a much harder time that he was. He had to stay strong to help her. He was all she had, and she needed him. Desperately needed him.
There were times though when he didn't feel any need to help her. Those were the times when he hated her–hated her for everything she did to him. Why should he treat her with such care, when she treated him such disrespect? He asked himself that question almost everyday, ever since that day...
And then there were times when he hated someone else: himself. He hated himself for everything he was in the past. He hated himself. It's all my fault, he would say to himself, and he would no longer hate her, but hated him for being so cruel, so terrible, so hateful, so...God, he tried not to think of himself before. But when he thought of himself, how he was before everything tumbled out of order, he excused her for everything she did to him. He couldn't blame her for what she did. His hate would soon turn to pity. So, instead of hating her, he would worry over her instead.
He worried about her now. He was hoping she would get better. But instead, she only took a turn for the worse. She stayed locked in their master bedroom all day now. She slept all day, and he was positive she stayed up all night, weeping or just lost in thoughts. Her body wasn't taking well to the change. She was getting weaker, and Cal was sure it was the body wearing away from lack of food. He couldn't remember the last time he saw her eat a proper meal. He didn't want to think of what she was doing to herself. He just hoped and prayed she wasn't doing anything to cause him more strain and more worry.
He snapped out of his trance. He couldn't just stand there and watch helplessly as she died a slow death inside and out. He decided to take action. Now. He called his maid, Marta, and ordered her to prepare the meal. After she left, he went upstairs to see his wife, Rose.