For those of you who were wondering how Isabella lived and her parents didn't, you're about to find out.
The Antique Ring
Chapter One: Chicago 1914
I was thirteen now, and had matured more quickly than many other girls my age. If one would ask, I would say it was because I had gone through what one should never have to experience in a lifetime.
In hopes to leaving my past in the past the Tailor's had moved us to the city of Chicago, Illinois. No one there knew our past or how we had even come to America. It was truly a new beginning for us all.
I loved Ronald and Lily almost as much as my own parents; Brandon really was the brother I never had. He was so protective and kind, he never once gave off any sign of jealousy or resentment towards me or his parents since I had become part of their family. The Tailor's were truly the most selfless and warmhearted people I had ever met, but as much as I missed my parents… I was very blessed to be a part of this family.
I sat on the windowsill in my recently furnished bedroom; starring blankly at an old newspaper that I had kept in secret.
New York Tribune – Tuesday, April 16, 1912
MORE THAN 1,500 PERISH AS THE GREAT TITANIC SINKS
ONLY 675 SURVIVORS, MOSTLY WOMEN AND CHILDEN, KNOWN TO BE RESCUED
It had been two years, two years ago today since that fateful night.
I slowly closed my eyes and thought back to that night, that night that had gone from such a peaceful and calming night to a cold, dark and cursed one…
"Mummy! Can't I please go look for daddy!" I asked as I sat fiddling my fingers on our first class bed, "He said that he would be back by now, but he isn't!"
My mother smiled and laughed in my direction, "Darling, he said he would be back so he will. He has probably just lost track of the time." She walked over to me and took a seat next to me, "Those Tailor's are lovely people you know, it is rather easy to lose track of the time with them."
I bit my lip, "I suppose you are right, he will be back."
"That he will, now, will you please stop worrying so much? Your father is a strong man, and a brave one. Nothing will happen to him!" My mother shoved me playfully; I giggled.
"I know mummy, I just… I don't want anything to happen to you or daddy, I can't live without you." I told her as I looked down at the carpeted floor.
"Darling," My mother said as she wrapped her arm around my shoulder, "you're only eleven years old. It is going to be a very long time before your father or I go anywhere. You've nothing to worry about." She kissed the top of my head.
I nodded, "Yes, you're right."
"Of course I am right, I am always right." She laughed as she stood from the bed and walked over to my nightstand, "Now, what do you say you practice your reading until your father gets back? That should make it go by much faster." She suggested as she picked up my copy of 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen.
I smiled, "That sounds lovely, where should I begin?"
"Let's say you start at the beginning Isabella." She smiled at me as I took the book from her and opened to page one.
"Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen." I began reading aloud to my adoring mother, "Chapter One. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters." I continued reading aloud as my mother gently brushed her fingertips through my loose hair, " 'My dear Mr. Bennet,' said his lady to him one day, 'have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?' Mr. Bennet replied that he had not. 'But it is,' returned she; 'for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it…' "
Just at this moment I looked up to see my father smiling at me from the doorway, "Daddy!" I announced as I closed the book and dropped it beside me and I ran at full speed to my father, "I missed you daddy!" I whispered as I jumped into his arms.
"I missed you too my darling!" He replied; I could feel my mother's sweet smile on the two of us, "You're doing beautiful at your reading, you have improved so much."
At that I blushed, "How are Mr. and Mrs. Tailor doing this evening?" I asked as he set me back down onto my feet.
"Quite well actually." He told me as he smiled over at my mother, "Hello darling." He whispered as my mother stood from the bed and made her way to my father.
"Hello Mr. Swan." She chimed back as he embraced her in a big hug and gentle kiss; I giggled.
"Now… what do you say you read to your mother and I?" My father asked as he and my mother separated.
"I would be delighted!" I smiled happily as I ran back over to their bed and slid my copy of Pride and Prejudice back onto my lap and opened up to the page I had left off at.
"Mr. Bennet made no answer." I continued as my father and mother took seats on opposite sides of me, " 'Do not you want to know who has taken it?' cried his wife impatiently. 'You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.' This was invitation enough. 'Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.' "
My father placed his hand on my shoulder and leaned down and kissed the top of my head, "You're doing so well darling."
I smiled up at him as I closed the book beneath my hand, "I think I will be off to bed now." I smiled as I slid off of their bed and walked over to my single bed.
"Don't forget your prayers darling." My mother reminded me as I slid the covers up over my legs and knitted my fingers together.
"Now I lay me down to sleep," I began as I gently closed my eyes, "I pray the lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take." I opened my eyes to find both my parents standing over my bed with smiles on their faces.
"Good night darling, have pleasant dreams." My father told me as he leaned down and kissed my forehead, "I love you."
"Good night, my little angel." My mother whispered before kissing my forehead, "Have sweet dreams Isabella."
"Good night mummy, good night daddy." I yawned as I laid my head softly down on my pillow.
I drifted into my dreams…
Sssscccrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! I awoke to a loud screeching noise; the entire room was shaking with thunderous rumbles.
"Daddy!" I cried, "Mummy!" I jumped out of my bed and ran over to them, "What's happening?
"I don't know darling!" My father answered as he flipped on the lights, "But I am going to go find out. You two stay here; daddy will be back in a moment." My father told me with a shaken voice as he stood from the bed; wrapped a stripped robe around himself and nearly ran out of the room.
"Mummy…" I said nervously as I trembled in her arms.
"I'm sure everything is fine darling… everything will be fine…"
***My memory flashes forward through time.
"What do you mean there are no more life boats!?" My mother cried, "There has to be more boats!"
"You're telling me that there are over a thousand people left on this ship with no way of getting off!?" My father shouted to a crewman.
"I'm so sorry sir! That's all I know!" The blond crewman shouted as he ran backwards into the panicking crowd.
"George, what are we going to do!?" My mother asked with tears streaming down her cheeks.
My father shook his head, "I don't know Emma… but we are going to have to figure something out, and fast." My father shouted above the roar of the crowd.
But, we never figured anything out. Only moments passed before my parents knew that in their hearts… we would be going down with the ship.
"I… I… I… Is… Isab… bella…" My father shivered, "L… l… l… l… listen t… to m… m… me."
My mother shivered weakly against my fathers shoulder, "Th… there isn't en… en… enough roo… room for all all all of us t… to fit… you ne… need to to cli… climb onto the do… do… door."
"N… n… n… n… no!" I cried, "No… no… not with… without yo… you!"
"Is… Is… Isab… bella Ma… Marie Swa… Swan," My mother shivered, "Listen t… to you… your fath… father."
"B… but Moth…"
"Now, Isab… bella."
More tears fell from my frozen eyes as I pulled myself up onto the floating door, "St… stay the… there!" My father demanded.
"Da… daddy…" I sobbed, "Mum… mummy!" I had lost control, "I love yo… you s… so mu… much!"
"W… w… we lo… love you too da… darling!" My mother shivered as she reached her hand up and squeezed mine; though I couldn't feel a thing.
***God only knows how long had passed…
"Hello out there!" I hear a man shout, "Can anyone here me!" His voice gets louder, "Come about!"
I open my eyes to find a life boat floating in my direction; a flash light pointing in different directions.
As I look around the smile fades from my lips, I am floating in a sea of corpses…
"Mother," I say softly as I turn my head to face my parents, "Father! There's a…"
They are dead.
I open my eyes and look down at the newspaper resting carelessly in my lap; a soft knocking at my door brings me back into the present.
"Just a moment!" I called as I rushed over to my bed and slid the newspaper under my mattress, "Come in!"
My adoptive brother Brandon looked at me with a peculiar expression as he opened my door, "Everything alright, Isabella?" He asked as he stood in the doorway holding my door handle gently in his hand.
I nodded, "Yes, everything is fine." I lied as I bit my bottom lip.
"Isabella, I have known you for two years now." He said to me as he walked towards me, "I can tell when you aren't being truthful. We both know what today is." He placed his hand on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Brandon." I apologized as I placed my hand over his, "I would just rather pretend to be alright, than face the truth." I half smiled, "Where are mum and dad?" I had made it a habit of calling Ronald and Lily my parents; it somewhat made the truth easier to bear.
"They went out for lunch with Father Koyle; they won't be back until later this evening." He told me as he removed his hand from my shoulder, "Do you need to talk about it?"
I shook my head, "No, I'll be alright." I said as I looked out my open window, "It is such a lovely day out today, would you like to go on a walk?" I asked him with a hopeful smile.
He let out a small chuckle, "I would love to go on a walk with my little sister. We can even go to the park if you like." He smiled as we headed down the stairs.
"Yes, I would like that very much." I smiled as he handed me my light violet jacket; I looked at him curiously.
"I hear it gets cold here in the evenings, wouldn't want you to be out there unprepared." I shook my head while rolling my eyes; he is such a gentleman when he wants to be.
The chains above me squeaked with rust and age; it had been so long since I had last swung.
My hair whipped in the wind as a warm breeze caressed my body once more.
Brandon sat on the wooden bench across from where I was; he sat with a content smile on his tan face.
"What?" I asked him as I slowed my strides.
"Nothing, I just love seeing you happy like this Isabella."
I smiled back at him as I stood from my swing and walked over to him, "Well get used to it Brandon, because this smile isn't going anywhere."
"I'm glad to hear it," He reached his hands out to me and laced his fingers through mine, "Let's go get some ice cream."
"That sounds good." I replied as he stood from his bench and the two of us began walking towards the sidewalk.
"Edward!" We heard a tall brunette woman call out, "Edward darling, hurry along or we'll be late!"
"I'm coming mother!" A handsome boy called back to the woman as he rushed past me; a smile appeared across his lips as his eyes met with mine.
I felt the heat rush to my face as I looked down at the ground; I heard him chuckle softly as he reached his mother.
Edward… that's a lovely name.
TBC
Hmmm…. foreshadowing anyone? Tell me what you think! Please Review!