Chapter 11. Falling into the depts
We were standing by the boats. I can see spicer coming towards us. I sent him earlier to find rose and Dawson at Iris' request. She even insisted on going to look for the pair herself!
"My brooch. I left my brooch. I must have it" i heard ruth say as she turned to go back to her rooms. Was this woman mad?! How can she be worried about a stupid brooch at the moment when the whole titanic is about to sink. I grabbed her arm firmly and she looked up at me with surprise. She struggled for a bit but i refused to let go.
"Stay here, ruth" i said solemnly and i saw a flash of fear in her eyes. She nodded quickly then went back beside Iris.
Lighttoler was yelling at every one, telling women and children to get on the boat. Iris stood beside me, her eyes were wide as she stared at the people giving their farewells to loved ones. I could see the tears forming in her eyes. I pulled her close to me and kissed the crown of her head.
"Come one you heard the man, get in the boat sister" molly said to ruth who was fumbling to get to the boat.
"Will the lifeboats be seated according to class? I hope its not too crowded-"
"Mother, shut up! People are going to die and still you're concerned about being on first class?! And rose... I have to find rose!" Iris yelled as she yanked herself from my grasp. Ruth stared at yer youngest daughter mouth agape. Molly practically pushes ruth towards Lighttoler.
"Come on now Iris, dear. You're up next Darlin." Molly encouraged her to get on the boat and i guided her towards the lifeboat. Iris shook her head wildly.
"No. No! I have to find rose!" She yelled then her eyes turned to me then to Lovejoy who stood behind me. "Did you find her?" She asked.
Lovejoy shook his head. "No, afraid i haven't. Shes not on the starboard side either" he said and iris trembled. I tried to hold her but she wouldn't let me.
"Its a damned ship! She cant possibly be anywhere else" the rage in her eyes were flaming like a hot boiler ready to explode.
"Iris calm down!" I said but she just turned away. I gripped her arms and she looked at me pleadingly.
"Let go cal. I have to find my sister" she said but i held my ground.
"No! I cant let you go" i said but she struggled from my grip and slipped away. She ran towards the throngs of people. I ran after her spicer on my heels. She was fast, like a red headed whirlwind of a tornado. I chased after her, calling her name but wouldn't turn back. She wouldn't give in. Soon i lost sight of her red hair flailing behind her as she dove within the crowed of panicking passengers. Damn it! Where did she go?! I turned around and found spicer standing behind me. I scowled at the other passengers.
"Follow her and bring her back, Lovejoy. Find her!" I yelled and soon spicer was off to find Iris. Damn It all!
I went back up the deck and spoke with Lighttoler. Apparently men weren't aloud to load the boat. Only women and children. Everything was falling apart. I needed to find iris quick and secure a boat for the both of us.
Moments later spicer came back. "Well? Im guessing you didn't find her?" I asked angered and annoyed. This was turning into a nightmare.
"We're running out of time, and this strutting marionette..." I indicated Lighttoler "isn't letting any men in at all" i sighed.
"The one on the other side is letting men in" he said and i nodded at him, my thoughts brought me back to my latest problem. Iris! I need to find her quick.
"Then thats our play. But were still going to need some insurance. Come on" i said and headed back down to my rooms. We walked through masses of people, i kept my eyes open for Iris or rose... Even Dawson. But with no such luck i didn't see any of them. Once inside my room i stopped momentarily in front of my bed. The sheets were still rumpled and pillows still strewn to the floor from our love making earlier this evening. The memory of Iris' soft skin sliding against mine and the taste of her sweet lips fuelled my hopes in finding her. I walked to my safe and opened it quickly. The combination was like a very familiar friend to me. I took out a few stacks of bills.
"I make my own luck" i said with a grin to spicer which he returned.
"So do i" he said and showed me his colt 45 underneath his coat. We headed back up. I saw ben and his valet standing by the foyer.
"Ben, whats the occasion?" I asked with a grin. He was dressed in his finest suit. White tie and all that crap. Not that I'm not wearing one at the moment.
"We have dressed in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen" the fool answered and i felt myself cringed. I wasn't ready to die, not yet. Not when i just got iris back. Not when everything was finally falling into place with her.
"Thats admirable ben, but unlike you i still have a wedding to attend to and it happens to be my own. So i'll tell that to your wife... Once i arrive at New york" i smirked as i walked on.
We arrived too late! The boat was already descending. I clenched my jaw.
"We're too late! And i still have to find Iris" i said to spicer. I mentally cursed myself for loosing her in the first place.
"There still some boats forward, you stay with this one... Murdoch. He seems to be 'practical'" spicer went off to see the other boats. I saw three dogs pass me by. I looked down below on the commotion. A gun was fired and everything was turning into chaos.
"Its starting to fall apart. I don't have much time" i said to myself and ran my hand through my hair. I then see Murdoch turn from the davits of boat 15 and start walking towards the bow. I quickly caught up to him walking beside him.
"Mr. Murdoch, i am a business man, as you know and i have a business proposition for you." I started off and we soon fell into an agreement.
"Alright, but you'll have to be quick. Find her before the boat descends Mr. Hockley" i nodded and went to the side awaiting spicer's return. Soon enough the man emerged from the crowd.
"I found her and she's with her sister and 'him' she is over at the post side" i was ecstatic to hear that she was safe.
"Anyone else?! Mr. Hockley? Its time" Murdoch said and i gazed at the boat ready to descend. I ground my teeth. He wouldn't hold the boat any longer and i have to get to Iris now! I clenched my jaw. Oh screw it all!
"God damn it to hell! Come on" i said and turned away from Murdoch who signalled to lower the boat. I would rather go down with this damned ship than leave without my darling iris! She was mine and I'm not gonna let anything or anyone take her away from me!
She was standing there. Her soft red lips almost quivering from the cold, her skin was so pale from too much stress and her vibrant red hair was in total disarray. But still she was absolutely beautiful. Iris was grasping roses' arm. Telling her to get on the lifeboat but rose refused to go, not without jack. I came closer to the trio. I stood behind iris and wrapped an arm around her slim waist. I heard her gasp in surprise as she turned around swiftly. But her face softened once she saw it was me. I stared at her with mixture of anger, annoyance and relief. 'My god this girl knew how to drive crazy!'
"You stupid girl! Why the hell did you run away like that?!" I yelled but before she can open her mouth to answer i quickly leaned in and kissed her savagely. I felt her grip my shirt tightly as she responded to my kisses with the same amount of vigour. I parted her lips with my tongue and explored every sweet crevice of her mouth like it was the last. I slipped an arm around her waist the other in her hair. I sucked on her tongue and i felt her shiver, i released her mouth, finally to breath.
Her eyes looked dazed for a moment before turning back to the sharp glacier blue orbs that haunt my unholy dreams. She buried her face in the crook of my neck, i can feel her hot breath as she let out a sigh of relief.
"Iris, you have to get to a boat now! The ship will soon sink!" I said as i held both sides of her head. She looked at me sadly.
"But what about you? Men are not being aloud to load the boat, cal!" She shook her head, i knew that. I just wanted her to be safe. I looked at jack and rose who was looking just as miserable as us, rose held on to his hand like it was her very lifeline. I turned back to iris who was now trembling wildly, i kissed her forehead for a long moment. Why did i feel like i was saying goodbye.
"It doesn't matter, as long as you're safe. Now get on the boat!" I said to her but she wouldn't go, she just stood there shaking her head while tears fell from her eyes.
"No! I'm no going without you! What happened to forever, cal?" She asked and i held her closer. I closed my eyes and felt the end of everything.
"Its fine, we'll find a way. Isn't that right jack?" I said and jack nodded.
"Yeah, thats right! We're survivors, remember? Cal and i will be just fine. We'll meet you at the dock. Now get on the boat you two" jack and i smiled sadly at each other. We ushered rose and iris towards the boat. I stared at iris as the boat was being lowered. I gave her a small smile and tried to savour every last second that will see her beautiful face. Rockets were fired and lights surrounded her like a halo, she looked like a fiery angel being lowered from heaven.
"What now?" Jack asked and i smiled sadly as my gaze never left iris' face.
"You said it yourself, we survive" i said and he nodded at me. Another rocket blasted off into the sky.
"I never thought i'd say this Dawson, but you're alright... For a steerage rat" i said with a smirk and he did the same.
"Well, thats as far as i will get to a compliment, from you that is" i nodded and looked down once more to look at iris, her eyes were filled with tears and my heart clenched. I knew that our chances at survival was very minimal. But still i smiled at her but closed my eyes. Maybe it really was the end but i don't care as long as she is safe, i'm happy to go down with this ship. As long as its for her. Because i would deny her nothing...