I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaackk! Another chapter up, and the iceberg hits this time! It's getting exciting! Sorry I've been gone (*cough writinganotherstory *cough*) but I finally made myself get up off my lazy ass and get to another chapter of this one. Firstly, I apologize for the awkward wording in this chapter, I was trying to keep it first person with L while going off to explain from the point of other side characters such as the ship's crew, and then flopping back to L and Light. It's confusing to me but I guess it was necessary *shrug* Anyway, hope you enjoy this next little installment!
Warnings: Language as usual
Enjoy the story!
Overhead in the crow's nest, a Mr. Jonathan Fleet and Mr. Kip Lee, the watchmen for the night, were semi-vigilantly watching for any trouble that might be approaching the ship. Nothing had been happening all night and they were almost certain that they would have an easy shift which in turn made them lackadaisical.
"Oi, Kip," Fleet murmured, nudging Lee, "look at that would ya." The men glanced over the edge of their tower down to see two distinctively male figures who seemed to be very close together. Lee chuckled, a wry smile on his face.
"They're a bloody sight warmer than we are." He said. Fleet glanced back down at the couple.
"Well if that's what it takes to get warm, I'd rather not, if it's all the same." Fleet quipped, letting them both have a good laugh at that one. "You know I can smell when ice is coming." He said randomly, just trying to make conversation. Lee laughed, rolling his eyes.
"Whatever you say, mate." Fleet laughed as well, blowing a warm breath into his fingers to keep them warm. Everything was pleasant. Calm sea, crisp cold air, everything was as is should have been. Titanic would make the front page by surprising everyone by getting to the U.S. on Tuesday, a grand report for its first maiden voyage. And through all this calm, it was Fleet's expression whose falls first. He glanced forward again, doing a double take. In the blink of an eye, all the color drained from his face and shot down to his toes. What he saw would ultimately alter his fate, as well as the fate of everyone on board, forever. Directly in their path, floated a massive iceberg, only 500 yards away.
"Holy shit!" Fleet shouted, reaching past Lee's stunned body to ring the lookout bell three times before snatching the telephone from its holster, calling the bridge. He waited, precious seconds ticking by before the phone was picked up, never taking his eyes off the black mass ahead. "Pick up you bastard!"
Inside the enclosed wheelhouse, sixth officer Moody walked unhurriedly to the telephone, picking it up.
"Is someone there?" Fleet shouted into the receiver. Moody blinked, wishing the over dramatic man would calm down and speak normally.
"Yes. What do you see?" Moody replied, trying not to roll his eyes.
"Iceberg right ahead!" Fleet practically screeched, causing Moody to actually stiffen, a new air of urgency washing over him.
"Thank you." He said quickly, hanging up the watchtower phone. Moody whipped his head to one of the other commanding officers, Officer Lloyd, trying to remain as calm as possible. "Iceberg right ahead sir!" Lloyd nodded and peered over the side of the ship and spotted the iceberg, now even closer than before and rushed to the engine room telegraph. While signaling "full speed astern", he yelled out the doorway to Quartermaster Hitchins, who was manning the wheel.
"Hard a' starboard." Lloyd commanded quickly. Moody who was standing behind Hitchins nodded curtly.
"Hard a' starboard. The helm is hard over, sir."
Chief engineer Bell was just checking on the soup he had been warming on a steam manifold when the engine telegraph clanged, then went, incredibly, to full speed astern. He and the other engineers just stared at it, unbelieving, until Bell reacted suddenly.
"Full astern! FULL ASTER!" he yelled at the other engineers who act like madmen trying to close steam valves and start braking the mighty propeller shafts, as big as sequoias, to a stop.
In the boiler room, Lead Stoker Frederick Barret with second Engineer James Hesketh when the red warning light and "stop" indicator came on.
"Shut all the dampers! Shut 'em!" Barret barked, the other workers scrambling to comply.
From the bridge, Lloyd watched the burg growing, straight ahead. The bow finally started to go left, his jaw clenching as the bow turned with agonizing slowness. His held his breath as the horrible physics played out. Up in the crow's nest Fleet and Lee braced themselves for the inevitable blow that was to come in 3….2….1...
KRUUUUUUNCH! The ship struck the berg on its starboard bow.
From under the water, the iceberg bumped and scraped along the side of the ship, its claws raking along the boat, popping rivets and causing the steel plate of the hull to flex under the load.
In the holding deck where Light and I were just a few minutes previous, the two stewards sent after them staggered as the hull buckled in four feet with a sound like thunder. Like a sledgehammer beating along outside the ship, the berg split the hull plates allowing the sea water to flood in, sweeping them off their feet. The icy water swirled around the Renault as the men scrambled for the stairs.
In the boiler room, Barret and Hesketh staggered as they heard the rolling thunder of the collision. They saw the starboard side of the ship buckle in toward them and were almost swept off their feet by a rush of water coming in about two feet above the floor.
On the forward well deck Light and I broke our kiss and looked up in astonishment as the berg sailed past, blocking out the sky like a mountain. Fragments broke off it and crashed down onto the deck, and we jumped back, trying to avoid the chunks of ice.
"What the hell?" Light exclaimed, his eyes wide. Above, Fleet and Lee droop in relief and Fleet sighed happily, gazing at the iceberg as we sailed past it.
"Oi, mate…that was a close shave." He said, smiling wryly. Lee clenched his teeth, reaching forward to clutch the front of Fleet's jacket.
"Smell ice, can you? Bleedin' Christ!" He said, releasing the other man's shirt in exasperation. And turning away to keep a closer eye on the ocean, as if another berg would materialize at any moment.
The alarm bells were still clattering mindlessly, seeming to reflect Lloyd's inner state. He was in shock, still unable to get a firm grip on what had just happened. He jut ran the biggest ship in history into an iceberg on its maiden voyage… Stiffly, he turned to Moody.
"Note the time, enter it in the log." He said, his voice monotone. Suddenly Captain Bartley came rushing out of his cabin and onto the bridge, tucking in his shirt.
"What was that, Mr. Lloyd?" he demanded, his eyes steely. Lloyd tried to keep the bile from rising in his throat at his failure; his face had long gone pallid.
"An iceberg, sir. I put her hard a' starboard and run the engines full astern but it was too close. I tried to port around it, but she hit…and I—"
"Close the emergency doors." Bartley barked, cutting him off.
"The doors are closed." Lloyd replied, feeling a bit dizzy. Together they rushed out into the starboard wing, and Lloyd pointed approximately where the ship was struck. Bartley looked into the darkness aft, and then wheeled around to the Fourth Officer Bohall.
"Find the carpenter and get him to sound the ship."
Back in the second class section of the boat, Near, still in his nightclothes, scuttled out into the hall to see what was going on. He felt the shudder and shot straight up in bed, unable to sleep. Rats and even spiders were running toward him in the corridor, fleeing the flooding bow. He jumped aside as they ran by.
"What the…hell?" Near cocked his head to the side, clutching Nui-chan closer to his chest. Something crashed to the floor behind him from the doorway and Near whipped around to see Mello stumbling around in the dark, half awake.
"What the hell is going on, Near, why the fuck is the door open at—" He glanced over the digital clock on the nightstand, "1 am?" He spotted the rats and spiders running outside in the hallway and his eyes opened as wide as saucers. He was awake now. "Near get away from the doorway, rats carry diseases you dumbass!" Mello launched forward, yanking Near back by the forearm. Even though he sometimes hated the little smartass, he didn't want him to die. Near glowered at Mello, escaping from the blond's vice-like grip.
"I know that Mello. I'm not an idiot." He pulled Nui-chan even closer to his chest. "I had told L that something bad was going to happen if we got on this ship. But he ignored me. I think I'm about to be proven right tonight." He padded over the porthole on the other side of the room, gazing aimlessly out at the ocean. "I think we might have hit an iceberg. That's the only thing that could possibly do any damage to the Titanic this far out at sea. I'm not sure if the boat will sink or not, I haven't the slightest idea how badly we were hit. Either way, we need to get out of here, and quickly." All Mello could do was stare after Near in a mixture of confusion and fear.
"We're on a fucking boat. If it does go down…" He glanced over at Matt's still sleeping figure, and B's body balled up under the sheets. "We might die." Near nodded, not turning to meet Mello's gaze.
"Yes, there is an 83% chance that you and everyone else will die, and an 87% that I will if my calculations are correct, I'm not quick or able bodied like you or Matt are. I'd have to ask L or B if he would get up. Honestly I have no idea how either B or Matt could sleep through this." Near got up from his perch by the window and walked over to B's bed, reaching out as if to gently shake the man awake. "B, get your ass up and moving now damn you." He growled, knowing that cursing was the only way to get the man up from his sleep. B mumbled something incoherent, the words 'macaroni salad' being thrown around.
"Just one more minute, Near." He murmured, rolling over away from the snowy haired boy. Near scowled slightly, scratching his head. How do I put this...?
"If you don't get up, you're going to die." Near deadpanned, not in the mood to play games. B groaned in confusion, rolling back over to face Near. He cracked one eye open before sitting up, shaking his mop of hair.
"What are you saying, Near?" B squinted into the darkness to peer at the boy's solemn face. Realization dawned on him. "So…you're serious?" Near nodded.
"We hit an iceberg, I'm 98% sure of that. There is an 83% chance that we'll die if the ship capsizes." He left out the percentage about himself. B scratched his head, the brilliantly smart B that no one saw often coming out.
"And what are these calculations based on? We might have just thrown a propeller blade you know." B questioned. Near shook his head determinedly.
"No that's not it, it cannot be. I felt the shudder on the right side of the ship, far above any of the propellers. The equilibrium of the boat was off about 20 degrees, the bow is now starting to tip downwards as the emergency chambers are beginning to overfill with water…" Near launched into his analysis while Mello shook Matt awake, kissing him on the forehead as he explained what was happening, and reassuring his best friend and boyfriend that everything would be okay. Little did they know that things were not going to be alright. But I knew that things were not going to be alright, quite the opposite to be exact.
Light and I were leaning over the starboard rain, looking at the hull of the ship.
"Everything looks alright from here. I don't see anything." I shrugged.
"Could it have damaged the ship do you think?" Light looked over at me, a worried expression wrinkling his face. I smiled back reassuringly, a mask of course. I knew from the moment I felt the ship shudder that we were going to capsize. I would never tell Light that though, I couldn't.
"It didn't seem like much of a bump. I'm sure we're okay." To be honest, I don't think I've ever felt worse about lying in my life. To see Light's relieved and completely trusting smile aimed at me almost made me ashamed to look him in the eyes. I turned away from him, a strange aching in my chest. Guilt maybe? Behind us, a couple of steerage guys were kicking the ice around, laughing and obviously oblivious to the impending danger.
Over near the B deck, an officious steward named Barnes came along the other direction, getting the few concerned passengers back into their rooms.
"There's no cause for alarm. Please, go back to your rooms." That was his mantra as he flew down the hallway, directing passengers. He was on his way to another section of the ship when he was stopped in his tracks by Misa and Ward. "Please, ma'am. There's no emergency—" Misa's eyes flashed, stepping closer to Barnes.
"Yes there is, I have been robbed! Now get the Master at Arm, Officer Guilford. Now you moron!" Misa snapped, causing the steward to stumble back at the insult. He muttered a quick 'right away ma'am' before scampering off into the next corridor. Misa turned away from everyone in the hallway as if to be in distress, a sneer on her cherry colored lips.
Light and I came up the steps from the well deck, which were right next to three Yale men. They stared at us as we climbed over the locked gate, obviously meant to keep passengers out. A moment later, Captain Barkley rounded the corner, followed by Michaels and the carpenter Hutchinson. They had come down the bridge by the outside stairs. The three men, their faces grim, crush right past me, Andrews barely glanced at Light.
"Can you shore up?" Bartley asked.
"Not unless the pumps get ahead." Hutchinson replied quickly in some jargon that I didn't quite understand. Construction wasn't exactly my forte. The inspection party went down the stairs to the well deck, not even looking back. I bit my lip, my brow crumpling as I leaned close to Light.
"This is bad." I said, pointing out the obvious. Light nodded, and I could practically see his thought process as he mentally crunched numbers to finalize and outcome in about 3 seconds. He blinked and looked back over at me.
"We have to tell my father and Misa." He decided. I felt something spoil inside my stomach, a rotten feeling seeping through my body.
"And now it's worse." I deadpanned. Light smiled slightly, taking my hand in his, the sudden warmth making me flinch noticeably.
"Come with me, L. I jump, you jump…right?" He murmured. My words from that night echoed in my head and I grudgingly nodded, closing my eyes.
"Right." I said finally. I hated making commitments, but I was in way too deep now. With that, I foolishly followed Light through the door inside the ship.
We crossed the foyer, entering the B-deck foyer. Ward was waiting for us in the hall as we approached the room, making me stiffen in suspicion.
"We've been looking for you sir." He said, addressing Light. Light nodded curtly as we walked past him, still holding hands. I tried to pull away but Light's grip would allow it. Ward followed us and, unseen moved close behind me and smoothly slips an incredibly rare diamond necklace into the pocket of my suit pants. How he did it, I'll never know, but I kept walking, oblivious to what he had done at the time.
Inside the suite, Misa and Soichiro were waiting in the sitting room, along with the Master at Arms and the steward Barnes. We were hit by a wall of suspicious silence as we entered, and Soichiro closed his robe at his throat when he spotted me.
"Something serious has happened." Light finally spoke. Misa scowled.
"That's right. Two things dear to me have disappeared this evening. Now that one of them is back…" Misa glared from me to Light, a condescending glint in her eye. "…I have a pretty good idea where to find the other." She turned to Officer Guilford. "Search him." The Master at Arms stepped up to me and I gulped, my eyes going wide.
"Coat off, mate." He said, pulling off my suit jacket and I shook my head in dismay, shrugging out of it. I had never been on the receiving end of a frisking and I could definitely understand why people hated it so much. Guilford patted me down and a curse slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
"This is horseshit." I spat softly. Light stepped up to Misa, his brow creased.
"Misa, you can't be serious right now! We're in the middle of an emergency and you—!" Barnes, who had joined in on my pat down, pulled out a Painite gem necklace, a necklace made with the rarest gem in the world. My mouth dropped open in pure shock, partly at the fact that it had somehow wormed its way into my pocket, and partly at the fact that it was the rarest fucking gem in the world to date.
"Is this it?" Barnes asked Misa and she nodded.
"That's it." She said. I looked over to see Light's face, a stunned and unbelieving expression etched into his features. The Master at Arms began to handcuff me and I flinched, roughly pushing the burly man away.
"Don't you believe it, Light. Don't!" I was suddenly shoved against the wall as Guilford wrenched my hands painfully behind my back as he forcefully clicked the cuffs onto my wrists.
"He couldn't have…There's no way he could have." Light murmured mostly to himself, his voice was still uncertain. Misa rolled her eyes.
"Of course he could. Easy enough for a professional. He memorized the combination when you opened the safe. Light shook his head, taking a hesitant step backward.
"B-but I was with him the whole time." Misa padded close to Light, leaning close as she passed.
"Maybe he did it while you were putting your clothes back on, dear." She whispered, her voice low and cold. It was most likely only meant for him but I clearly heard it. I gritted my teeth, hit with the overwhelmingly obvious conclusion.
"They put it in my pocket!" I growled, struggling against Guilford's strong hands. Barnes, who was holding my jacket, patted the pocket.
"It's not even your pocket son." He said, reading the label. "Property of Beyond Birthday?" he said, as if it was a question. I clenched my jaw.
"That's my brother you jackass! Light—" I stopped short as I gazed at his face. I could tell he felt utterly betrayed, hurt, and confused. He shrank away from me which was something I couldn't bear to see. I resisted against Guildford's cuffs, as Ward and Guilford dragged me out into the hallway. Light couldn't even look me in the eye, which despite my desperate struggles, made my heart crack in two. In one last futile attempt, I turned to shout in the direction of the door I had come out of.
"Light, don't listen to them… I didn't do this! You know I didn't do it, Light! You know me!"
Aww poor Lawliet getting taken to Titanic jail! DDX Oh and by the way, yes I did mean to spell crunch with a 'k' lol I thought it would be more interesting. So what'd you think this time? Decent? Bad? Amazingly fantabulous? I'd love to hear your opinions, preferably in the form of a review! Next chapter will be coming soon! ^_^