As the white light raged around me, I began to feel like something was pulling me back. Slow at first and then faster and faster. The feeling was unbearable. I felt like my head and my heart were going to be crushed. The closest thing I could describe it as was being on an out of a control carnival ride. Fun at first, but the wilder it became the more you hoped it would soon end. But, it does not. Until finally you pray that it will end, for surely if it does not then there will be nothing of you left.
The pressure continues to grow, it is so intense you feel like you are going to throw up, and you open your mouth to do so. But, instead of vomiting the only thing that was ripped out of my throat was a scream. It is the only thing that you think that you hope will bring some relief, but it does not.
Suddenly the light is gone, and I can see around me, but what I see makes no sense; the world is moving fast but in reverse. First it was images of my own life. So, this must have been the end. And all I could think of was how odd it was to see your life in that way. But I did not have long to ponder over this. As soon the images began to change. They were no longer about my life, but rather they were now focused on events of history. 911, the moon landing, the cold war, world war II as well as world war I. was this part of the same. I felt like I was floating through time. Then as quickly as it began it ended, leaving me in darkness.
So, this is how it ended with a bang and then darkness, I guess a part of me always knew that. "You are not dead. Josephine." it was the same voice as before.
"Who are you?"
"We are the three fates. We speak as one and I say to you now Josefine Williams you are not dead. Rise child. Rise and save HIM. Rise child." The fates spoke and I obeyed. Although it was dark, I tried to sit up. If I was not dead, then perhaps there was a light switch somewhere. But it was when I realized that it was not just a matter that I was in a dark room. Rather I was buried alive!
"oh no! please God no!" I whispered, panic set into me. I suddenly could not breathe. What had happened? Why was this happening to me? Had my mother really buried me without checking to see if I was alive. The terror and the betrayal that I felt in that moment, flooded out of me in screams to agony, betrayal and terror. The pain I was feeling was far too real to deal with. I began to pound on the wooden coffin letting out my fear. And as well with the hope that perhaps someone might be able to hear me and save me from this horrible situation.
Suddenly light flooded in and the lid of my wooden coffin was lifted, revealing a brightly lit room. And a man, in a naval uniform, looking down at me in shock and concern. "What in Heavens?" the man uttered in shock, "Miss are you alright?" I was too surprised and confused to be able to say anything. It was only when the man called to me again and helped me out of the box, that I began to get my bearings, or rather try to.
"Where am I? How did I get here?"
Now he looked really confused, "Miss you are on the Titanic." He began, and then began to think that maybe something else more sinister was at play. "Miss, did someone force you into that box?"
I on the other hand was still caught on the fact that he had said Titanic, but it couldn't be. "I'm sorry you said that I was on…the Titanic?"
"Yes, miss we just left Southampton."
"No, no." I whispered under my breath, but he heard me none the less.
"Miss?"
"What year is it?" I asked him, looking around myself. It was now that I noticed my surroundings. I had been in a box in what must have been the cargo hold. And then just before he said anything, my eyes fell on an old Renault from the turn of the century, the twentieth century that is. And I knew.
"1912, Miss are you sure you are alright. I think you should come with me." He said as he began to guide me out of the box and towards the door.
"Sir! Please! Where are we going?" I asked. I felt like I was in an impossible situation and I did not know how I was going to get out of it.
"I am taking you to the Captain."
"No, please no!" I cried as I tried to pull my arm out of his hand. "I can't go to the Captain." But the man did not listen. "Please I am begging you. You don't understand."
This made him stop in his tracks and turn to face me his voice slowly rising in pitch "What don't I understand? I find you in a trunk screaming for help. You tell me that your family is not onboard. Nor were you taken against your will. That must mean then that you are a either a stowaway, or that you are daft lady. Either way you are a risk to the ship. Which I as a Ship's Officer oversee its safety. So please lady, what is it I don't understand?" his blue eyes burning, waiting for me to give him a believably answer.
Unfortunately, the only explanation that I had, would require a miracle for him to believe. After all I barely believed it.
'Tell him.' The Fates whispered to me.
'How? He will never believe me.' I whispered back.
'He will!'
"I beg your pardon?" The Officer asked having heard my whisper.
"I am not from this time." I said, trusting the Fates.
"Come again?"
"I am from the future. I was in an accident. And, I think I…died. Anyway, the next thing I know I woke up here. I thought I had been buried alive. That is why I was screaming. I know that you do not believe me and think that I am crazy." I had given up. I had trusted the Fates and now I was going to be locked up for lunacy.
"No, I believe you."
"Sorry?" I must have heard him wrong; he could not possibly have said what I thought he had said.
"I believe you. I do not know how or why, but it feels true." The relief I felt was staggering.
"Though what are we going to do about you being here?" He paused pensively.
"Third class is full. There are some places in First and Second. But it is harder to hide you there. You would need a ticket. OR at the very least a good story." He was rambling on by now. Muttering more to himself than conversing with me. Then suddenly, he stopped. "I've Got It!" he shouted, and then catching himself. Worried that someone may have heard him and would come in to investigate. But no one came.
"We will tell them that you are my sister." He said turning to me. "However, it is too late to introduce you as such now. I would have to make arrangements with the Captain and have you 'come aboard' in Cherbourg. It is our next stop. This, however, would mean that you would have too stay hidden here until then. Would that be alright with you." He asked concerned that it would be too much to ask of a lady.
"Yes of course. That would be alright." I answered, perhaps a bit to eagerly. But the truth was that I was just glad that he believed me, and that I was not going to be shipped off to a loony bin.
"But now I will need to know your name if we are too be able to make arrangements." He said almost in an afterthought.
"Josie," I began, but then realized that a nickname was probably not what he had meant. "Josephine Summers."
The man smiled before straightening and clearing his throat. "Pleasure to meet you Miss Summers. I am Sixth Officer James Moody." Although his posture was rigid there was a kindness in his eyes.
"Thank you, Officer Moody, for doing this. I don't know where I would be if you had not been here, much less if you had not believed me."
"It is alright Miss Summers. I cannot tell you why I believe you. The truth is that it is madness. I should just report you to the captain and be done with it." He for sure did not want me to think that he normally condoned such behavior. "But I don't know, this all just feels…"
"Right." I finished.
"Exactly!" He remained still for a moment, just gazing at me. It was a moment that seemed to last forever. In the end it was Moody who broke away first. Straightening again and gesturing to a nearby pallet of sacks of grain.
"Well Miss. Moody, make yourself comfortable. I will have some blankets and food for you brought down here. So at least you will be a little comfortable." It struck me that he called me Mr. Moody.
"Miss. Moody?" I asked.
"Well of course, it would not do to have you pose as my sister with the sir name Summers." He said with mirth.
"Was that an attempt at a joke Officer Moody?"
"Perhaps." Turning his back, he began to leave, before calling over his shoulder. "Until tomorrow Miss Moody."
"Until tomorrow."
"And remember to stay out of sight. It would not do for you to be spotted before then." And with that he was gone.