Most of the engineering crew remained below decks in the engine and boiler rooms fighting a losing battle to keep the ship afloat for as long as possible operating the pumps in the forward compartments as well as keeping the steam up in the boiler rooms, so as to prevent boiler explosion on contact with water. Others keeping the generators running to maintain power and lights throughout the Titanic up.
"Keep those breakers in! Keep them in!"
Then, a great noise followed. It was partly a groan, partly a rattle and partly a smash. It went on successively for some seconds, possibly fifteen or twenty. After another minute, the ship's lights flickered once and then permanently went out, plunging Titanic into darkness. Groups of fifteen hundred people were still aboard, clinging in clusters or bunches, like swarming bees only to fall in masses, pairs or singly as the great afterpart of the ship rose into the sky.
"Hold on real tight." said Philip, clutching onto Elaine.
The great noise increased to its maximum volume. It sounded like breaking noises. Then the stern splashed back into the water followed by screaming of the passengers. But soon after, it started rising up again.
"We have to move!" shouted Philip, realizing the end is near.
He climbed over the fence. "Give me your hand, I'll pull you over."
"I can't." panted Elaine, barely holding on.
"Come on! Give me your hand." she obeyed, and he pulled her with all his might. "I've got you. I won't let go. Come on, I've got you."
Elaine grunted, but successfully climbed over.
"What's happening, Philip?!" she said in panicked voice.
"I don't know! I don't know!" replied he, panicked as well.
The stern now fully rose, standing still.
"Philip…"
"Hold on, just hold on."
It bobbed like that there for a few seconds, then it started going down, followed by cricking noises.
"This is it!" Philip realized.
"No! Oh, my God, Philip! Oh, God! Oh, God!" Elaine cried, starting to lose it.
"Try to stay calm, Elaine, and hold on!"
"Calm?!" she screamed. "We are going to die!"
That wasn't the right thing to say in the moment, surrounded by equally panicked passengers, but she stated the obvious. The stern sunk faster and faster as it reached its end.
"You can't think like that!"
"No, huh?!"
Philip couldn't lose her now, he needed to think of something.
"This is not the end, Elaine! Just another tiny obstacle, alright?! But the ship is gonna suck us down, that is inevitable. Take a deep breath when I tell you." she nodded her head, listening. "Kick for the surface and keep kicking. Give me your hand. Do not let go of it! Understand?" she nodded again, focused on what's about to come. "We're gonna make it, sis. We're gonna make it! Trust me."
"I trust you, brother!" she shouted. Philip smiled looking at her, tears forming into his eyes.
"Ready?! Ready?!" he shouted, not letting his voice to break. "Now, Elaine!"
They both took a deep breath, going underwater. Elaine wasn't much of a swimmer, but holding onto her brother's hand she kicked for the surface with his help. He tried pulling her up, but the suction was too strong and dragged him away. She tried reaching for him blindly, but couldn't feel him anywhere around. Her panic only increased when she no longer could be without air and her survival mode kicked in. She resurfaced in the sea of people splashing and shouting around her.
"Philip!" she screamed.
"Philip!" no answer.
"Philip!" her voice started breaking with no sight of him.
Survival mode kicked in other people as well. They were extremely fighting to survive now by using one another to stay afloat, without realizing they were drowning the onther person. They fought around floating objects they could hold on. Elaine swam around looking for her brother when someone got on top of her, pulling her under.
"No!" she screamed, resurfacing again and gasping for air.
But the person only pulled her down again. She kicked as hard as she could, breaking away from him.
"Get off me! Get off me!" she somehow managed to kick him in the face, fully releasing herself from him.
She twirled around looking for at least any familiar face, but was only more panicked when she couldn't recognize none.
Swim, Elaine, swim, she encouraged herself. Stay afloat and keep swimming to keep… warm.
The water was so cold. She could barely feel her body. It's like a thousand knives stabbing into you at once. She started trembling. But kept moving until she saw a large wooden object floating nearby. She grunted, trying to get on top of it. Her first try was unsuccessful for she slipped back into the water, but she didn't let it shake her. She tried again, this time successfully staying on it.
"Philip!" she tried calling again, but it was like no one had heard her.
She bent her head down in despair and started crying.
It'll be alright, it'll be alright, she started chanting under her breath and encouraging herself. He is here somewhere; he will find me. It will be alright.
She wouldn't let dark thoughts consume her. He is a fighter, he is strong. He will fight for his life, and for her. He is probably afloat somewhere else and can't come to her right now. She heard a whistle blow nearby.
"Return," she recognized Henry Wilde's voice. "the boats!" he kept blowing his whistle.
Yes! The boats will return to pick the rest of them up and they will reunite. She thought of the story he told her before the Titanic went under and kept coming back to it. She turned on her back, looking at the starry sky and smiled. Yes, that's how it's going to be.
"For God's sake!" a woman cried.
"Please, help us!" a man shouted.
But it was like their voices were unheard. Elaine shivered and closed her eyes, breathing hard.
Back in the lifeboat No. 6, Molly Brown tried encouraging her crew to return to the debris field of the disaster to look for survivors again. But her attempt was once again, unsuccessful.
"You don't understand." Robert Hichens started. "If we go back, they'll swamp the boat. They'll pull us right down, I'm telling you!" his tone was not nearly pleasant.
"Oh, knock it off. You're scaring me." Molly gritted through her teeth. "Come on, girls, grab an oar. Let's go."
"Are you out of your mind?! We're in the middle of the North Atlantic! Now, do you people want to live or do you want to die?!" Hichens protested.
His voice came off as rough, but in reality, he was just worried and scared. Molly Brown looked around her unmoved crew, hearing shouts and whistle blows in the background. The women were shivering and crying, too scared to say anything or rise and go against Robert Hichens' word.
"I don't understand a one of you." she stated. "What's the matter with you?! It's your men out there! There's plenty of room for more." she shouted.
"And there'll be one less on this boat if you don't shut that hole in your face!" Hichens hissed, leaving her astonished.
She didn't say anything further, but sat back down beside Elizabeth who had her hands pressed against her ears to sustain all the noise. She couldn't bear it.
"Oh, Beth," started Molly. "I bet your girls are fine." she put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Elizabeth let out a deep breath. "Just my daughters. What about my son and husband?"
"They are both strong men. Fighters. All five of you will reunite on a rescue ship when it comes. But Elizabeth, even if you don't, I want you to think of them as heroes—"
"Stop it!" she cut her off, not wanting to hear the next words. "They are all fine." she said, sitting still, waiting and praying.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, guys, this is it. I'm so sorry to inform you that the next chapter will also be the last. Tell me how did you like it so far and are you ready for the big finale? ;)
