Titanic -The Heart Never Lies HL Griffiths

Carpathia and beyond - Chapter Five

The rain fell on to the deck of the Carpathia. I was wearing Cals coat and my thin once elegant dress, now stained and ruined. My hair hanging in Rats tails. I was no longer the society girl; I was just heartbroken and so sad. A pathetic figure looking years older them my seventeen years.

My gaze fell on the approaching horizon of New York the tall buildings standing majestically as the ship sailed close to the harbour.

The Nurse Mrs Baines had released me from the hospital wing of the ship once I awoke from my drug induced sleep. The news that my Jack was missing. My mind blank. I just was so weary; all that was keeping me going was my promise. "That I would go on" I owed Jack everything, my future and life. The night turns dark and the ship steamed slowly into the port

I look up as we pass the Statue of Liberty, tears blurring my vision and I felt a steely determination rising in me.

"Its all I have left, my freedom, my liberty, Jack sacrificed his life for mine, We should have been together But I'll live for you I will walk off this ship my own person, no mother, no Cal"

Remembrances of mother brow beating me everyday "You must marry Cal, the money is gone" It made me sick, so much hope placed on my unwilling shoulders.

Cal, so utterly charming and convincing but scratch the surface all there is a cold cruel bully. I was his prize; if I disobeyed he would use his fists to talk. His touch made my flesh crawl...

In a daze I walked down the gang way from the ship. I tried to blend in with crowds of people, wandering dazed. Press flash lights going off, blinding me momentarily. The noise of the distressed and displaced was loud and the rain drenching everyone as it fell steadily

A White Star Officer approached me with a clip board, he was hold an umbrella, he looked pained and soaked "Love what is your name?" he asked

"Dawson, Rose Dawson" I said firmly, Jacks name was mine. It was all I had left of him." Thanks you Dear" he replied

I absently minded placed my hand in the coat pocket, and touched a hard object, frowning I pulled it out. My eyes widened in shock as I stared at the necklace.

"That dammed necklace" Jack called it, here it was cold and real in my palms.

I could see Cal placing it round my neck; it was hard and heavy, cold against my skin. It felt like a slave collar. I saw Cals smirking face in the mirror as he looked at me wearing "heart of the ocean" as he presented it to me.

We are royalty" he said in a pompous voice, God he was so arrogant. Then he had planted it on Jack to make him look like a thief. I could still see Caledon chasing us to retrieve it, us nearly dying in the bowels of the ship. He had tried to SHOOT us. Was he a piece of work or what, all for this horrible lump of diamond? I would try to forget I had it; maybe I could sell it for money.

I drop in back in my pocket, and check the other pocket, to my relief there was a handful of notes, obviously Cal had stuffed them in there in a hurry

I was on the quay side I pushed my way through the throngs of folk, trying to decide what to do next. My head ached and I was still cold.

I'll find a hotel then have a bath and decide what to do get some clothes, look for a job?

As I stopped to think and to try to be practical suddenly someone grabbed my arm and spun me round. I gasped...

"OH MY GOD" I shrieked and I was face to face to Cal, whose whole demeanour was angry and brooding

"Are you going somewhere Rose,?" He sneered, dark eyes like steel gimlets. "Or have you forgotten I own you, you're still my fiancée and you better have that necklace!". The grip tightened on my arm. I started to struggle to get away. "Let go, you snake" I shouted.

"Oh now you don't Sweetpea" he hissed, "Your coming with me, you owe me and your mother so be a good girl and come along"

"Get off me I owe you nothing, let me go" I cried frantically." I dont love you"

I tried to wrench my arm free; everything in me was telling me to get away. I tried kicking back with my feet then stopped dead as I felt something cold and metallic dig in to my back.

"I've got a gun" he whispered maliciously" So you just walk quiet and I wont hurt you "

He poked me hard with it "Any funny business, you and your idiot Mother get it and that Gutter rat you took up with, do you hear me?"

"Yes" I whispered. I had no choice but to be pushed at gunpoint towards Cals waiting taxi.