Will had to act quickly, so he shouts the order "Hard a'starboard." Quartermaster Hitchens quickly carried out Will's orders. Will rushes past James and sets the ship's telegraph to Full Astern. Just as he runs back outside to check out the iceberg, Quartermaster Hitchens reports that the helm was hard over. Will begins to panic. The ship had yet to turn and he was afraid the ship would make a head on collision with the iceberg. "Turn. Come on. Turn, turn, turn." Will was muttering under his breath. At last minute, the ship began to turn and Will let out a sigh of relief. However it was short lived when a crewmember close to the iceberg shouted, "It's gonna hit," before running to safety. The next thing heard was a sound Will was hoping not to hear. The starboard side of the ship brushed against the iceberg. Will gave the order, "Hard a'port" in an attempt to save most of the ship. When the noise stopped, Will rushed into the cabin and closed the watertight doors. Once all lights were on indicating the doors were all shut, he turns to James with a face of sorrow, "Note the time. Enter it in the log." At that moment, the Captain enters the room and looks at the crew.
"What was that Mr Murdoch." The Captain asks, turning to face Will.
"An iceberg sir." The Captain looks to the other crew member with a look of disbelief and shock as Will continues to explain what happened. "I put her hard a'starboard and ran the engines full astern but it was too close. I tried to port round it but she hit." The Captain walks out of the room to inspect the damage.
"Stop the engines." The Captain commands and James carries out the order while Will follows the Captain outside. The Captain looks over the side of the ship before looking at the deck itself. He notices all the ice on deck as well as the curious passengers. "Find the carpenter, get him to sound the ship."
"Yes sir." Will runs off to find the Carpenter. The Captain makes his way back into the room and asks James to inform Mr Andrews and Mr Ismay about what happened. He then goes into his cabin and finishes putting on his full uniform. The Captain dearly hoped the damage wasn't too terrible or everyone on board was in danger, including Allison.
Allison was in her room talking to her maid Anna about dinner when she felt the slight shudder caused by the iceberg hitting the ship.
"I wonder what caused that." She says to Anna.
"I have no idea miss. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. After all we have the best crew on board."
The maid's words did nothing to reassure Allison. She gets up and opens her door to peer out into the corridor. Others are looking out their doors in curiosity. Allison spots Mr Andrews walking by with a bunch of scrolls under his arm. She runs to catch up with him.
"Thomas." Andrews stops and turns at the sound of her voice. "What's going on. I felt a slight shudder not a few moments ago."
"To be honest with you Allison, I have no idea. I just received word to join your grandfather up on deck."
Allison would have to be satisfied with that answer for the time being. "Alright then. As soon as you know something, could you send my grandfather or Will to let me know, please."
"Of course, Allison dear. Now I must be going." He then proceeded on his way to the bridge to join the Captain. Allison goes back to her room. "I just spoke with Mr Andrews. He has no idea what's going on yet. He just got word to join my grandfather on the bridge. I'm going to see Molly. I won't be long Anna."
"Ok then miss."
Allison leaves the room and makes her way to Molly's room. Molly's maid, Rebecca, answers the door.
"Hello Rebecca. Is Molly in at the moment?"
"Of course Miss Allison. Please do come in and I shall inform Mrs Brown you are here." The maid steps aside to let Allison in and goes to inform Molly, Allison is here. A few seconds later, Molly comes out of her room to greet Allison.
"Allison dear how lovely to see you." The two women embrace each other and sit down. "So what brings you here?"
"I was wondering if you felt a shudder a few moments ago."
"Now that you mention it, I did. Do you have any idea what caused it."
"No I don't. I spoke to Mr Andrews after I spotted him walking through the corridor carrying some scrolls with him. He informed me that he knew as much as I did and that he was to join my grandfather on the bridge." Allison answered.
Molly thought about it. "It might be the engines. I'm sure it's nothing to serious."
"Anna said something along those lines also. But I can't help the feeling that it's something more serious. I asked Mr Andrews to get my grandfather or Will to inform me about what's happened as soon as they know something. I'll be sure to tell you also." Allison got up to leave.
"Going so soon, Allison." Molly said from her seat.
"I better be getting back to my room."
"Ok then Allison. I will speak to you later." Allison then leaves to go back to her room.
Meanwhile, Mr Andrews had finally arrived on the bridge and laid down his plans of the Titanic on the table. The crew was informed by the carpenter that the ship was taking water in fast, in the forepeak tank, three forward holds and in boiler room 6. Ismay was getting a little irritated. The Captain and Mr Andrews were looking over the plans.
"When can we get underway." Irritation clear in Ismay's voice.
"That's five compartments." Andrews replies back. "She can stay afloat with the first four compartments breached but not five. As she goes down by the head, the water will spill over the tops of the bulkheads, at E deck, from one to the next back and back. There's no stopping it." The crew all tensed upon hearing this bit of information.
"What about the pumps." The Captain asked Andrews.
"The pumps buy you time but minutes only." Andrews informed the Captain who was in shock at this time. Andrews turned to face everyone else. "At this moment, no matter what we do, Titanic will founder."
Ismay who stood there flabbergasted simply said, "But this ship can't sink."
"She's made of iron Sir, I assure you she can and she will." Andrews retorted back then he stared at the plans once again.
"How much time do you think we have, Mr Andrews." The Captain asks.
"An hour, two at the most." Andrews responds, his voice full of sorrow.
"And how many aboard, Mr Murdoch."
"Two thousand, two hundred souls on board, Sir." Will answered.
Smith then turns to Ismay and says, "I believe you may get your headlines Mr Ismay," to the White Star Line owner.
"I want the stewards to start informing passengers to put on their lifebelts and head up to the deck. I want the rest of you to start preparing the lifeboats for launch." The Captain ordered.
"Yes sir." Everyone said and left to carry out the Captain's orders. Just as Will was about to leave, the Captain called him back in. Will approached the Captain. "Yes sir."
"Mr Murdoch, I was wondering if you would be good enough as to personally get my granddaughter and her maid and bring them up on deck."
"Of course sir." Will then quickly heads off to fetch Allison and Anna.
The Captain heads to the Marconi room to get the operators to relay the distress signal out to nearby ships. Once done with that he retreats into his cabin to write a letter for Allison. He has already made his decision to go down with the ship and writes the letter to inform Allison as he cannot bear to tell her in person. He is confident that Allison will be well taken care of, he knew Will would see to that and he prayed that they survived the inevitable sinking.
Will reaches Allison's room, knocks on the door and walks in the room. "Allison." He calls out. Anna then walks into the sitting room.
"Mr Murdoch, what can I do for you." Anna asks Will.
"Is Allison here, Anna?"
"No she went to visit Molly Brown." She pauses then speaks up again. "Does this have anything to do with that slight shudder we all felt a few moments ago."
"Yes it does." At that moment, Allison returns.
"Will what's going on?" Allison asks upon seeing Will.
"The ship made a collision with an iceberg. I'm afraid the ship will sink." Allison and Anna both gasped in shock. "Everything you see around you will be at the bottom of the Atlantic in an hour. Your grandfather asked me to get you both up on deck with your lifebelts." Anna retreats into Allison's bedroom to get the lifebelts and some coats as it was really cold outside. While Anna was busy with that, Allison is still in shock over the news that Will brought her. Will embraces her in an attempt to comfort her.
"I don't believe it. I thought this ship was unsinkable." Allison spoke, her voice breaking up slightly, while being in Will's embrace.
"Any ship can sink Allison." He steps back slightly, taking Allison's shoulders into his hands. "I will not let anything happen to you, Allison. I swear it. I love you."
"I love you to, Will." Allison replies, tears starting to form in her eyes. Will captures Allison's lips in a brief kiss. Anna comes back into the room with the lifebelts and coats, handing a lifebelt to Allison. They get their lifebelts and coats on and follow Will up to the deck to wait on the lifeboats being launched. Once up on deck with the others, Will turns to Allison and takes her hands in his.
"Now Allison I have to go and help prepare the lifeboats. I'll come and get you both as soon as we're ready and I'll put you into a lifeboat."
"Alright. Be careful." She gives Will a kiss on the lips which he lovingly returns.
"I will Allison. I love you." He then leaves to help with the lifeboats.
After Will's departure, Allison felt like breaking down and crying right there on the spot. She hadn't spoken to her grandfather yet and she was afraid for the safety of her loved ones. Anna noticed the change in her posture and attempted to comfort Allison.
"I'm sure your grandfather is ok, miss." Allison just simply nodded.
Molly Brown and her maid had been looking for Allison and Anna since being told to gather at the grand staircase. She finally spotted the pair at the bottom of the stairs and made her way over to them. On closer inspection she noticed Allison was on the brink of crying.
"Allison dear, whatever is the matter." Molly asks placing a hand on Allison's shoulder.
Allison turns to Molly, eyes watering with tears. "You mustn't repeat what I am about to tell as it could cause a panic." Molly nodded and Allison continued in a whisper so nobody else would hear. "Will told me that the ship collided with an iceberg. The ship is sinking, Molly." Molly gasps in surprise. Luckily, it goes unnoticed by the other people in the room.
Molly composes herself before asking, "How long do we have?"
"Apparently we only have about an hour, maybe two until all of this is at the bottom of the ocean."
Everybody at the grand staircase were left to mingle for another few moments before Captain Smith came in accompanied by Chief Officer Henry Wilde.
"If everybody would be so kind as to step outside and make their way to a lifeboat, please thank you." Everyone began to exchange confused and panicked looks as they made their way outside to the lifeboats. Allison notices her grandfather walking in her direction. She tells Anna to stay with Molly and Rebecca while she speaks to her grandfather in private. The maid obeys and follows Molly and Rebecca outside. Allison walks up to her grandfather.
"Allison, there is something I must tell you." Before the Captain could continue, Allison cut him off.
"I already know that the ship is going to sink. Will told me." A look of slight relief passed over the Captain's face.
"Allison, I want you and Anna on the first lifeboat and away from danger."
"I won't leave without you and Will papa." Allison protested.
"Allison. Mr Murdoch and myself won't be able to do our jobs properly if you are still on the ship." The Captain began reasoning with her.
Allison didn't want to leave her grandfather or Will for fear of never seeing them again but the Captain had a point and she didn't want to be responsible for them getting hurt or worse getting killed. Allison bowed her head in defeat. "Ok papa, I will go but on one condition."
"And that would be?"
"You have to promise me that Will and yourself will survive no matter what."
The Captain listened to her words. Allison obviously had no clue that he intended to go down with the ship and as much as it hurt him to do it, he promised her he would survive and that he would help Will to as well. He escorted her outside to the lifeboats. He helped her into the lifeboats along with Molly, Rebecca, Anna and Madeline. Will was waiting outside to see her off safely along with the Captain. Officer Boxhall got in the lifeboat to take charge and Will gave the order for the lifeboat to be lowered. Allison kept her eyes on her grandfather and Will as the lifeboat got lower and lower until finally she couldn't see them. Despite the promise her grandfather made, Allison couldn't shake the feeling she was getting that it wouldn't turn out so good for one of the men.
Moments had passed and by now, the front of the ship had started to dip into the water. The Captain searched for Will and found him on the starboard side filling the lifeboats.
"Mr Murdoch, can I have a quick word." Will left his station and went over to the Captain. "Mr Murdoch, I have a favour I must ask of you."
"Of course sir." Will replied.
"I have decided to follow the tradition of the Captain going down with his ship."
Will was surprised to say the least. "But sir, what about Allison."
"That is where you come in Mr Murdoch. I know you are a good man and that I can rely on you to take good care of Allison after I am gone. I have a letter here for her explaining my actions. I would like you to give it to her." He hands the letter over to Will.
"Of course I will sir."
"Thank you Mr Murdoch. Now I would like you on this lifeboat to ensure your survival."
Will didn't want to leave right now when so many other were still aboard but he promised the Captain he would give the letter to Allison. The order to lower the lifeboat was given by Captain Smith himself. That was the last time Will saw the Captain.
An hour and a half after the Titanic collided with the iceberg, she had split in half. Her top half already sinking deeper into the ocean. Not a few moments later, her bottom half shared the same fate and that was the last anybody saw of the great ship. All passengers and crew aboard the lifeboats began to pray for the poor souls lost at sea.
Sorry for taking so long to update this. I have been really busy lately and hurried to finish this chapter before Christmas. I want to thank everyone who has reviewed so far and I will try to have the trailer up as soon as I can. If you have visited my profile page, you will notice that I have based Allison on actress Keira Knightley. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a happy new year.
Lady Wesker xxx