2

I am Falling. Plunging into the night. The frigid air murders my lungs as I vehemently scream for my life. MY GOD, I'VE MADE A MISTAKE! My fingers claw the sky as I try to prevent plummeting into the tenebrous waters below.

WHAT HAVE I DONE?! OH, WHAT HAVE I DONE? !

Twisting and turning in the merciless wind, I catch fleeting glimpses of the moon, taunting me wickedly from its safety in the sky.

I AM A FOOL! A MINDLESS FOOL! WHY DID I DO THIS ?!

With my stomach rising to my throat, I scream with renewed vigor, my body helplessly descending closer and closer to the bitter, glassy sea. And just before I meet my fate, I hear a timid voice whisper to me softly, "You need to wake up, Miss."

-xxx- 3rd Person for a Moment -xxx-

Kneeling on the moss colored carpet, the Bukater family keeper eyes young Rose with a look of apprehension. "Miss, please awaken. Misses Bukater will be back any moment, and you must be ready."

Trudy shakes Rose's fragile form, desperately imploring her to wake. Trudy's supple gestures do little to stir her young employer. She had fallen asleep in one of the quaint little armchairs that, in Trudy's humble opinion, complements perfectly the luxurious cabin Miss Rose occupies aboard the RMS Titanic.

A worn copy of Mark Twain's, Huckleberry Finn rests peacefully upon her downy chest. "Please Miss," hisses Trudy,"Your mother will be furious. Absolutely livid. Now please wake up." Trudy prodded the young maiden's sides, nervously glancing at the handsome grandfather clock nestled in the corner.

"Oh my, what am I to do? Oh!" Abruptly, accompanied by a slight whimper, Rose's delicate features contort into a grimace, her chest rising and falling with short, eratic breaths. "Miss? Miss, please you're frightening me!"

Rose's frail body begins to convulse as small, child-like, cries escape her lips. "Miss! Oh, good gracious!" The beautiful brunette's eyes snap open to the sound of her keeper's voice. Her vibrant sapphires search avidly for familiarity.

"Good Heavens!" she cries, flinging her arms around her housekeeper's neck."Trudy, I had the most frightening dream!" she exclaims in tear-filled sobs. "A horrid, terrible dream!" her voice cracking with unyielded emotion. "There, There, Miss." Trudy whispers softly."It was just a dream." she coos soothingly, rubbing Rose's sequined back in comfort."Just a nasty dream."

Rose pulls away from the comforting embrace, her glossy eyes focusing on the book nestled between herself and Trudy. "Do forgive me, Trudy. I didn't mean to fall asleep." A shy smile playing upon her lips."It's just,...reading makes me want to dream." That's quite alright, Miss." she smiles in reassurance."Now up you get. We haven't much time."

Her eyes dart to the mahogany Grandfather Clock for a second time. "Yes, Miss up you get."

She pulls her young master to her feet, smoothing the darkly sequined evening gown she had dressed her in no more than an hour ago, before departing to help Misses Bukater with her dressing.

"Now Miss," Trudy says, tidying a few loose locks back into place, "let's finish getting you ready. You've a big night tonight."

-xxx- Rose's perspective -xxx-

Sitting stiffly at my vanity mirror, I stare intently at the stranger peering back at me. It isn't the crimson stain of her full lips, nor is it the pink rose dusting of her cheeks that makes the girl so foreign. It is but her unearthly, indifferent stare, gazing back with relentless emptiness.

Oh, when did I become so dull?

A meek rap on the door breaks the silence of the boudoir, releasing me from my trance. I smooth the loose tendrils of chocolate hair from my face, and answer faintly, "Come in."

The grand door opens slowly, conjoining Trudy's reflection with my own in the mirror. "I brought you some tea, Miss." she says, placing the metal tray upon the flat surface of the vanity."Thank you, Trudy." I accept, standing to study my reflection fully.

Trudy sighs blissfully."It smells so brand new. Like they built it all just for us." I chuckle lightly.

She takes a step toward me, smiling dreamily. "I mean, just to think that tonight,when I crawl between the sheets...I'll be the first."

"Oh, Trudy," I giggle again at her starstruck expression.

"And, tonight, when I crawl between the sheets, I'll still be the first." My stomach twists painfully as the woman I have grown to loathe makes her way graciously to stand by my side.

"Away,Trudy." she barks, making myself and Trudy cringe. "Yes, ma'am."

Curtsying respectively, the docile housekeeper scurries obediently from the penetrating, icy daggers of Ruth Bukater. In turn,she channels her frosty leer upon me.

"We missed you at the luncheon today, Rose." she remarks, placing a sugar cube into my untouched tea. "Mr. Hockley was devastated."

She brings the floral china to her lips, ogling menacingly over the brim. Under her ruthless glare, I feel my body flush a deep coral. Still, I refuse to succumb to her meticulous nonsense.

"I wasn't feeling well," I commence, lowering my gaze to escape her formidable inspection." So...I thought a bit of air would do me good," My eyes dare not leave my conjoined hands at my middle. "I took a stroll around the boat deck, and suppose I lost track of time. I apologize, Mother." I feel her light blue eyes scrutinizing my very being, her cold gaze never faltering."

Well, let's be thankful you'll be seeing him tonight at the gala. Perhaps to redeem yourself for this afternoon." she quips with a sneer, placing the delicate teacup back upon the this moment I see my only chance to confess. I take it.

"What if I tell you I can't, Mother. What if I tell you I'm frightened beyond belief, and simply refuse to be a part of any of this. Mother, please understand,"

I implore to her stern expression, "I have never disappointed you before, so please, please don't make me do this."

"There is so much more to life, so much adventure ,art, creativity, so many things I have only read about in books. Money isn't everything, Mother, and I certainly haven't any use for it. Happiness cannot be bought. At least not my happiness, anyway. I'm sorry, Mother. I simply cannot do this."

I heave an enormous sigh and turn to face my reflection.

"I don't understand you, Rose. This is a safe arrangement with Hockley. It will ensure our survival. Why are you being so selfish!"

I turn sharply. "I'm being selfish? How can you put this on my shoulders? I am your daughter."

She grabs me fiercely. "We mustn't fool around. You know the money is gone." her tone is deadly. "Of course I know it's gone," I cock my head defiantly,"You remind me everyday."

Her skeletal fingers squeeze my shoulders painfully.

"This is not a game. The time for silliness is over." Her voice cracks and I fear for tears to fall. "Do you want to see me working as a seamstress? All our fine things sold at auction?"

My heart tightens as she pauses to compose herself. "All our beloved memories cast to the wind?" With unshed tears brimming her eyes, she turns her back to me, a frail wrist covering her quivering lips.

Dread filling my body entirely, I exhale heavily, praying this is one of my nightmares.

Swallowing my fear, I reply to her sobbing back. "This is so unfair."

"Of course it's unfair." She retorts, wiping a single tear with the pad of her thumb."We're women. Our choices are never easy."

She offers her arm to me, and I hesitantly take it. Arm in arm, we leave the nourishing serenity of my cabin, worry and trepidation anchoring my heart.

I am a fool. Who was I to try to tamper with fate?

AN: So, this is chapter two. I hope you enjoy! The weather is terrible here, and my electricity has been out for a few days. This is the first oppurtunity I've had to revise and publish anything, so again I hope you like it! Please read and review to let me know how I'm doing. I will be writing all night, and with the extra free time I have, I hope to get a lot of writing done! I wish everyone the best, and happy reading! Oh, p.s. the avatar thingy for this story is the girl I envision as Rose. I hope it gives better imagery!

- Viktoria