There seemed to be a small commotion occurring in the hallway, I could hear raised voices. I opened the door, and poked my head around. To my surprise, Mr Andrews was there with a pile of lifejackets, and seemed to be having a heated argument with an old couple who were dressed in their night things.

"Please" he was saying "Just put them on!" But the couple were not to be worn down, and Mr Andrews was having no avail. He turned round and saw me; first his face was that of joy, followed by one of the greatest sorrow.

"Scarlett," he said, hurrying up to me "Have you heard?" He seemed agitated.

"About, the iceberg, Sir? Why, yes, I have, but surely..."

Mr Andrews cut across me "You must head for the boat deck immediately, get onto a lifeboat, you and Freddie, you hear?" Then I saw it. A flash of fear across his kind eyes.

"What's the truth, Mr Andrews, Sir? I see it in your eyes, what's happening?"

Mr Andrews closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them and answering "The Titanic will sink. In an hour, maybe two, she will be at the bottom of the ocean."

I put a hand to my mouth to stop my gasp escaping. A cold hand seemed to creep around my heart, forcing me to struggle to breath.

"I..." I began

"You must get to a boat, Scarlett" Mr Andrews pleaded "You do remember what I told you about the boats?"

Of course I did. There were enough boats for but half the amount of people on the ship. The cold hand on my heart seemed to tighten its grip.

"Good luck, Scarlett" said Mr Andrews, formally gripping my hand in a shake, but the warmth in his voice was enough for me. I found that when he turned to go, I had tears in my eyes.

"Thank you, Mr Andrews" I said "For everything."

He smiled at me one last time, before disappearing down the corridor. That was the last time I ever saw Mr Thomas Andrews.

I walked over to where Freddie lay near the fire place, the pile of shoes discarded next to him. A few hours ago, while polishing the shoes, I had nothing to fear but how I was going to stay awake, but now, now I felt a dead weight on my shoulders, and it wasn't shifting.

Cal had said to stay in the room. I hated to think what he would do if I disobeyed him. But then, the ship was sinking, what did it matter what Cal had told me to do. Looking at Freddie, I was again reminded of the promise I had made to my mother, about looking after him. To me, that reminder of my parents was enough for me to make my mind up.

Quickly, before I could change my mind, I bent down to Freddie, and gently shook him awake.

"Freddie, wake up!"

Freddie moaned softly in his sleep. Sleepily he sat up "Is it mornin'?" he asked.

"No" I said "But we've got to be getting up now, come on Freddie, please hurry."

Freddie must have understood the urgency in my tone, for he then stood up quickly, and followed me from the room.

I hurried across to our bedroom, and it was only here that I remembered Ann. There was no way she would know about the iceberg. She didn't have my interrogating ways, nor was she likely to run into Mr Andrews. My stomach lurched uncomfortably to think of the words we had spoken last time I had seen her, felt sick when I thought of the way I had shook her and shouted at her.

Blinking away the tears that had formed at the corners of my eyes, I reasoned with myself that I would find Ann on the way to the boat deck, bring her onto a boat with me, and we could laugh over our idiotic argument.

However, as I stuffed Freddie and myself into our coats, and then shoved the life jackets over the top, I couldn't help but wonder if my visions of us laughing together in a lifeboat would ever actually come to be.

I took one last look around the room I had so loved calling my own, before exiting, pulling the door closed behind me.

The corridor was a lot busier now than before. People seemed to have the same idea as us, and were heading up the stairs to the boat deck. They were dressed in an abundance of things; from night clothes to evening suits. But everyone seemed to have the same idea to dress warmly, and so the nigh dresses had fur coats thrown over them, the evening gowns covered by button down jackets.

There seemed to be no element of fear among the people, only a general consensus of annoyance. People didn't see, to like being dragged from their beds or from their socialising. I realised that they obviously did not have the inside knowledge that the Titanic would be under water before they could return to their sleeping or poker playing.

We reached the boat deck, and I was immediately hit by a blast of freezing cold air. I had never experience the boat deck at this time of night before, and the shock numbed my face briefly.

Officers were loading up lifeboats, trying to generally organise everyone into some sort of order. People seemed unwilling to enter the lifeboats, and I could see why. Music was still being played by the band, the lights on inside the Dining Saloon, it was a much more inviting atmosphere than that of a freezing cold lifeboat being lowered into the depths of the sea.

However, I knew all too well what was going to happen, and inside was wishing these people to get onto a boat.

"Women and children only!" called out the officers. I hurried forward, hoisting Freddie onto my hip as I did so.

But the officer stuck out an arm.

"Sorry, Miss, First Class only at the moment. You'll have to wait down there with the other steerage passengers"

"But, I have a child!" I said, holding Freddie up "And I'm only sixteen!" I added, pleadingly.

"I'm sorry, Miss, but I cannot let you on until we have loaded all the women from First and Second Class."

"I have a child! At least let him on!" I tried again, desperately.

"No." Said the Officer, firmly, "Nobody from the Third Class is allowed to board yet. Speaking of which, shouldn't you be down in steerage anyway?" he asked suspiciously. "I've a right mind to get someone to escort you down there!"

"I am servant staff to Mr Hockley and Mr Lovejoy, I have permission to be on these parts" I said, feeling as though I had said these words time and time again.

"Hmm" said the Officer "A likely tale. Got any proof of that then, little Madam?" he asked.

I was amused to find myself dropped from "Miss" to "Little Madam". I fished in my pinafore pocket for Cal's permission card, and to my dismay found my pocket empty. I felt my stomach drop. I looked up at the officer who was smirking broadly as I rummaged in my pockets.

"I didn't think so" he said, snidely "Redcap!" he barked to another officer "Kindly escort this young lady and this little man down to steerage. And see to it that they remain there before they cause anymore disturbances up here." He turned to the boat behind him. "Lower away, boys!" he called. It was less than half full.