Chapter Four
Jack pulls Caroline into an alcove. The rush of people in the atrium hums in her ears. Caroline tries to control her breathing but her corset makes it difficult for her to inhale. She tugs at the buttons of her collar.
Meanwhile, Jack glances out around the corner and suddenly leans in, placing his hand over her mouth. He raises a finger to his own lips. Caroline freezes. A high-pitched beeping joins the cacophony of noises. Jack looks down at his watch and begins fiddling with buttons. A light on the band begins to glow. Caroline's heart thuds in her chest. The beep beeping draws closer and closer. She wants to tell Jack to hurry and take her home, but she cannot speak. She has never been terrified in her entire life. This weird dream has become a nightmare and she dreadfully wishes to wake up from it.
Jack begins to mouth a countdown. Five, four, three, two—
A cat claw grabs him by the collar and drags him away from Caroline. She screams.
"You're such a rare bird, my pet. Did you think I would let you get away?" Mistress Calini asks. Jack struggles to extricate himself from her clutches, but she raises her claws to his throat and hisses. "I wouldn't like to spoil the fishy's meal, but better a dead lunch than no lunch at all."
Caroline glances around helplessly. The people in the atrium ignore the catwoman's threats. They purposefully appear to be avoiding looking at the scene.
"Help us! Help us, please!" Caroline cries, but no one looks her way.
"They won't help you, fish bait. You are not of this world. You are therefore completely expendable." The catwoman laughs. The sound is harsh and incredibly unpleasant. Her distraction allows Jack to pull away from the briefest second.
"Run, Caroline!" He yells.
And Caroline does just that.
. . .
She stops only when she reaches the outside of the building. She stares back up at the aquarium's welcome sign as tears run down her face. She does not like this. She does not like this at all. She begins pinching herself, hoping that she will wake up. She doesn't. She begins stomping and hopping and shaking herself all around but nothing happens. The nightmare is not ending.
Caroline finally falls to her knees. She feels tears running down her cheeks. She has never cried in public before. She has rarely cried at all. She is not one to allow her emotions run away from her but this entire situation is beyond tolerable. She has no idea what to do. She is complete lost without the Captain.
Oh, the captain. He has probably been eaten by the fish now. The only person who could have helped her is probably dead!
There, then, is a small voice in the back of her head that asks "What if he isn't dead?" At first, she barely allows herself to listen, but the idea begins taking hold of her. What if he's alive? What if he could still help her? What if she could help him?
Shaking, Caroline rises to her feet. She will wake up from this dream and be returned to her old, comfortable life even if it means she has to grow as a person!