Tommy ran through the hallways as he looked for Jack and Fabrizio. He carried what little he could carry as he ran to their stateroom. Fabrizio opened the door and looked confused as he saw all the water.
"Come on!" Tommy said. "Let's get the hell out of here! Come on, hurry up!"
He waited anxiously as Fabrizio went to get dressed and get his things. He hoped Muriel would be able to find him at the gate. The ship flooding like this was going to cause a serious panic.
"Come on, let's go!" he said as Fabrizio grabbed his things.
Everyone heard squeaking all around them. Many people were surprised to see a hoard of rats running between their feet. The rats knew the ship was in danger and had to get to safety.
"If this is the direction the rats are going, that's good enough for me", Tommy said.
Everyone in the hallway grabbed their things and started following the rats to safety. Tommy struggled to carry his things and put on his sweater. It was freezing cold outside and knew he was going to need it.
Muriel looked around worried as the hallways started crowding. People were frantic as they tried to get through. She held onto Margaret and Edith tightly as they tried to push their way through the crowd.
"Lifebelts!" the steward in the hallway yelled as he started handing out lifebelts. "Put your lifebelts on!"
He handed her only one lifebelt for her, but none for the children. Muriel looked down at the kids, not knowing what to do now.
"Muriel!"
She gasped and turned around to Tommy and Fabrizio running up the hall.
"Tommy!" she gasped.
Tommy wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug and kissed her.
"Where are your parents?" he asked.
"I don't know!" Muriel said. "I thought we would meet Mum and Papa here."
Tommy took Edith into his arms and carried her as they walked to the gate. To everyone's surprise, the gate was locked, leaving the third class passengers trapped in the sinking ship.
"The first class passengers haven't gotten into the lifeboats yet", the steward on the other side of the gate said. "Please stay calm and make sure everyone puts their lifebelts on. Allow the women and children up to the front."
Tommy glared at the steward and pushed his way through the crowd with Edith still in his arms. He grabbed Muriel's hand and pulled her up with him.
"Let us through", he said looking at the steward.
"There aren't any lifeboats ready for third class passengers", the steward said turning to the other. "Go get some help."
"Please", Muriel said. "Please open the gates."
"They're not ready for you yet. Settle down."
She turned and looked at Tommy scared. The two of them looked at Margaret, Edith and Thomas who looked scared and confused. Were these people really going to leave them to die like this?
"Children!"
Ita and Cormick ran back to the stateroom to get their children. They were shocked at how fast the ship was flooding. The hallway was already going over their ankles. The two of them ran to the staterooms, shocked to find that no one was there. Muriel and the children were gone.
"Muriel!" Cormick yelled.
"Margaret! Edith! Thomas!"
The two of them ran to try and find their children. Time was running out.
