Having barely rested in the previous night, I fall asleep as soon as I touch my bed. I find myself in a dreamless sleep from which I only wake up when Johanna shakes my body and says:

"Katniss, the engines stopped."

I protest something and turn to sleep again.

"The engines never stop," she adds, shaking me more.

"There was a lot of ice today," I grumble. "Maybe that's why they stopped."

"Ice?" she asks in a concerned tone.

"Let me sleep," I say.

Johanna forcefully pulls my body away from bed and puts on her overcoat.

"Get dressed, we're going to see what happened," she says. "Hurry up."

It's good I'm a rational being, because I want to beat Johanna Mason right now. I absently slip on my blue dress and overcoat, put on shoes and we leave the cabin together. I don't even care to braid my hair, as I know not many people will be outside.

We find a steward walking through the corridor and Johanna stops him.

"Why have we stopped?" she asks.

"I don't know, Miss," the man replies, "I don't suppose it's anything much."

Another steward comes closer and says:

"There's nothing to worry about, Miss, we have dropped a propeller blade. The engines will be restarted soon."

Seeing that there's nothing for us to worry about, Johanna feels secure enough to let us go back to our cabin, get back in our nightgowns and our respective berths. As soon as I lay on the bed, though, there's a knock in the door.

"What now?" I grumble.

"Very strange," says Johanna. "Go see who it is."

I stand, put on my robe and open the door of the room to see Peeta's anxious face.

He studies me, paying special attention to my loose, unbraided hair. That, together with my nightgown, is enough confirmation that I had no plans to meet him tonight. His disappointment is visible.

"We meet at midnight, after all," he says grimly. He looks into the room for the first time. "May I come in?"

I open the door and gesture for him to enter.

"Oh, no," Johanna groans and covers her head with the sheets as I close the door behind him. "How does he know we sleep here? I don't want men in my cabin."

"What do you want, Peeta?" I ask, fearing that he'll try to convince me to join him on the deck or something like that.

"Did you feel the vibration of the ship?" Peeta asks.

"I was asleep."

"We dropped a propeller blade, Sherlock. You can go back to sleep now," Johanna says dismissively.

"No, Miss Mason," Peeta says. "I was outside and I saw an iceberg, it towered over the ship. I saw large blocks of ice falling into the deck."

I don't understand. Surely icebergs can't be that big and, even if they can, why is that a reason for him to come into our room at midnight? I stare at him, unable to comprehend it.

"We struck an iceberg," he explains. "I'll feel better if you two get dressed and come with me."

"What were you doing outside?" Johanna asks.

Peeta shrugs.

"Watching the sea, I guess," he replies to his feet. "I'll wait outside. Get warm clothes, this is the coldest night so far," he adds, looking meaningfully at me.

Johanna and I decide to keep our nightgowns under our dresses to protect us from the cold. We put on the robes, the overcoats and our shoes as well. I braid my hair in its usual fashion and soon we meet Peeta at the corridor.

He then goes to his family's cabins and wakes them up. It takes him longer to convince them than it took to convince us. Meanwhile, we wait in the corridor. People start to pass up and down, and then we hear a loud shout: "All passengers on deck with lifebelts on."

Johanna and I go back to our cabin to take our lifebelts from the wardrobe and help each other put them on. Then, the Mellarks, all of them except Peeta, join us as we climb the stairs to the starboard side of the ship.

"Where's Peeta?" I ask.

"Went to his cabin," Graham says. "He told us to go ahead and join you before our group got separated."

We reach the starboard side of the top boat deck to find that many of the passengers are already there. None of them seems to be in a hurry or state of alarm. The ship looks normal and solid as a rock. Most of the people don't believe we are in danger and many know nothing about the iceberg – which is nowhere to be seen.

Although the night is freezing cold, it could be much worse, as there's no wind. The sea is quiet as a lake and the sky is full of stars, although the moon is absent. There's nothing more than a gentle swell to balance the ship.

The roar of escaping steam from the boilers is deafening and makes conversation difficult. To say the truth, it's unbearable, and I cover my ears.

We watch as the officers uncover the lifeboats. It's surprising that it elicits no panic. People move at a walking pace and everyone is particularly calm as they watch the lifeboats be manned by the trained staff, the ropes being coiled and the oars prepared, the cranks turned and the davits sung outwards. We wait for orders. Bandsmen come from the staircase entrance with their instruments and prepare to play.

"Catch it, Katniss!" I hear Graham's voice shout.

I look at him to find he's throwing me a large piece of ice and laughing about it. I throw it back to him. It's definitely something a Mellark would do, I think, remembering how I was almost thrown overboard last night by his brother.

Speaking of whom, I'm very displeased by Peeta's absence. Where is he? What is taking him so long? People keep coming up from the stairs and adding to the crowd, so in a few minutes it will be impossible for him to find us. I think someone should go look for him in his cabin but, judging by the flow of people coming upstairs, it would be just another person to get lost. What if he can't pass through the waves of people? He only has one useful leg.

As I consider what to do, an officer shouts:

"All women and children get down to deck below and all men stand back from the boats."

Without much question, people do as he says. The men stand back and the women prepare to enter the lifeboats. Johanna, Mrs. Mellark and I remain between the crowd of men along with a few women who can't gather the courage to leave their husbands.

"I don't believe this ship will sink," Mrs. Mellark says after the first boat departs, and we all tend to agree with her.

The bandsmen start playing a waltz, and Rye asks me in jest to join him for a dance. I wonder why he didn't try it with Johanna, but they seem to have had a downfall. Rye leads me through some clumsy waltz steps and it gives everyone a good laugh.

Suddenly we hear a hissing roar, something leaping upwards, higher and higher, exploding among the starry sky and illuminating Rye's blue eyes in an unexpected flash of light. I feel the shift in our group's mood at the same time Rye's expression changes from amusement to worry. Other rockets follow. The situation must be indeed desperate if the crew is resorting to them. To me, it confirms that this ship is indeed sinking, and that there's no help in sight.

"Katniss, we must get in a lifeboat," Johanna says after another boat is lowered with women, children and some crew members. "Mrs. Mellark must come with us."

"First I want to see my sons get into their own lifeboats," says Mrs. Mellark.

"Where's Peeta?" I ask again, this time more forcefully, because I'm starting to get restless. At least I need to know he's safe before I board a lifeboat.

No one can answer and I can see the worry in their eyes as well. I hear a man inform Mr. Mellark that men are to be taken off on the port side. The starboard side, where we are now, is for women and children. But the Mellarks won't depart while one of them is missing.

At this point Peeta shows up and my heart almost explodes in relief.

"I couldn't find you anywhere," he shouts so that we can listen to him. "They are filling the boats with women and children; I thought that our women were already gone."

"We were all waiting for you," Rye replies. "The boats for men are on the other side. We must get there."

"Mother, stay here with Katniss and Miss Mason and get into the lifeboat," Graham says to his mother. "We'll be here until you depart and then we'll catch ours."

"First I'll see my three sons into their lifeboats," the steely woman replies stubbornly, shaking her head.

They decide to try their luck on the other side of the ship. Mrs. Mellark believes the crew will let her get into a lifeboat there as well, so they'll be all together.

"I'm sorry for not taking proper care of you tonight, Katniss," she apologizes sincerely. "But you'll understand it when you become a mother. I have no worries for you because you're a survivor; my boys need me more."

After I exchange pleasantries with his wife, Mr. Mellark gives me an affectionate hug.

"Good luck, Katniss," he says. "We'll see you later."

"Goodbye, Mr. Mellark."

The oldest sons talk to me as well.

"What will Delly say of all this?" I ask Graham.

"I'll have quite an adventure to tell her," he giggles nervously. "Be safe, Katniss. I'll worry about you all night."

Then Rye approaches me.

"Get into the lifeboat, little sister," he says for my ears only. "And don't you take the chance to sail away from us."

"You won't get rid of me until we arrive in New York," I say loudly. "Don't you forget that I'm a piece of work."

Rye and Graham exchange a stunned glance.

I don't acknowledge Peeta. He's with his family and he'll be alright. He doesn't say anything to me either. The Mellarks seem to argue between themselves, but I don't listen to them. Then they wave goodbye with reassuring smiles and I wave back at them.

At the news that men were to be rescued on the port side, almost all men have left to that side of the ship, leaving the starboard side almost deserted except for a few women and two or three men. I shudder when I don't feel the protection of the Mellarks anymore. It's only Johanna and I now, soon left to care for each other alone.

Something is suddenly wrapped around me and I find it's Peeta putting a blanket around my shoulders.

"What are you still doing here?" I ask.

"You didn't listen to anything I said," he states. "I'll see you get safely into your lifeboat, then I'll go catch mine."

The idea seems dreadful. Peeta took a long time to reach us after going to his cabin; how do I know if he'll reach the boats before this ship sinks? Even though I can't stand to look at him right now, he's still the boy with the bread, the person I owe the most in the world. My debt to Gale could eventually be paid with money, but my debt to the boy with the bread has no monetary value attached. No amount of gold would ever make me feel that we are even. I owe him my life, and I'll be nothing if I let him lose his. Especially because he's risking it to make sure that I'm safe.

"You should have gone with them!" I shout, almost angrily.

In truth, I want to slap him away and throw the blanket to the sea, but I can't say I'm not thankful for the warmth.

He shakes his head dismissively.

"Take this," he says, giving me a stuffed envelope. "All my money is here. Right now it will be safer with you."

"What? Why don't you take it yourself?"

Peeta ignores my question and puts the envelope in the pocket inside my overcoat.

"If for any reason I don't make it, you can pay off your debt and support yourself for a while," he says. "I don't allow you to give this to my family. This money will be yours and no one else's."

I see the lack of hope in his eyes and it makes me shudder. He's the first person I've seen with a pessimistic outlook tonight. When he speaks like this, like his own life matters so little, it angers me. I remember our first night here, when he wished to be taken down with the ship. By the miserable appearance he has tonight, I wonder if he will even try to save himself. I know that a couple of people always end up dying in these accidents. Peeta's mood makes him a strong candidate for that. Even if he tries to save himself, does he stand a chance if he has to dispute a place in the lifeboats before the ship sinks? Having only one leg dramatically lowers his chances as well.

I'll forget Peeta Mellark as soon as we set foot in New York. If he manages to get himself killed, however, I will have failed to repay him and it will always haunt me. His family won't be able to help him tonight; it'll be hard to find them. I realize that it must be the reason why they were arguing. Perhaps he'll spend the rest of the time wandering around, searching for the others when they are already in a lifeboat.

I'm all he has left now. The only way I can repay him is to not let him die, as he didn't let me die when we were children. Or, if he dies, it's only fair that I die as well. So I hold his arm and say:

"I'll follow you wherever you go."

By the corner of my eye I can see Johanna hiding her face in her hands, despaired by my words.

Peeta chuckles nervously. "No, you won't. You'll get into the lifeboat."

"What if things turn sour?"

"Things will turn sour sooner or later," he confirms. "There are too many people here for a safe rescue. The only hope is that the help arrives before the ship sinks."

"And if it doesn't?" I ask.

"Then God save whoever remains on this ship," he replies. "And that's why you'll be in the next lifeboat."

If he's right, then I'm delaying his departure. Perhaps he'll have time to find a lifeboat if I get into one myself.

"All right, I'll go," I say. But I take my time to study his eyes. I see no fight, no urge inside him to save himself, so I remove the bracelet from my wrist, the most tangible memory of my father, and put it in his own arm, hoping that Peeta won't be offended for wearing a woman's bracelet for a night. He knows who gave it to me and he will know what I mean by this.

"This is the most important thing I have," I state. "I'm lending you this so that you give it back to me later," I grab his arms and look into his eyes. "I can't lose this, do you understand?"

"Yes," Peeta replies with bright eyes. "In the last case I'll give it to someone in the lifeboats."

That's not what I wanted him to say. Somewhere behind me I hear two gentlemen remark that there are no boats for men on the port side. I don't know if Peeta and Johanna have heard it too, but the uncertainty of it all unsettles me. Several lifeboats float in the water already, moving slowly, disappearing into the darkness.

Even though I'm sure I hate Peeta, I accept his embrace and cling to him, to the scent of his skin, his warmth and his protection. I don't want to think or feel anything, and I don't want to leave him alone.

That's why almost one hour later, against the crew's offers and my companions' urgings, I keep refusing to get into a lifeboat. Johanna refuses to board one without me either.

"I'll be jobless if I arrive in New York without you," she keeps saying. "Don't make me homeless, please."

We're leaning at this point, so there's no doubt the ship will go down.

"I'll see it that you get into your lifeboat and then I come back," I suggest to Peeta. "Mine is guaranteed."

Peeta shakes his head.

"What exactly is worrying you, Katniss?" he asks.

"I'm afraid that if we get separated we'll never find each other again," I admit.

He chuckles and holds my hand. "But that's exactly what you seemed to want the whole day."

I choose to ignore his remark.

"Do you think we'll find each other again if I go?"

"We will," he promises.

"You're a liar," I snap. "I don't believe a word you say."

Peeta seems taken aback and a little bit hurt, but he doesn't try to deny he's lying.

"You can ask the officers to let you into the boat," I suggest.

"No," he replies. "I still have a sense of dignity."

"You'd better do it or I'll stay here with you."

"Stop that, Katniss, please," Peeta says anxiously. "You've been stalling for a good hour now. You're wasting my time and Miss Mason's time as well."

He's right. There are only two lifeboats left on this side of the ship and I wonder how many are left on the other side. In fact, one of the two is almost full already, with about sixty people inside, only half of them women. Things will be hard if we don't get into it now.

"Katniss, if you don't go now I'll put you there myself," says Peeta, and I remember how he carried me in his arms last night. I didn't stand a chance against his strength.

"All right," I relent. "I'll go."

Peeta follows Johanna and I to say goodbye. There are not many people around where we are, although I can see that other parts of the Titanic are still crowded. Probably there are still many lifeboats to be launched in those places. I realize that Peeta's shoelaces are untied and squat to tie them.

"Leave it," Peeta says. "My other foot won't exactly step on it."

He's trying to be funny. I tie his shoelace so forcefully he winces in pain. A little ache won't damage a grown man like him. I also tie a knot on his trousers next to his stump. "This will make it easier for you to walk," I say.

"The shoe is hurting me badly, Katniss," he complains, but I pretend I can't hear him.

"Stay with me until you can?" I ask him.

"Always," he replies.

I hold his arm with all my strength and rush to the lifeboat after Johanna. Peeta limps after me as I drag him, and his awkward pace calls the attention of the crew. I allow him to kiss me very gently while Johanna crawls into the lifeboat and we hug goodbye, but I don't let go of his hand.

My heart pounds in my ears when I timidly ask the officer in charge:

"Sir, my husband isn't capable of walking to another boat," I point to the place of Peeta's stump. "Can he get into the boat with me?"

The officer looks between Peeta and I, then around us. "Go on," he says. I can't quite believe it at first, but Johanna's voice urges us inside.

"But I –" Peeta looks behind, to the other side of the ship. I know he's thinking about his family, all of whom have probably caught their own lifeboat by now.

"Come in," I say before he can react, and help him into the already full boat, where I sit between him and Johanna.

"Any more ladies?" the officer cries out, looking over the edge of the deck.

No one answers; he repeats the question twice, but apparently there are no women to be found nearby. Then I hear the crew telling a man to jump from the upper deck. The man sits on the edge of what used to be the boat deck and falls safely inside the lifeboat.

"Wait a moment!" someone shouts. "There are two more women."

Both women tumble into the boat after being pushed over the side. They are yet to get up when the crew shouts, "Lower away!"

But, before the order can be obeyed, a couple comes with a baby to the side of the boat. I had seen them before; they always sat at the table next to ours during mealtimes. The father, a handsome young man, hands the baby to me and helps his frail wife get inside.

"There you go, Annie," he says.

To the officers, there's no waiting anymore. Perhaps they think the time is running out, but to me things seem as under control as they can be. As we begin our journey down to the darkness, Annie's husband drops in and is the last passenger to get into the already overcrowded lifeboat.