Hide and seek

Rose put Cora on top of her bed and stroked her hand gently through her hair.

"Have you had any food Cora?" Rose asked her whilst taking a spot next to her.

The little girl shook her head and rubbed her dark brown eyes. She was exhausted. A night without any form of sleep took quite a toll on her body. Fighting to keep herself awake, Rose allowed her to fall into a dreamland. And so she did. A sigh escaped her lips and she nestled herself into a foetal position. Rose gently took her blanket and tucked her in. She then stood up and was about to head out once more.

"I am just going to get her something to eat." She told Elizabeth who shook her head heavily.

"I'll go. I don't want her to panic if she wakes up and doesn't see your face."

As she headed back to the first class dining room where all the tables had been set up to provide anyone with a warm meal, she noticed how tired she was herself. It was one in the morning when a steward woke her up about the news of a ship going down. She turned on the light, sat up straight in her bed and looked at him as if he was only a phantom in a dream.

"It's the Titanic, miss. It's going down by the head and is in need of immediate assistance. We're asking you to prepare your room in case we have to board any survivors." Then he left her in her own thoughts. Elizabeth stood up, pushed the curtains aside and stared outside. They were in fact moving through a parade of ice. The water was so calm it almost looked like they were sailing over a mirror with stars shining in its reflection. She could hear a muffling sound coming from outside her door before she took her nightgown out of her closet and wrapped it tightly around her body. It was freezing, even outside of her cabin the air of the North Atlantic current pierced in her bones. Everyone around her who had heard the news and was on their way to the decks looked nothing but confused and at loss for words. It couldn't be true. This was simply impossible. She could hear her father's words echoing through her mind. He had written her a letter months ago to almost beg her to come visit him in France before the new year only to travel back in on this new majestic ship. He had it all planned out because he new the ship wasn't just on ocean liner to take people from one place to the other. It was a place of the representation of the richest people on earth, one more powerful than the other. To Elizabeth it was nothing but a joke, a delusion and a denigration to the real world.

Reading her father's letter over and over again, a laugh escaped her lips and she burned it that same evening in the fireplace. She was happy here on her ranch together with her animals and the peace of the nature she was surrounded by. All she wanted was to be free and how hard she had worked to create that life for her. It could be lonely at times, when there was no one to come visit her in weeks and she started to believe the animals and the trees spoke to her. But then she'd laugh through her tears and know that she'd be lonely any other way.

But her father was never able to fully let her go. Through phone-calls, telegrams and long written letters he tried his hardest to lure her to Paris and come live with him. In the ten years after he mother's death, she had been there not more than five times.

Only, Elizabeth now thought about the grand scheme of things and how easy it could have been her. If she had said yes to his request, perhaps she was the one unconscious in a stranger's bed.

There was almost nothing left of Rose when they pulled her onboard. And as Elizabeth saw her almost collapse onto the ground, she screamed: "Help her, she has fainted!" Two stewards then followed her inside the ship, carrying a lifeless soul in their arms. As they layed her down onto her bed, Elizabeth surely believed she was gone, but the motion of her chest going up and down suggested otherwise.

"Come one, girl." She murmured, "You don't look like no quitter."

Joining the line there was only the sound clattering plates and the cry of widows that distracted the room from total silence. A shadow submerged from behind her shoulder and towered over her like a building. Elizabeth was easy to overlook for she had always been small. It was a man, she could hear it from the groaning.

"If everyone can just shut their mouths and move on, I am starving over here."

Annoyed, Elizabeth turned around, ready to argue with whoever she was standing in front of. As she looked up, a lump formed in her throat and she was able to feel a line of sweat running down her spine. She quickly moved back and took a few steps further, but it was too late. Having already locked eyes with the man he now put his hands on her shoulder and forced his movements to let her face him once more.

"I know you." He said softly but powerful.

"I believe you are mistaken, sir."

"You are Elizabeth Dorrance, Emanuel Dorrance's daughter. We also met three years ago in New York." He was far from wrong. She had indeed met him at a polo match from her aunt who lived in just outside the big city. He was a charming man, she couldn't deny it. Behind his now dirty clothes and unwashed hair, he still beheld a form of pride, a wall which no one was able to break through. He wanted to have control over everything, be the master of his own created universe. However, as his eyes kept burning into her skin, he looked broken and defeated by the whole event.

Elizabeth kept quiet whilst taking hold of two plates. The woman who was serving the food looked at her thoroughly.

"You can't just grab as much as you like, missy." She snarled.

"I am not alone. There is a girl in my room."

"A girl?" Cal took a step towards her, "what does she look like?"

She didn't look at him, but kept staring forward. "Dark brown curls, small. She is six." She quickly said.

Cal sighed deeply. "I am afraid I am in need of your assistance. You might know I am engaged, perhaps your father has told you. Her name is Rose, Rose DeWitt Bukater. She is about five foot six, has long red curly hair, fair skin. We-" he stopped for a moment to collect his thoughts, "We had a little argument last night and I haven't seen her ever since."

"I am sorry, sir, but I haven't seen her."

"How come that I have put every officer on it and no one has seen her. I know she isn't dead. A girl of her position doesn't die among those…other types of people."

"Sir, I have been far too busy taking care of this girl. I need to find her parents." She moved passed him, the hot plates burning her hands. His presence was close behind her.

"Miss Dorrance, at least keep your eyes open!"

Ignoring his call of desperation she fastened his pace until she knew he was far behind her.

"You have to stay inside until we arrive in New York." Elizabeth burst through the door. "Mr. Hockley is turning this whole ship upside down to find you. I saw him. He even spoke to me.

Rose stared at her own feet. She wasn't surprised by his actions, it would've been more surprising if he hadn't taken action at all. She looked at Cora, who was still sleeping peacefully. Elizabeth was somewhat right, but she had a task to complete, and not only for herself. Having told the little girl she was going to search for her parents, it was simply impossible.

She shook her head and whispered: "I can't. I need to find her parents. I need to find Jack."

Elizabeth pulled a chair from behind her desk and took a seat. It was now that Rose could see her full complexion. There was something ethereal about her presence. Her eyes seemed almost transparent, they were so light. She leaned forward, spread her legs slightly and placed her arms on her knees. Her southern accent, her organic materials of clothing made her remind Rose of a cowboy. She looked like the girl, racing through the desert to fight off the bad.

"It won't be long before we arrive. When the stewards have collected everyone's names then you'll know for sure."

"I-" Rose stuttered before breaking down in tears. She only now realized how scared she was and how scared she had been. It was a situation unable to express in words. She was so close to losing everything. Elizabeth took her hand and gently stroked it, calming down the distressed young woman with comforting words.

"Jack isn't really your husband, is he?"

"No." Rose shook her head. "But I wish he was."

"He must be a really special person."

"Yes. He is the most radiant, smart and loving person I've ever known. We met onboard, he helped me in a most ridiculous situation. And from that moment I just knew there was no going back anymore."

"I see. And what about this angel over here?"

"Cora? She was there too. One night her and Jack took over the whole dance floor. Perhaps she was more in love with him than me."

Elizabeth put the food in front of her, asking her to eat, but Rose still felt sick to her stomach. She politely shook her head and placed it on the nightstand beside her. Evening was starting to fall as she saw the sun setting behind the horizon. Her fingers moved over her lips. How strange it felt how, not more than twenty-four hours prior, she made a decision she thought would change her life for the better. As she saw him leaning over the railing of the bow of the ship, she felt nothing but calm. All her doubts, worries and nervousness had simply disappeared. The touch of his lips was still warm on hers, his fingers caressing over every inch of her body. She was happy. She was so extremely happy.

"Were you going to visit your father?" Rose then asked her. Elizabeth shook her head whilst taking a big bite of the mush in front of her. The warmth filled her body despite the taste being horrendous.

"No. We aren't really in touch. I was on my way to Scotland to visit a friend. Her husband has an estate in the Highlands."

"That sounds like a dream," Rose admitted. She had often read stories about Scotland, the culture and its history, but she had never been. Her parents weren't into active holidays. They'd rather spend their time being driven around in a car whilst watching a city and its people from a comfortable distance. Rose had only been to the beach maybe twice in her life. Her mother thought it to be too dirty and the sun would destroy her skin.

"To my father it sounds more like a nightmare. He's always been so desperate to be liked by everyone and it seems nothing but exhausting. Even after I had broken with this life of luxury he still couldn't let me go. 'Lizzy, I have found the perfect match for you, you must visit me.' or 'Lizzy, I bought a new house in the south of France, you must come visit me.'"

It seemed as if Rose was listening to her own misery. "What is it with this desire for freedom," Rose mumbled, "It's like I am in love with it and so do you."

"I am in just so in love with life. You could call me the bride of adventure."

Rose chuckled slightly. She somehow reminded her of Jack. Her carelessness and passion for adventure was inspiring. And so the two women shared details of their similar but also completely different lives. Rose envied Elizabeth for her strength to choose her own happiness so early on in life. Elizabeth envied Rose for being able to hold on for so long. She was fifteen when her mother died and she went to live with an aunt in Oklahoma. Her father thought it to be the right opportunity to cross the ocean in search for his own happiness.

As the sky had become dark, Elizabeth had fallen into a deep sleep herself, leaving Rose in her own thoughts. She was laying in bed, Cora cuddled up close to her chest. It was the best idea to remain put and not show any sign life. But as another day passed, her mind was starting to go mental. The walls had started to come straight at her. Cora was rushing around the room, he mood changing within seconds. She had been taken out by Elizabeth on deck, to the dining room and even back to the cargo hold. The girl was restless and overall confused. She cried for her parents one second, followed by oblivion the next.

"Cora, can you sit down for one second!" They were alone in the cabin, just after the girl had had her lunch.

"My daddy never shouts at me." She crossed her arms and pouted. Rose shot up from the bed once more, and wrapped the same blanket around her hair. Then she took Cora's hand and took her outside. It was surprisingly quiet when she stepped into the corridor. Somehow, she managed to find her way back to the cargo hold and even down there it seemed more serene.

"I don't want to stay here again." Cora protested and clung onto Rose's arm. She kneeled down in front of her and shook her head.

"We are going to look for your parents all right? Like I promised you."

In the far corner of the room, the same stern lady sat behind a sewing machine. As she saw Rose, she immediately stood up and strutted over to them. Rose now noticed that she in fact had a limp.

"Yes?" was all she asked.

"I was wondering, ma'am, when Cora came aboard if she was alone?"

She nodded her head. "She entered the lifeboat with a woman. Apparently her mother, but she unfortunately passed away before they even got here. Buried her at sea or so I've heard."

Rose's heart stopped and she looked down at the girl. She didn't move or say anything. Cora only looked forward, unaware of her surroundings. If her mother had died, the chance of her father's survival was close to zero. Rose thanked the woman for her honesty and wanted to turn around but was stopped in her tracks.

"Does she have a last name?"

"Cartmell, Cora Cartmell."

"Follow me."

They moved up a couple of stairs. Rose managed to keep her hair invisible by wrapping her blanket tight around her face. It felt as if she was being watched out of every corner. Cal was waiting for her somewhere, not accepting the fact that she had died. He wanted evidence before believing, a dead body perhaps. After a short while they entered a small saloon filled with not more than five beds. It was an eery atmosphere. A nurse came up to them and when she saw Cora standing in front of her, a smile appeared on her face. She asked her to follow her up to the second bed. There he was, Cora's father sitting up straight. His arms placed next to his body. Rose stared at him and raised an eyebrow when inspecting his medical state.

"Daddy!" Cora yelled triumphantly and raced over to him. His face dropped, as if he had seen a ghost, then he started to cry. She jumped onto the bed and crawled next to him, close to his body.

"Oh my darling," He cried out loud, "my beautiful girl." As he saw Rose approach them, he held out his hand. She took it and he thanked her over and over again. Rose's gut told her something, a sense that not all was right. Mr. Cartmell looked away before he started to cough horrendously. He put a napkin to his mouth, the remains that was left on it gave it all away.

"I'll give this little missy something to drink." The nurse interfered. It took the girl a while to march along, scared to be torn from her family once more. As Rose was now alone with him, he dared to speak the truth.

"You don't know how grateful I am, miss. To see that my daughter is in good hands."

"Is it bad, sir?" She had heard of pneumonia so often, but had never seen it so up close. There was barely anything left of him.

Mr. Cartmell took a deep breath before revealing the truth. "I don't think I'll make it before we arrive. But can I ask you something?"

"Of course." She nodded her head.

"Will you please make sure my Cora stays safe? With us gone she will be all alone and I can't bear the thought of it. Will you promise me that, miss?"

It was not long after their conversation he left the world in a peaceful state, knowing that his daughter was being taken care of. Rose had promised him she'd never let her out of her sight. It was a great responsibility, a challenge like no other. They were at the start of a new road, a road that now seemed endless and full of obstacles. As the two headed back to Elizabeth, Cora pulled Rose's sleeve gently.

"Are we going to look for uncle Jack now?"