Chapter 77: Unlikely Kindness and Revelation
A/N: Thanks to a concerned reader, I've decided to avoid anymore dark and descriptive torture. I'm just going to imply it and leave it to the reader's imagination if you want to. My deepest apologies to people who hate this, I guess I wasn't thinking properly of how people would react. I'm sorry and please don't stop reading, there is still a lot more coming. I am especially sorry to Sam Fraser and thank him for pointing this flaw out.
Darkness has been her escape. Rose hasn't felt pain like this before. She truly is in hell and Cal is the devil, her tormentor, taking great pleasure in watching her suffer. Most of her thoughts were of her child, could he or she be able to survive this pain? Was he trying to kill it first? What did he want from her that he hadn't already taken? Between the moments of pain over her baby, she thought of Jack. She has high hopes that he would come to rescue her or she'd wake up and this would all be a dream. She'd be happily married to Jack and they were on their honeymoon. Of course, every time she opens her eyes, she is still in this hell hole of a cellar.
Cal had done many unspeakable things to her, enjoying making her scream out or merely watch her flinch in terror. The man was pure evil, doing what he wanted to her like she was a piece of meat. She tries to block out what happened and it mostly comes back in flashes. Rushes of what happened, a blade held against a candle. a whip, chains… The pain, how much it burned, her screams, the tears in her eyes, how helpless she was to do anything.
When he was done, he had his manservant give her a robe and then tie her against the wall again. Her only escape is unconsciousness, where she felt nothing at all and could dream of Jack holding her tightly. Her hands are bound in front of her this time, which allows her to put her hands on her swollen stomach, which is now scarred and bruised from being in this prison. She keeps praying for God to protect her baby and so far, he'd answered those prayers, she still felt movement inside and when she is alone, she talks to the baby. Tell him or her that she loved them and that she was sorry for what was happening to them. The quiet moments were heavenly and she kept her hopes up that her friends and Jack would find her...
"When we get out of here, I'm going to spoil you rotten," she says quietly. "I can't wait to meet you."
She hears the lock being adjusted. Rose swallows, afraid of what might be on the other side of the door… more sadistic moments of misery… more pain. To her relief, it was only Riptide. While he is not her favourite person to view, he is much better than Cal.
He brought a tray of food to her, even though she was a prisoner, Cal insisted that she remain fed and hydrated… why was unclear because of all the other things he'd been doing to her.
She keeps her eyes down as the man places it in front of her. Rose reaches forward with her bound hands and begins to eat.
"I know that there is a special place in hell for people like you," she hisses, eating a piece of bread. She may not speak her mind to Cal out of fear, but for his manservant, she could be as mean as she wanted. She told him the truth, confront him with what he was allowing to happen. "No moral compass or compassion."
Riptide says nothing, he remains poised and looks away from the prisoner.
"That's what you all are, soulless robots, take command without question."
The butler remains silent.
"Cal never told you what happened to the last manservant, did he?"
The man continues to stare forward.
"The things you do to remain employed. People like you disgust me…"
The silent witness merely turns away from the woman, not wanting to hear anything else.
He shuts the heavy metal door and lets out a very strangled sigh. His hands are shaking violently. He couldn't stand it… He is going mad. He couldn't imagine doing this to a woman, a pregnant woman no less, leaving her so broken and afraid.
Why must this man do this? Pursue this one woman? Why not leave her be? Why report her fiancé to the police? Why break her down like this? Why put her through such pain? There are many other women he could have and yet, he's pursuing this one… holding her prisoner for no real reason except to prove a point… But to whom? Himself?
The manservant still has nightmares, Rose's tortured screams echoing in his mind. He often averted his eyes as Mr. Hockley did what he wanted. It was the pure depravity, a statement of revenge and anger, blurring the line of sanity it seemed, which Riptide felt he was losing himself. His conscience was tearing his mind apart and he often cried alone… he could never forgive himself for what he'd done, which was participating in this entire scheme. He could've gone to the police or perhaps done more to talk Mr. Hockley out of it, but what good would it do now?
After viewing this woman, the manservant felt nothing but sympathy, she didn't deserve any of what was being inflicted upon her and with a child on the way… how traumatic could it be? The only thing he could do was make sure she was well fed and hydrated.
As he locks the cellar door again, his hands will not stop shaking. He wipes a tear from his eye. There's no way she or the unborn child could survive another horrific night. Her body is frail and a bit thinner, weak and scarred. His mind keeps telling him to do something to spare her from any further punishment.
As he walks upstairs to assist in dressing his master for a formal dinner party, his mind thinks of the key in his pocket, weighing him down like an anchor. His guilt-ridden mind slowly formulates a plot of some kind, something that Rose needed to have.
…
Emma and Peter sit at an interrogation table, with Jack handcuffed opposite from them. Stacks and stacks of papers in front of them as they try to build a defensive case.
"I still don't understand how this case is going to go forward," Emma sighs. "There's no leg for it to stand on, it's as flimsy as a house of cards."
"Yet, somehow Cal has managed to get a judge to agree…" Peter sighs.
The two both look at Jack, who is thinner than ever, in prison clothes, and he had very dark circles are under his eyes. He doesn't look like the happy-go-lucky Dawson they knew; the one who was so in love and excited about becoming a father, whose blue eyes lit up with laughter or squinted when he concentrated on his drawings. He is now a man who had the world on his shoulders and wanted more than anything to find his fiancée. He didn't care if he went to prison for the rest of his life, as long as Rose and his baby were safe. He hated that his friends were here instead of out looking for her. He spent many sleepless nights thinking of her, wondering what Cal was doing to her.
"No doubt he bribed him," Emma mutters, she searches through various documents, ones that included the "anonymous" statement.
"What we need to do is prove that there is no case," Peter says.
"Or prove that Jack didn't do it at all."
"The first being hard because Cal is already bringing this to a courtroom and the latter being harder," the male lawyer states. "There's very little evidence to support that. It's our word against Cal's and we can't really testify because we're your lawyers, that's a breach of client trust and considering our relationship with you…"
"Why won't people believe you though?" Jack says, finally speaking after a long bout of silence. "You're both respected individuals. Besides, there are more of us than there is him."
"That is true," Emma says thoughtfully, her mind thinking back to the horrible showdown on the stern. "But it's harder for you to take the stand because most people would think you're just trying to defend your innocence."
"But I am innocent."
"We know that, but a jury doesn't," Peter says. "There's so little evidence. Most of the witnesses are dead and all the proof we have are the scars and memories."
"And that might be why he kidnapped Rose," Emma says, her mind working at full speed. She pulls her hair up out of her face as she thinks. "So, she couldn't speak on your behalf."
Jack clenches his fist at the mention of her name, his ears turn red in anger. "I swear, once I get out of here…"
"Don't say anymore," Peter snaps quickly. "You don't want to incriminate yourself any further."
"WHY IS THERE A FURTHER?!" Jack barks, his hands shaking so hard that the chains of the handcuffs rattle. A nearby guard snaps to attention, ready to react at a moment's notice, but Emma and Peter understand their friend's rage. They too are equally angry, if not more so, but the police were doing nothing to help. Everyone in Father Bill's church, Molly's Women's Rights group, people from Carl's work, the rest of the Whitman family, Mr. Calvert and a very fragile Ruth were banding together to find Rose. The redhead's face is plastered all over the city and many searches are being led. The problem is, it all seemed pointless because they knew where Rose was, they just couldn't prove it. They wanted Mr. Calvert to get involved, but since he was courting Rose's mother, he couldn't be considered a viable witness considering the relationship. "I'M NOT A CRIMINAL, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AND YET I'M IN JAIL WHILE MY WIFE IS IN THE HANDS OF A MANIAC!"
"All right friend," a guard says. "It's time you go back to your cell."
"No, it's fine," Emma says incessantly. "He's just upset."
"I must do what I can to ensure your safety," the large man insists.
"He's not dangerous!" Emma practically growls, but of course, several police officers come into the room to escort Jack back. The young female lawyer, reaches out, wanting to grab her friend's hand, but Peter gives her a tight squeeze, indicating they couldn't. Her eyes fill with tears as Jack is led back to his cell.
She sits back in the chair, heartbroken and feeling helpless. She stares down at the paperwork on the desk. All this still wasn't enough to convince a judge. She begins to think very hard, scratching her nails against the metal table.
"We need to get another lawyer," she says suddenly.
"But why?" Peter asks.
"So we can be subpoenaed and testify in court," she says standing up, gather all the paper. "It might be the only way to provide credible evidence."
"Emma, no one will believe us."
"Two witnesses are better than one. We have to try Peter, we don't have another choice, as long as Cal is bribing the judge, we have to let the truth speak for itself."
Peter gazes into his wife's eyes, he can see the stress and sadness in them. They are both strained and tired from working day and night to free Jack Dawson. He bets that his eyes are equally as overwrought and tense as hers; Emma can likely see the worry written all over his face.
"We have to Peter, if we can prove Cal did those things, then maybe they'll take our own accusations more seriously…"
He swallows. "I hope you're right."
…
"Good evening sir," Riptide says as Caledon enters his bedroom. "How did the dinner party go?"
"Quite well Riptide, I must say. Normally I find them quite boring, but it's nice when you have something to look forward to after…" the dark-haired man smiles.
The servant goes to work on removing his master's clothes, his heart pounding in his chest and his stomach twisting from the comment. He wasn't sure whether this plan will work or not, but he had to try, for the sake of that poor woman down in the cellar.
"How was she today?"
"Same as always sir, angry and rather uncivilized with her language."
"She's always been like that, don't ever take her words as important, I never did," Caledon says as he dresses in more comfortable clothing. He examines himself in the mirror, smiling at what was coming.
Riptide can see the look on the tycoon's face and he swallows a large lump.
"Master Hockley, there are a few things I must attend to before I join you in the cellar, would you mind if you took the key and started without me?"
"Not at all," Cal says.
The manservant begins searching his suit for said object, however, he cannot seem to find it.
"That's odd," he says as casually as he can.
"What's odd?"
"One moment sir," Riptide searches his pockets further. He pretends to become panicked. "Oh dear."
"What have you done Riptide?" Cal says, his voice becoming angry.
"I seem to have misplaced the key sir,"
"YOU WHAT?!"
"I swear to you sir, I had it on me when I brought food to her, but now it's not there."
Cal immediately grabs his manservant and begins rooting through the pockets. The steel tycoon becomes increasingly frantic. His face has gone bright red in anger. "WELL FIND IT THEN!" he shouts. It takes everything in his power not to strike the man across the face.
"Right away sir,"
Riptide immediately begins searching along the ground, walking about the room in search of the important object. He wanders through the first, second and third floor, Cal becoming more impatient with every passing second. He's as red as a tomato and he taps his foot impatiently.
"WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG?!" he barks.
"Retracing one's steps is not always easy sir, especially if you move about the house checking on things like I do."
"Are you sure it's not in the cellar?" Cal growls.
"Quite positive Mr. Hockley, I remember putting it in my pocket."
"I should've made a copy of the key," he hisses. "I'm the owner of a steel corporation. I can make one so easily."
"I am so terribly sorry sir," Riptide says, trying to sound nervous and filled with regret. The regret part is false, but the anxiety is real, knowing exactly how Mr. Hockley tended to react when things did not go his way.
"It's getting late," Cal mutters.
"Please, sir. My deepest apologies, but might I suggest you turn in for the night, I will continue my search, all night if need be and we can do what we must to her tomorrow."
Caledon's face becomes very red, spreading all the way to his ears, but his dark eyes pause for a moment on his servant. The dinner party had been rather exhausting and maybe one night away from his prisoner would not be a bad thing.
"All right," he finally says. "Keep in mind, I will take money out of your pay for this."
"Understood sir, I am very sorry. Now please allow me to help you prepare for bed."
After Cal's door is shut, Riptide makes loud noises as he pretends to look for the key to the cellar. His heart is still pounding but there is a large amount of pressure releasing from his stomach, he's saved Rose and her child from a night of horror. He wasn't sure how long he'd be able to keep the skit going but to spare the woman from the maniacal man's torture, he is willing to take the pay dock. He keeps the noise up for about an hour until he was certain that Mr. Hockley would be asleep and then slips into his own room for the night. For once he was glad that he was all the way across the mansion from his master. He was also pleased that the mansion was so large and vast, that he could keep the façade up for at least a few days. He would secretly still give Rose food, but still keep the key hidden, to save this woman.
…
"Are you coming to bed soon, Emma?" Peter asks. He holds a sleeping Sybil on his shoulder. Emma sits at the kitchen table, sorting through evidence in preparation for hiring the new lawyer; Mr. Jamieson is the best one for the job it seemed.
"I will, I just need to make sure I get the documents from the hospital and the ones from the Carpathia doctor."
"Right, because of the bullet that went into my leg, if we can match it to Cal's gun then we'd have some proof."
"Exactly, we may even be able to get the doctor from the rescue ship to testify."
Peter leans down and kisses his fiancee/wife on the head. He feels so much pride that she was doing so much for her friends, how far she is willing to go. He is concerned about her health, but he knew she was strong and could power through. He knew she would never quit until everything was ready.
"Alright, well I'll see you upstairs. Good night."
"Good night I love you," She says, kissing his lips. She then kisses her baby sister.
She's then alone in the kitchen. The house felt so empty now with both Rose and Jack MIA, it was an empty feeling. Sure people were going in and out of the place all the time with the searches, it was still a shell of what was once a happy place.
Emma busies herself with the records she obtained from the ship's doctor. She read over everything he described Peter's injury. The bullet had been able to be removed almost fully intact, which meant a lot in their favour. However, the gun was likely lost in the sinking. She had to go to a firearms expert for help with that.
She began reading through her own hospital records, something that she thought she might need for insurance reasons. Something catches her eye. She reads the description of the bullet that had been removed from her shoulder. It had been taken out in multiple parts, but the doctor was able to put the pieces together to show what the projectile looked like.
The description was identical to Peter's wounds. Her heart starts racing as her mind kicks into gear. Most guns had a specific bullet that fit them, a calibre, these were the same. She knew that shots were fired that night by the officers to keep the people back, but it wasn't necessarily at people. The only one who was shooting at anyone…
Her heart drops to her stomach. A memory flashes in her mind. A sharp pain hits her shoulder and she goes over the railing of a foundering ship into the icy waters below. She was with two people that night, the ones who were being fired at as they ran back into the sinking ship.
Now it all made sense to her.
"That son of a bitch!"
A/N: Finally Emma knows who shot her