Chapter 79: Read All About It

Rose is curled up in a ball, holding the weight of her unborn child with her knees as her hands are bound behind her. Her red, curly hair lays sprawled out like a fan on the cold concrete floor. She only has a cotton robe that Cal had provided for her for any form of warmth. She lets her tears fall into her hair as she lays on the cold floor.

What had she done to warrant this type of treatment? All she wanted was to be free from Cal once and for all... now she is in his clutches again, this time it seems indefinite… or at least that's what Cal says while he's torturing her. He tells her that he will make sure that Jack is never released from prison and her "pathetic" friends will never find her. They weren't even looking for her, she was told. He boasts about how when the search for her dies down, they will leave the country, perhaps on another ship and travel far away from where no one would recognize her and they could finally be married, just as they were always "meant" to do. Either that, or he'd arrange an accident at sea, where she really could "go down with a ship" and Rose DeWitt Bukater would truly be dead.

The threats make her heart pound and she cries continuously, which makes Cal's torture of her even more enjoyable to him. She's doing her best to remain strong, or at least trying to do so. When given the chances to speak, Rose refuses to denounce Jack or anyone else and she outwardly insults him, despite the pain that it will bring her in the end. She needs to keep that fire going, the one that has burned inside her for so long now… the one that made her free from society and Cal's control in the first place.

She hears the door open at the end of the hall, she winces, expecting it to be Cal, but it's Riptide. He comes bearing another tray of food for her. His shadow is cast along the concrete wall as he turns on the single bulb. She turns her eyes away from him as he walks closer to her. He places the tray down and waits for Rose to make the next move.

She wants to just ignore him, maybe starve herself enough that Cal will have to let her go, but she is carrying another life inside of her, she can't be a martyr while her child is still inside of her. She slowly sits up and the manservant undoes the gag around her mouth. Immediately she licks her lips to moisten them and allow her mouth to recover from being forcibly silenced for so long. She doesn't say anything to him and avoids looking any further. Riptide then loosens the ropes that held her wrists behind her. He gives her enough leeway that she can move them around to the front and actually eat the food given to her.

She notices that there is a bit more food than before as she begins to eat. Her baby thanks her for the extra nourishment. She doubts this is Cal's doing, but it could've been the manservant. Rose has noticed that the silent servant at least had a partial soul. He had allegedly lost the key to the cellar, sparing her at least a day of torture and had actually left her some extra food to last that particular day. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but it seemed as if he was trying to show her some kindness, a sentiment that Cal did not share. At least he wasn't Lovejoy… In some ways, he is worse and others, less. He has a heart and some form of sympathy, but he still participates in Cal's schemes without questioning anything. Perhaps he is trying to make it up to God so he wouldn't be sent to hell after he dies. Maybe he feels sorry for her plight or maybe it is just because of the baby.

Rose knew that the only reason Cal hadn't tortured her to the maximum was that of the baby. Cal may have very few morals, but one of the ones he's maintained is never harming children… at least not the extent he is going with her. He had threatened it, but it seemed unlikely to anyone that he'd go through with the warning. Her thoughts went to when the baby is born… what would happen to him or her? Would Cal let her keep it? Or would he abandon it? Or maybe he'd get someone else to kill it for him? If that happened, Rose would gladly give her life for her child rather than let anyone take its life.

The prisoner and the warden remain silent for a long time, the tension hanging in the air like a thick sheet of fog. However, Riptide has something else for her. He awkwardly places it down next to the food tray and then leaves, locking the cellar door behind him.

Rose is hesitant to pick it up but realizes that it's a newspaper. Several actually. She puts aside her food and picks it up. Reading the date, she can see that she's been down in the filthy cellar for almost a week now. Her heart breaks thinking about how long she's been victimized.

She finds the newspaper that must've come out the day after the wedding.

Arrest at Double Wedding and Runaway Bride

On October 16th, 1912, most guests at the double wedding of Emma and Peter Whitman and Rose and Jack Dawson were in for a shock when two police officers stormed into the church and arrested Jack Dawson on the altar.

"It was horrifying," one guest says, who preferred to remain anonymous. "Both people were just about to kiss when the doors at the back of the church opened and two men of the law came up the aisle. The dream became a nightmare. She (Rose) was visibly upset and even had to be warned away from the police officers so she would not interfere. She even followed the officers out into the parking lot"

Miss Emma Carson is the owner of the Carson Law Company and her fiancé Peter Whitman, who is the head lawyer at the mentioned firm, then demanded to know the charges against their associate. According to one source, it was rape causing pregnancy, abduction or a child, attempted murder, and theft of a valuable. The lawyers reportedly told him not to say anything until they could get there.

However, to add more insult to injury, it is allegedly reported that Rose DeWitt Bukater, former fiancée of millionaire tycoon, Caledon Hockley, has now vanished, last seen crying in the parking lot of the church where her wedding was taking place. The only evidence left behind was a torn veil and a bejewelled comb. No one saw what happened to the bride, some speculate that she may have suffered a form of insanity and ran off into the night. Perhaps unable to cope with the arrest of her formerly future husband. Others allege that she was arrested as well, but this has turned out to be false.

Margret Brown, the well-known socialite, was also present at the ceremony refused to say anything at this time as well as Holly Gregson, sister to Peter Whitman.

Police are asking for the public's help in finding more evidence to build their case and if you have seen Rose DeWitt Bukater to please contact the local authorities immediately.

Rose has tears in her eyes as she wants to crumple the paper up and throw it aside. She hadn't run away, she'd never abandon Jack like that… She wasn't insane, she'd been kidnapped. It also made her sick to think that even though she'd dumped Cal, she was still being associated with him. She couldn't rid herself of him no matter how hard she tries.

She tosses the paper aside and picks up the next one.

The headline reads: Lawyers Proclaim Dawson Innocent of Charges

After his dramatic arrest at his own shotgun wedding, Jack Dawson, a survivor of the Titanic disaster now sits in a prison cell, waiting to be charged with his alleged crimes. He has been denied bail. The police insist that he must be kept behind bars as he might be a danger to society.

His lawyers and friends, Peter Whitman and Emma Carson, insist that all the charges are false; that "He (Jack) is being framed, Jack is not a danger to anyone and all these accusations are fabrications. The crimes he is charged with were committed, but not by him" The two lawyers claim they have an idea of who reported him and who really did the crimes but refuse to say so for reporters and for the sake of their client. However, they will say that the real perpetrator is a high standing member of society.

"None of these charges will stick," Miss Carson claims, daughter and inheritor Andrew Carson's Law firm. "The rape charge is absolute nonsense."

However, the only person who can shed light on the said charge is the man's fiancée, Rose DeWitt Bukater, who allegedly publicly dumped Caledon Hockley, the steel tycoon, and ran off with this new man. She is also reportedly carrying the accused's baby. She has yet to show her face in public. Sources say she is avoiding the limelight for the sake of the child and her life...

Rose feels a little relief after reading the full story, knowing that Peter and Emma were doing their best to free Jack. She knew they were both good lawyers and that they would succeed. She is still angry that he's being called a rapist. Any relations she had with Jack were completely consensual, and it ended up creating new life. The only problem was, she wasn't there to say so herself.

The next headline reads: Lawyers Claim Bride's Kidnapping

Lawyers for the accused Jack Dawson now claim that his fiancée and mother of his bastard child, Rose DeWitt Bukater has been kidnapped.

"She would never abandon Jack," Emma Carson, who is close friends with the missing bride. "She's a good person and would not run off like this."

Her own fiancé agrees as well as other family members, including Margret Brown, wealthy socialite and Ruth DeWitt Bukater, the bride's mother and former wealthy heiress.

"My daughter would not run off like this," said Mrs. DeWitt Bukater. "She loves Mr. Dawson with all her heart and would never simply abandon him."

Several sources report that the couple met on Titanic, survived the sinking together, and were planning to settle down with their child after the wedding.

How a young woman of society fell for a lowly man of the streets…

She stops reading, knowing the rest of the story would be speculation on her and Jack's affair. She feels happier and more hopeful knowing that Emma and Peter are looking for her. They didn't believe anything the papers said and they knew that Cal had probably abducted her, they just couldn't prove it. She understood why they hadn't stormed his house yet. There was the threat of Sybil and Rose's own safety that came into play. She knew that Cal would use her as a human shield and force the couple to leave. Also, Cal was a respected member of society and no one would believe that he'd be capable of all these terrible things… but they all knew the truth.

The next headline: Mother Pleas for Daughter's Safe Return

Rose tears up as she reads the heartfelt speech her mother gave to the paper, pleading for the kidnapper to release her unharmed.

"She and I might not have always agreed completely, but she is my daughter, my greatest achievement in life. I don't care what others may think of her as being pregnant and everything, I love her and want her home. She loved everybody with her heart and soul and she does not deserve the fate she's been given. She is in a delicate state and deserves to see her loving fiancé come home free. I ask that anyone who has seen her to please call the police or for the said abductor to please return her home safely."

Rose is shocked to see that her mother has even offered a reward for her daughter's safe return. This proved to the red-head without a shadow of a doubt that her mother truly loves her and wants her home. She is concerned for her daughter's safety and wants her to get married and be truly happy. It is nice to see that her mother accepted her for who she truly is and didn't care what anyone else thought of them or their family.

The final headline, today's paper reads: Friends and Family Begin Searches

The missing woman in the article reads about how pretty much everyone she knew, including Wendy and Molly Brown, were gathering people to begin searching for her. She reads that they will do anything to bring her and her child home. She cries happily and puts her hand on her stomach; never had she felt so loved or cared for, despite her current circumstances. She now knew she could never believe Cal's lies that no one is searching for her; her family would spend the rest of their lives looking for her if it meant she was brought home safe. She tosses the paper to the side and smiles contently to herself, happy that Riptide had given her some hope, a shining light in a world so dark right now.

She hears the cellar door open on the other end of the room. She sees Cal stick his head in. Her heart begins to pound as he approaches her.

"What are you smiling about?" he growls, taking her face roughly in his hands. "I'm going to wipe that grin off your face. String her up Riptide!"

Despite what is coming, Rose keeps the smile on her face, knowing she could take whatever was coming her way.