April 15, 1912
2:07am
When they finally reached the top deck, the entire ship was in mayhem. Hundreds of people were swarming, looking for a boat, a task that was fruitless. There were two boats floating upside down in the water, with men and women trying to balance on top, and the stern was high in the air as the bow of the ship, along with the front half, were submerged in the water.
The Titanic was sinking fast, and most of the people onboard would be taken down with it.
Max knew that if they had a fighting chance, they needed to stay on the boat as long as possible.
He took Anna Marie by the hand and made his way towards the stern, fighting the crowds of people screaming and fighting for the best possible chance of survival.
They climbed over the railing, making their way to the well deck as the ship began to tilt further, the stern rising up higher in the air as the ship was rapidly going down.
He didn't let go of her hand, refusing to let her go at all. This was the only chance they had to survive, if at all.
He could see the fear in her eyes, but she didn't let go of him. Where he led, she followed, even if it meant they wouldn't make it through the night.
They got to the railing of the stern, a steep walk due to the angle of the ship, and he wrapped one arm around the railing, the other around her waist.
She clung to him, and looked around at the sheer number of people who were holding on for dear life, trying not to look as some fell into the water below.
And then….it dawned on her.
"Max."
He looked down at her, and she smiled. "This is where we first met…."
He didn't say a word, he just kissed her, conveying all the love he could muster in that moment, even as they feared the worst.
If we die tonight, I die knowing I found the love of my life.
The ship was tilting further, making standing on the deck almost impossible. Max adjusted Anna Marie to stand between him and the rail, and they both hung on for dear life.
On a boat not far away, Kurt and Ororo watched as the ship began going vertical, both praying that Max and Anna Marie were alive, praying they had somehow made it off the ship, just…praying.
Ororo took Kurt's hand and she squeezed it, conveying what words couldn't say, the both of them watching as the ship that had been called unsinkable was now halfway in the water.
The ship was rising steadily, Max trying to keep Anna Marie from falling, knowing if they fell from this high up, it would likely be an instant death, albeit a painful one.
Suddenly, the ship shook, as it split in two, and the stern dropped rapidly back into the water, everyone screaming and holding on. Once the back half of the ship bottomed out, it began its ascension back up again, following the bow into the ocean once more. Rapidly it rose, and Max knew they needed to move.
"Climb! Get on top of the rail!" He commanded, and they climbed on the back of the rail, just as the ship went completely vertical, suspended in mid-air. The cold air allowed them to see their breath, and Max squeezed her hand, the only thing he could do in this moment.
The stern half of the ship began to sink into the ocean, the water submerging it completely.
"The ship is going to pull us under. When I say, take a deep breath." He spoke to her as calmly as possible, and she nodded, squeezing his hand for dear life.
"Kick for the surface, and keep kicking. Do not let go of my hand." He instructed as they got closer to the water's surface.
"We're going to make it, Anna Marie. Trust me."
"Ah trust you."
The ship was almost completely submerged, and the sound of the waves was almost too loud.
"Ready….now!" Max called out.
She took a deep breath, just as the Titanic became submerged, going into the icy cold water, taking them down with it.
The water was so cold that it felt like thousands of tiny needles all over her skin. Her lungs began to burn as they kicked off, trying to get away from the current taking the ship down.
She broke the surface, and gasped for air, the cold water almost painful. She opened her eyes, the screams and cries of all those who ended up in the water all around her.
She searched for Max, looking around in a panic. "Max!" She called out for him, but couldn't see him.
"Max!"
"Anna Marie!" She heard his voice not far from her, and turned to see him swimming towards her, taking her hand.
"Max!" She clung to him, and he began swimming her away from the crowd.
"Swim, schatzi. I need you to swim."
They swam through the water, until they came across what looked like a wooden door that had ended up in the water.
Max got Anna Marie onto the door, and carefully, oh so carefully, managed to climb on with her, the water around them as he held onto her, the sound of a whistle trying, without much luck, to draw the attention of the boats that were carrying survivors.
The air and the water were both cold, and he wondered how long they could hold out, and if help would come.