Safe Travels

Marcie looked out through the cracks of the crate she found herself in, breath coming in short pants. Her fingers were numb from the cold, the cargo bay a cool temperature to keep the extra food good, but she waited for a chance to leave her safe haven. The people around the crates were finishing the last of the cargo count and left, the lights turning off overhead and leaving only a deafening silence.

There was movement from the other side of the room, muttering and cursing reaching her from where she was crouched over some towels and extra blankets.

"Marcie?"

"Charles, I'm here," she said, baning her hand against the side of the crate.

A body moved through the boxes, getting closer to her. She waited some more, her trousers tight against her legs, her hat balled up in the corner where she threw when she woke up.

The top of her crate was yanked open, a sullen face peeking over the edge into the darkness. Marcie looked up, waving at Charles, finally straightening up from her crouch.

"We made it!" Charles said, smiling brightly, reaching in to grab her hand and pull her out. She quickly grabbed her hat, slamming it on her head, her curls bouncing with the movement.

"I know, I can't believe it." She sighed, looking over the room, a car in the far corner and instruments still in their cases. "New York City, here we come!"

They made their way out of the cargo bay, sneaking through the halls until they got to the upper decks.

They leaned against the railings, looking out over the ocean, feeling the sea breeze against their faces. People crowded around them, waving out towards the people on the docks, their cheers loud in their ears. A small body came forward on the docks, waving frantically, getting Marcie's attention.

"Mark! Goodbye!" She waved at Mark, waving her hands in the air. She blew him a kiss, tears streaking down her cheeks. "Behave for mother, I'll write to you when I settle down!"

"Marice! Please be safe!" her mother yelled from behind her brother, her hands on his shoulders.

Marcie nodded, no words coming forward, a lump forming in her throat. Charles crossed his arms over the railing, smiling softly in the fading sunlight. The maiden voyage of the Titanic started, bringing them, and every other passenger on board, closer to their dreams.

Later that night, they found themselves looking for some place to sleep, finding an empty room in the lower decks. Luckily, there were two beds. Marcie took the bed closer to the window, even though there wasn't anything to look at but water, but she still likes the window. Charles took the bed near the door, sitting down and relaxing against the wall.

"We need to have a good story, and find some clothes for you, since, um you're dressed that way," he said, crossing his feet at the ankles.

"I guess I could look through some of the boxes in the bay, there has to be some dresses that someone wouldn't miss." Marcie nodded, laying down and looking up at the ceiling. "I'll go down in a little while."

Charles nodded, getting up and heading for the door, creaking it open and looking out into the hall.

There were kids running through the halls, their little feet carrying them from one end to the next. People were standing in the halls, the excitement noticeable. The movement of the ship, the rocking was not as noticable.

Marcie came up behind him, looking over his shoulder. She giggled, ducking into the hall and turning on her heel, looking at him still in the doorway. "Let's go explore." The kids went around her, almost tripping over in the process.

"Sorry, sir!"

"We need to find you some clothes, because that’s going to happen often."

"It’s not my fault my hair doesn't grow more." They both went down the hall, Charles making sure that the door was closed, their footsteps echoing across the metal hallways.

The cargo bay doors were closed and locked, a silver deadbolt in their faces. Charles twisted his mouth to the side, crossing his arms. Marcie sighed, looking at the lock and making sure no one was around. "Okay, I have a plan." She reached under her hat and pulled a pin from her curls. She opened the pin and jammed it in the lock, wiggling it around until she felt it click. The lock fell down, landing with a thud on the ground.

Marcie smiled, flicking her head to the side. "I did it!" They got in, heading for the boxes and crates that were clearly labeled 'clothes.'

"You should take the simplest of dresses, something that won't tip the people off."

Marcie nodded, reaching into one box and getting a nice long dress out, the cloth light pink, flowy. "What about this one?"

"We are from the lower deck, Marcie, do you think you'll be wearing that," Charles said, grabbing a bag that has been better days. "I got this for you."

"Oh, Charles, thank you," she said, grabbing the bag and running behind the car in the middle of the room. "I can't believe you did this for me!"

Charles leaned against the wall, his hat in hand, arms crossed over his chest, his vest a dark cotton. Marcie came out, her boots clanking and her dress flowing around her ankles. The blouse she had on was a cream color, matching the skirt of her dress. She let her curls hang over her shoulders and she found a ribbon to tie around her head to hold her flyaways.

"You look amazing." He got up from his lean, placing his hat on his head and grabbing her by her hands, keeping her at arm’s length. "Come on, let’s go see what they have for food."

They left the bay, Marice turning to lock the door behind them. They made their way up the stairs, ears peeled for the noise of the staff. When they made it to the dining hall, they were quickly pulled into the line for the food, the clanking of silverware grabbing their attention.

Marcie turned to the menu, seeing oatmeal as the main dish. She sighed but went to get a plate, finding an empty table on the far side of the room. She waited for Charles to sit down with her, her elbows on the table and her head in the palm of her hands.

"I thought they would serve good food here," Charles said, sitting down beside. "This is what I had last week at the bar."

"I know."

They ate in silence, the chatter of everyone around them filling the void that they felt.

When they made it back to their room, they heard noise from the other side of the hallway. They turned the corner and saw two people, a blonde man and redhead talking and giggling with each other. The both of them looked like they were coming back from a night of dancing.

"Let's go, leave them to their night." Marcie turned to walk back to their room, pulling Charles along with her. "I hope Mark is doing fine, without me, he has to pick up the slack," she said, sitting down on her bed and taking her boots off.

Charles placed his hat and vest on a hanger in the closet, toeing his shoes off. "I'm sure he's fine, besides by the time we settle down in New York, we'll have enough money to be able to send to them.”

Marcie nodded. “You’re right.” They went to bed, the sound of the boat luring them to a restless night.

They woke up the next morning and made their way to the upper decks, feeling the breeze against their faces.

“We’re so much closer to our dreams.” Marcie smiled into the sun. There were kids running around the decks, playing tag and laughing.

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” Charles looked out at the ocean, the rippling waters underneath the ship getting his attention. “When we set foot in New York, I’ll finally stop talking bad about it.”

Marcie laughed, walking away from the railing and almost knocking into another woman. “Oh, so sorry,” the lady said, smoothing her dress out. “I did not see where I was going.”

“Rose!” Marcie looked behind herself, watching as a blonde haired man came running up to them. “We have to go.”

Rose nodded and smiled at Marcie. “Again, sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Charles came walking up to her, and they both watched as the other two ran off, the man pulling Rose by her hand. “She is dressed too well to be with him.”

“I’m sure.”

They shrugged and walked down the deck, dodging kids and adults.

A few days later found them running across the same deck, the sounds of crashing being heard throughout the ship. There were blocks of ice falling onto the decks. The announcements rang from the speakers, women and children first to board the long boats.

“Marcie, you have to go!” Charles said, pushing her to get in the raft, the life vest she had on crinkling in the night. Everyone around them said goodbyes. The children were crying, huddled in the middle of the rafts.

“Charles, please I don’t want to leave you!”

“You have to!” The wind was picking up, eating all the words that passed between them. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind.”

Marcie held on to his hand for as long as possible, until she had to strain and then she let go, sitting down in between two old women, them comforting her as she sobbed.

For hours they were left to drift through the ocean, the wreck of the ship slowly sinking in the depths of the water. Marcie stared out at the other rafts, hoping to find Charles, hands together to bring warmth. There were kids crying softly for their parents.

“Hey! There’s some light!” The person who spoke stood up, the raft he was on dangerously dipping into the water. “Help!”

Marcie looked at where he was screaming at and sure enough there were boats heading towards where they were. Marcie started to scream, getting the other ladies around her to join her as she yelled. The kids stopped crying briefly to watch the boats as they headed for them.

One by one everyone got off their rafts and onto a boat, thick blankets wrapped around their bodies.

Marcie was on one of the first boats to get to shore. As they landed there were attendants in every corner of the docks. As she was ushered across the dock, she stopped one for them.

“Did you find a guy named Charles?”

The person she stopped shook their head, walking away from her.

She stood there, arms wrapped around her body. She looked out at the ocean, eyes peeled for the other boats, hoping beyond hope that Charles was able to get off before the ship sank.