[02] Sinking Ship!

[Victoria]

Splashing echoed, one after the other, as the boats lowered down into the ocean. People filled the crafts, nearly full, but a few more bodies could have fit in. The boats rocked, nearly tipped, but stayed afloat with their passengers. Victoria watched from above, she gripped the rail tightly, clinging to the Titanic for dear life. How long until I fall? How long until we all fall? She questioned herself, the world was beginning to tilt and the deck was beginning to grow slippery in the cold night. People, unfortunate men and women, gripped to whatever piece of metal they could. The giant ship began to sink, being pulled under by invisible godly hands, the pure power of the water sucked it further and further into the depth of the ocean. Real or not, it was freighting. She pushed past crying victims, and held on to the stern of the boat, looking down helplessly.

“This isn’t real…” she said, although her teeth chattered and her fingers felt numb. The dress had been a poor design, giving her little warmth. “This…is just a game.” She watched frantically, down at the swirling water taking over the ship, and then at those around her. Did they make it out? Are they here, or out there? She could see the lifeboats, small lights lit their passage, and the survivors watched the destruction enfold before their eyes. She could only wonder what death in the event would truly mean, she did not want to die. “I-I’m not ready…to die.” She gritted her teeth, and looked at the person next to her, clinging with equal determination.

“None of us a-are…” He was just a boy, younger than her, but he looked at her with his stricken eyes. “W-when the ship is vertical, c-climb up.” He nodded with his head to the railing. She looked at the bars and then down at the water. It wouldn’t be long before that moment, as people were already beginning to slide down feebly against the diagonal deck. “You have to s-swim, it will be hard, b-but you have to.” He nodded, shaking from the cold. Victoria nodded, understanding his words; she would have to fight in a different manner here. She watched the young man, and noticed an equally horrified young woman clinging close to him and holding on for dear life. She turned away, and looked towards the dark sky in her last moments.

You couldn’t give me a monster to kill, or a tournament to win,[i] she asked to herself, [i]this is a fight that I have no way of knowing how to win. She blew into her hands, and nearly fell as the ship shuddered violently. She grabbed the cold metal and closed her eyes tightly. I haven’t done enough in my life, I’ve only just begun. She wanted to scream, but the cold air sucked the energy out of her. I have to get out of here and beat this guy to a pulp, I’m not about to lose, not yet. She opened her eyes, feeling a new surge of strength, and adrenalin. Victoria pulled herself through the metallic railing and perched on top of it. “Bring it on, Gamer! I’ll go down with the ship, but that doesn’t mean I’ll die, you just watch and see. You messed with the wrong woman!” She shouted, and a few weary faces looked at her. “I’m gonna r-ride this mother fucker down, I’m done playing games!” She held the bars, her knees bent, and her eyes wild like fire.

The lights had gone out, now, and the people cried and shouted. Their death awaited them down below, and the darkness only added fear to the people. Victoria awaited the moment, not the moment of death, but the moment where she would actually fight for her life. She would embrace the frozen water with all of her vigor, swim with all of her energy, and find a way to survive beyond that. She had the ability to live through life-threatening wounds, this would be no exception.