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Chapter 15: The Back-Up Route

The pain of mourns continues from the alleyway corridor as the group stood or laid down on the other side of Broadway. An innocent Cheetah-girl suddenly passed away. Two young beagles sobbed at her quiet body. They are not alone, though; Jett and Stephanie remained with them for support. The group were quieter and listening to their broken hearts. Nothing can’t be fixed…

Carolyn and Sylvester suddenly heard their son singing from the alleyway.

“When you’re locked, and nothing can’t free your heart…” It was one of Jett’s biggest, and last hits before breaking up the band; Locked Heart. It’s a quiet, serene song that made a lot of fans in a concert to burst into tears with cellphones lighting up the audience at the stage. “When you break free and you see the morning after…”

“This is the first time I hear him singing in person,” Sylvester said. Excluding the times he had heard him singing in the shower.

“Jett would be happy if you came to one of his concerts,” Carolyn said.

“I was a busy man, taking care of my family for support.”

The song ended, the sobs of Pricilla and Clover ceased. Soon, her body was covered up with a sheet of towel over her. It was best to leave her remains at peace, but Stephanie convinced Pricilla and Clover to take anything she’s wearing to give them to her family. All they took was her jeweled bracelet that was a gift from her grandmother on her left forearm. Clover has pockets, so she kept it in safe keeping. Pricilla all could do was thank Stephanie for the suggestion.

The four made back to the whole group at Broadway. In quiet.

The whole party had started to show their ordeal as their clothes got dirtier and very uncomfortable. The beastmen’s fur is soaked of dirty and murky water, the smell of musk is noticeable in the humans’ nostrils. Kale, however, is used to it, but not for the other four. Everyone, in general, is a mess, and it gets, even more, messier when they get out of the ship.

With things now aside, Snowdon and Kershaw brought flashlights from the firefighting facility. They were handed to the humans who lacked nocturnal visions. Some extras were given to Joshua Parkinson, Zoey Maxwell, and Miss Blake. Seeing this, Ryder said to Snowdon. “Hey, Snowdon. Do you think we should split up to find anything useful like food and supplies?”

“Sure.” He said and talks at the group. “For the time being, we should gather some supplies. We could take a short break while Kershaw and I look for a way out.”

“You said there’s another hatch up from the stern, right?” Jennings remembers.

“Yes, let’s hope for that. Once there, we head all the way to the bow engine room thrusters. This means we’ll be walking through the center engine room.” Snowdon said and recollecting what it had said on the deck plans. The hatch in question leads to the water-waste treatment and desalting water treatment.

“Does anyone know what time it is?” Lani asked.

“It’s uh…” Rico caught a light a few moments before his cellphone died. “Five…something in the morning–the phone just died.”

“Five AM?” Killian surprised. “And we’re still here hanging!”

“We’ll probably rendezvous with the sun once we’re out,” Zoey said.

“Or dead by morning,” Portia said with crossed arms.

“We’re still floating,” Sylvester said. “She’s holding up well.”

“Let’s make this quick, everyone,” Snowdon said. “Gather some things or stay here for the time being and then we’re moving to the stern.”

“Have some feelings, officer.” Portia started. “Can’t you see a poor young girl just died?”

“We don’t have time to mourn, Miss.” The bear-man said. “It’s up to us what to make up this situation. And better give some respect to the young beagles.” With great serious and scolding voice, Portia didn’t say anything more.

The group either decided to stay put and wait until Officer Snowdon finds the hopefully said hatch that leads up to the next level. While few others took the opportunity to break up and wander around through Broadway’s alleyways for anything for their needs. Food or some snacks and a change of clothes.

Lani Kawena took the advantage to get some pairs of pants. Still wearing Jennings’ formal blazer that covers her whole torso, she’s been barefoot with Kacy’s shoes. She asked Jennings to help her to find some pants.

“I think this one will fit you,” Jennings said. He had almost shamefully undressed a male dead corpse. “It’s for men’s, but it’ll fit you.”

“Thank you, Sid.” Jennings hands over the pants and Lani hides in a corner to put them on. They are still a little large, though. The belt included adjusted her thighs. “It’s not easy to look pretty in a time like this.”

Jennings waited when saw little Sasha walking through the same alleyway. “Is there a restroom in here?”

Jennings blink at the young shepherd’s question. “I don’t think they’re working at this condition, young man.”

“But I want to pee really bad!” Sasha whined a bit.

“Okay! Go over there at that corner.” Just in time, Lani got out of the corner where she had dressed. “Don’t take too long, and where’s your father?”

“He’s with the others. He knows I went in here where you did. I thought you two went for the restrooms.” Sasha marches towards the alley corridor with doors on both sides and started to do his little business.

At main Broadway on deck zero, the group sat around on the uncomfortable ceiling-floor with pipes and light fixtures giving the precious power to back up for survival. Snowdon and Kershaw went on ahead for a clear up path to move on faster and with little distraction from a few complaining survivors.

Carolyn Rycroft watches the two quiet beagles a few feet apart. They haven’t spoken too much. She knows both have their right to mourn, but for her, they are like lost orphans in the Great Depression. She turned at her daughter as she’s the closest person to have met them during the cruise. “Stephanie, why don’t you talk to Clover. I think she needs little support.” Her mother said.

“I guess I could try, but I’m concerned about them… Well, you know, they don’t seem to get along well.”

“At least try. They soon could reconcile.”

“Alright, I’ll talk to her.”

Stephanie sat next to the quieted Clover hugging her legs up close with her knees under her chin. The sudden death of Megan Swift, who was swimming behind her, left her speechless. She cannot do anything at all. Can she blame bystander syndrome? No, she doesn’t know the first thing about CPR or to properly perform it. Rycroft did his best, but she received a mortal wound on her head. She lost a lot of blood or drowned at the spot.

Stephanie spoke to her, “You okay, Clover?” One hand on her shoulder.

Clover nodded quietly. “This is it then; we’re all gonna die here.” She softly spoke.

“Yet…” The tiger-girl remarked. “Do me a favor. I want you to talk to Pricilla. The least you can do is reconcile the both of you. I don’t know what has gotten both of you so distant from each other, but better now than later, you should both just talk, you know.”

Clover turned at her and she knew there was no reason to resist or make up some excuse like being busy or she cannot go like always she does on her living with her uncles ever since her parents were arrested.

Yes, arrested. Poor mismanagement and or possibly corruption scandal and unbelievable unpaid debts. Clover’s family in Newport, Rhode Island is among the wealthiest in the community. The daughter of a wealthy country club owner and the niece of a yachtsman of the annual regatta competitions. When she was six, authorities came to her house and took both her parents and they also lost their custody of their only daughter. Turns out, she later learned that her deceased grandfather was the one all along to hold up these debts ever since he claimed the land before the country club was built. What made this worse, he gave his dangerous inheritance to her father after his death. And now that Mr. Forrest was the successor of the country club, and the moment he started his Mayor campaign, the controversy of his background emerged. Possibly a whistleblower but whatever the case of this complicated situation, it destroyed what innocent Clover Forrest had loved.

Her mother and father were charged for economy mismanagement due to the unexpected debt left by the predecessor. They struggled without saying a word to anyone, but too late for the authorities and the bank to take it away…

With matters worse on their hands and losing her custody, she at least was safely taken by her uncles, Pricilla’s parents. Her whole life had changed for good. Her mother though, she had recently left from jail after finishing her sentences, her father is still three more years to fulfill.

Aside from all of this, Pricilla was ten when it all happened, and she never understood about it when asking “when will Clover be back with Mom and Dad?”. Not that she had enough of her or could not get along well. The young beagles grew up together since childhood before Clover was taken in. You could say they are like sisters at first glance despite that they are cousins. As teenagers, they have become different under their social status. Pricilla at sixteen, she wanted to hang out with her friends and focusing more on her status at high school, Queen B, possibly. Because of her new-found selfish behavior that was exposed in front of Clover in her preteen years, she (Clover) felt she was useless to her and later developed her own ego; she was cold, distant, and created her own circle that only Pricilla could not set a step on that territory because she never shared it with her. She did settle with new friends in middle school and currently in high school today. She never talked about her parents except for her therapist. The time her mother was freed was three days before she flew from Rhode Island to Los Angeles. Three. Painful. Days… of saying no to her cousin for a lousy Hawaiian cruise because her crush was going on it!

She really wanted to spend the New Year’s Eve in Rhode Island with her freed mother. Pricilla, in all her selfish role, never talked to her until now just for this; the cruise. In all honesty, despite the rising estranged conflict between them, a young 21-year-old college student tried at full heart to unite them as a family. He intervened and now involved, but now he’s gone…

But Clover and Pricilla still remembered what Isaac Coates said; “I want you two to stick together. No matter what.” He did say that with a very serious and angry tone at both of them. And it was, what sounded like a promise, or, a will.

Eventually, Clover nodded at Stephanie and stand up to meet up to her. She was already looking isolated from the rest of the group.

The tigress hoped for the best and scoot back next to her mother and Gwen Kershaw and Red Westwood. Her mother asked, “How is she?”

“Is distraught the right word?” Stephanie said. “I don’t know what to think of them. Clover hadn’t talked about her cousin when we met.”

“It’s best to leave them some space. That poor young cheetah.” The tigress looks upon her daughter’s eyes. “We must better stick together, understood? We’re getting closer to danger and…”

“Okay, mom, but it doesn’t help the fact that we’re trapped inside the ship.”

Red tagged along and states, “Everywhere is dangerous, ma’am. We know we must remain together but is not easy when the boat hurdles its way down to the bottom. God, we’re still alive somehow in this mess.”

“I hope Dad doesn’t take long,” Gwen whispered to herself.

Ryder and Kale went out from the main group and see anything they can find. The two wandered not too far where Snowdon and Kershaw went through. They turned to an alleyway and another path for crewmen’s “break room”.

“I still think a flashlight is all I need,” Kale said.

“I know, but at least find some snacks. I’m sure there’s a vending machine somewhere.”

“I don’t think there is one in here.”

“Nonsense, this is the crew members’ area. There’s this place where the crew hangout when they are taking a break.”

“You mean the recreational room?”

“Yeah, that’s it! I heard the beer there is much cheap than the passengers’.”

“Oh! There’s one!” Stopping in their tracks, a busted open vending machine spilled its goods out the open. From chips to chocolate bars of many familiar or unfamiliar brands from all over the world in one place.

“Awesome! Let’s take everything we can for everyone. Now, let’s see if we can find a soda machine and grab some more bottles of water.” Said Ryder.

“I think is that one stuck on the ‘ceiling’ behind it.” Kale pointed. The other machine with a branded soda company has its front plastic cover cracked open wide, a few bottles of drinks have been lying on the ‘floor’. As mentioned by Kale, it’s still attached on the former floor of the deck.

“Good eyes, love!” Ryder patted him on the shoulder. “This didn’t take a lot of time, so let’s get snacking!” The wolf-man was very cheerful that made Kale much calmer in this dire situation.

As requested by Stephanie, Clover sat next to her cousin who was sitting with her knees up closer under her muzzle as she hugs her legs closer. Pricilla made a statement that got Clover to break the silence. “We’re all gonna die down here.”

Clover settles down on a pipe as a seat. She hasn’t looked directly her eyes. It was discouraging from her to say that, though, she made the same statement to Stephanie. She’s just all shocked in this nightmare, earlier they were all parting at the disco nightclub and the next were all now in a survival party that costed the lives of Pricilla’s friends. College students with great futures ahead of them that were cut short. Clover responds, “You may be right, but we don’t know yet.”

Pricilla sniffed and sobs. Taking a breath to speak up. “It’s all my fault! I’m so sorry!”

“Of what?”

Pricilla finally looks at her, both are a mess after swimming through the flooded corridor. “I’m so sorry that I made you come on this trip. I didn’t know your mom was gonna be released from prison and you wanted to stay with her for the new year.”

Clover was speechless. “How did you know?”

“You told Isaac and he told me,” Pricilla said. The only time Clover had a serious conversation with Isaac was, technically yesterday, at noon at the lido deck where the impersonator of Elvis Presley performed that day when Isaac convinced her to come for the New Year’s Eve party. After that, Clover had warmed up to speak her perspective before coming along the trip. Probably at some point before she could know, Isaac talked and told about Clover’s situation. So, who’s here to blame? Pricilla begging Clover to come to this cruise, so she can be closer with Isaac? Or Pricilla’s parents for not announcing her about Clover’s mother being released? Or…what else what could have been in this unfortunate disaster. Pricilla continued, “I didn’t know how really mean so much to your parents.”

“There’s nothing much we can do about it,” Clover said. “If we get out of here, I’ll see her in no time and you…uh…” She tried to find another purpose for her to live on. But Isaac is gone. “You’ll be back with mom and dad.”

“That’s all there is, isn’t it?” She sobbed.

“I don’t know what else to think of this. I’m sorry about your friends and I don’t know what they would think of all of this?” Clover raised her voice in stress, it was scaring her like what had happened back at the disco. “I’m sorry, Pricilla, I didn’t mean to say I hate you.” It was her turn to cry.

Both were again quiet, their relationship is fractured, but not broken. Flesh and blood are keeping them together.

Pricilla finally spoke, “Remember what Isaac said?” Clover turned at her. “That we should stick together no matter what.”

“Yeah, he did say that. He really cared for us.” And we turned a blind eye, Clover avoided saying that. “We let it slip, though.”

“We can try again and no more mistakes, right?”

“Yeah, we can try.” The beagles hold hands together for the first time in years.

The cruise director, Miss Blake, along with the waiting group, since her concerns for the group’s splitting up, especially wandering around while Snowdon is searching for another way out. Next to her was Aubrey sitting on an uncomfortable pipe. “Miss Quinlivan, I’ll be heading where Snowdon went to. I’ll be back.”

“Blake, please,” said Aubrey, “he won’t take long.”

“I’m going to check on them to see if they have found a way out. I’ll come back with some news and orders.” She stands up from the pipe, the tan-furred rabbit-woman walks through the dimmed corridors towards the aft section. On her right side to an alleyway, Portia came out from there with some spirits in her hands.

“Ah, Miss Blake! Here have some.” Portia offered beer.

“Miss Matthews!” She glared. “You mustn’t! This mustn’t be a time for drinking.”

“Calm down, Hazel, I was just offering you.” She walked away from her towards the others sitting. She stopped and turned at her with a grin, “Don’t worry, I’ll drink responsibly.” She opened one bottle and chugs it in. She sat next to Rico with one bottle for offer.

“No thank you, lady,” Rico said. “I’ve been sober for four days straight.”

“Drinking your own feelings? That’s cute.” She quipped.

“Stay away from my troubles, Matthews. You’re one sickening gossip prick.”

She ignored him and continued with the opened bottle. “Because what I did to those two? I’m just doing my job; celebrities always lie to their fans all the time.”

Rico glanced at Jett and then to Aubrey before turning back to Portia. “I’ve seen worse than these two, they look innocent to me. I bet your reason for drinking is because your friend Malcolm is dead and you’re just taking all in really heavy after what Jett said to you.”

“Again, with that? Ugh.” She finished her first bottle, and before she could reach for the second, Rico stood up, grabbed the carton with five bottles remaining and threw it across the other wall, shattering with foamy splashes and glasses in bits.

Rico stared at her with a stern expression, “I think you had enough.”

The two searchers; Snowdon and Kershaw who left the group to catch on to the hatch didn’t expect it to be a tad bit far to aft. They found another map on the wall and rechecking it to be sure it was the same they saw the previous deck plan across the bow end of the long corridor. The hatch leads down to the water-waste treatment and desalting room. Now upside-down, the hatch should be above their heads. They are actually close by now. “Right there.” Said Snowdon. “This is it.”

Looking up with one flashlight, there are black and yellow lines around the squared hatch with curved corners and a red-colored valve. It’s located right close to the wall of the corridor and it lacks a ladder to climb it. “Can you reach it?” Asked Snowdon, the lion-man was taller than him.

“I think I can.” Kershaw gave the flashlight to Snowdon and raised his arms up to the red valve. He’s almost standing on the tips of his shoes. Shaking which way should turn, he turns clockwise, the valve easily gave in.

“Careful, it opens outwards,” Snowdon warned. He offered the favor as he stands by with hands ready for the heavy hatch, it could swing out and hit someone.

“Got it.” The hatch made some unlocking metallic sounds and he felt the hatch lose and it swung heavily a little, but both got the hatch under control. The hinge was well oiled, it didn’t squeak or groaned.

Now opened, Snowdon picked up the flashlight and beamed it at the black hole. A vertical ladder was in place above. Nothing else can be seen. “Okay.” Said Snowdon. “Let’s bring the others here.”

“Mr. Snowdon?” The voice of Miss Blake arrives. “Is everything all right?”

“Yeah, all in order. We found the hatch, it’s time to gather everyone here.”

“Alright, I’ll be back bringing the others!” She took action and headed back.

The corridor echoed, the rumbling and groaning of the dying ship. Miss Blake didn’t too long to come back at the group, they were almost as they were where she last saw them.

Sylvester Rycroft was the first for Miss Blake to see him. He should have known where she went to after Aubrey told the tiger-man about it. He was eying the group when some of them came back from looking for supplies. “Miss Blake, where were you’ve been?” Said Rycroft.

“I’d just came back from Officer Snowdon and Mr. Kershaw,” responded Blake, “they’d found a hatch that leads to the engine room. He told me to lead all of you there. It’s time to go.”

“About time!” Said Maxwell. “I think the water is rising from where we came from.”

Killian had noticed this when after Snowdon and Kershaw separated from the group, the seawater quietly covering a thin sheet layer on the ceiling-floor. Then another loud groan erupted. The ship jerked; water sloshed against both sides the corridor walls. The group holds on onto the hand railings. Rycroft heard the voice of Snowdon loudly, a direct order to leave right now. Rycroft asked the group if they are all present in this instance, they all said yes and march towards the said hatch. Ryder and Kale dropped the snacks and water bottles they had brought for the group on the ground, abandoning it altogether.

Strangely, water is coming from another way around, it’s making a flow like a river downward against the group’s feet. Just ahead, Snowdon is standing there waiting.

“There’s no time! I want all of you to get through the hatch now!” Said Snowdon.

“Where’s Dad?” Gwen asked.

“I’m up here!” A large hand came out from above the hatch. “Get going!”

Immediately, Gwen was the first to climb. Kershaw grabbed a hand and she was lifted off from her feet through the hatch. Since it’s upside-down, there’s no ladder to climb on than the one above. Kershaw must pick one-by-one.

“This place is flooding! Let me in!” Screamed Portia. After Gwen, she stepped right under and grabbed Kershaw’s hand. She was lifted in a swift.

Her statement wasn’t exaggerated, water is flowing at a rapid rate. It’s now over their ankles. Snowdon then ordered at Parkinson. “Parkinson, get your son in!”

Joshua grabbed Sasha with both arms and lifted him up at the opened hatch. Sasha raised his arms to Kershaw. Joshua stands back and lets the women evacuate. The youngsters; Stephanie, Clover, Pricilla, and Jett followed up.

The ship creaked, water burst the other direction when it jerked and knocking off the group’s feet onto the ground, drenched. Standing up quickly as possible, Snowdon picked Carolyn Rycroft up and lead her to the hatch next. Sidney and Lani got dragged by the agitated water but regained their footing so Sidney can get Lani next towards the hatch. Killian Maxwell grabbed his wife, the look on his face of panic with instinct, he shouted her to get in.

The group above waited, but some were concerned about what was below them. One-by-one was picked up through the hatch. Kershaw made sure that not one of them gets near it just to call out their loved one. Looking down the flowing, rising water was now at their waist. Aubrey holds Miss Blake’s hand, and both were the only women left to be picked up. Aubrey asked Miss Blake to go up, but she insisted that she didn’t want to climb until all the passengers are evacuated. As a crew member, she still has her priorities in this mess. With time running out, Snowdon cannot wait for a typical orderly fashion, he let the men climb next, starting with Red, then Joshua. It was hesitating at first, even for Kale Summers, but Ryder Wolfson pushed him towards the opening. He rose out of the water as he calls Ryder to climb next. It was suddenly when water flows at a greater speed. It was sloshing more, shaking the group out of their footing as it rises.

Kershaw shouted, at this point, they were now floating and struggling to keep their head above water as they barely can reach their footing below them. Rycroft saw Rico still holding the handrail and grabbed him to towards the hatch. Then Miss Blake shouted at Aubrey to go ahead before her, she refuses but Snowdon got hold of her with no second thoughts and the horse-woman was meet with Kershaw’s hand. Rico followed next by Rycroft, upon climbing up, he shouted for Ryder’s name to climb up. After Rico, Killian and Sidney climbed, but just when the latter climbed through, he was almost thrust out of the water by a geyser-like blow of water through the hatch. The group screamed, shouted and Portia begging it to close it, but the little geyser retreated back through the hatch when Kershaw grabbed a stripped hand of Sylvester, he fished him out of the water.

Below through the opened hatch was like a strong river current with lights flickering in a glowing, greenish sea. The hysterical shouts of Kale Summers calling Ryder’s name were panicking for Rico. He dared to keep on looking at the hatch for any signal.

“Where’s…” Aubrey tried to ask about Miss Blake, but another hand reached out the surface. Kershaw grabbed it and pulls him out. The polar bear took an easy breath through his lungs as his head broke the surface. He crawled out.

Snowdon ordered in an instant as he recovers. “Close the hatch!”

Rico jumped at his order, he protested. “What!? No! Ryder and Blake are still down there!”

“Don’t close it, Snowdon!” Aubrey screamed.

“Close it! They’re gone dead now!” Portia panicky said.

“No!” Rico tried to step forward, but Sylvester caught him ahead before he could have reached the hatch. Kale was motionless on the spot behind him.

“There’s nothing I could do. They got washed away!” Snowdon remarked. “Kershaw, close the hatch!” He ultimately ordered.

Kershaw dived his hand and pulled up the submerged hatch. The water current was made difficult as it was bragging against it. Kershaw huffed up and turned up the valve to a locking close. The group was abruptly quiet.