ROSE
How on earth did I end up in this crazy situation? "Never let go, Rose," he said, and then promptly abandoned me, leaving me here all alone, sobbing like a baby. Well, if I had to survive this submarine disaster on my own, then so be it. And you know what? If we miraculously make it out alive, I am definitely breaking up with him. I mean, seriously—no chocolate or even a bear for Valentine's Day? What a loser. I clearly have a talent for picking winners.
I angrily stood up, wiping away my tears, when suddenly, there he was, running toward me like a madman wearing an orange life jacket and holding one out for me.
"Put this on, Rose! I found a way out!" he exclaimed from afar.
I wanted to leap for joy, but my legs were still throbbing from when he clumsily fell on top of me earlier. I mean, who does that? But I couldn't deny the relief that washed over me from seeing him unharmed and full of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we had a chance of surviving this after all. And who knows, maybe he'll make it up to me with a belated Valentine's Day surprise. A girl could dream, right?
With a mix of annoyance and gratitude, I slipped on the lifejacket and followed him toward the escape route. As we navigated the narrow corridors of the submarine, I told myself that this was the most absurd Valentine's Day adventure I had ever been on. But hey, at least it was memorable.
We sprinted down the hallway, the countdown on his watch reminding us of the imminent explosion. But just our luck, a group of burly men decided to block our path, grinning mischievously.
"Excuse us, gentlemen, but we really need to get through," I said, trying to sound polite despite the urgency.
"You'll have to wait, sweetheart. It's almost time for chow," one of the men replied, his smirk widening.
I could feel my frustration building. I clenched my fists, ready to give them a piece of my mind. But before I could unleash my fury, Jack stepped in front of me, with a mysterious glint in his eyes.
"Hey, guys, please let her through. Trust me, you don't want to be around when her stomach starts making noises,” he started and I jerked my head to him with my jaw slacked. “Let's just say the chili didn't agree with her," he chuckled.
I stomped my foot, ready to choke him as the men's eyes widened in horror. I could only imagine them as they envision the symphony of sounds that awaited them. Oh! How could he embarrass me like this? To my surprise, without hesitation, they parted like the Red Sea, creating a clear path for us.
Grabbing my hand, Jack pulled me forward, his eyes filled with a mix of love and amusement. I pursed my lips as we dashed toward the room with the giant red "Exit" sign, our hearts pounding in our chests.
As we entered the room, a giant ladder came into view, leading down to safety. Jack pushed me in front of him, urging me to go first. I couldn’t believe he did that. And here he was, trying to save me first. I wasn’t sure whether I should be fuming or grateful that his foolish plan worked. Shaking my head, I began to descend. As we reached the exit, I couldn't resist a sly smile.
"You owe me big time for this, you know," I playfully nudged him.
"I promise, Rose. I'll make it up to you," he chuckled nervously, realizing the truth in my words. "Go, Rose! Don't look back. You have to live," he said, his voice filled with love.
My heart swelled. I was wrong about him. He wasn't just a goofball, he truly cared about me. With a mix of gratitude and determination, I continued to climb down the ladder, knowing that I had to make it out alive for both of us.
And as I descended into the unknown, I couldn't help but smile. Despite the chaos and danger, love had found a way to shine through, even in the most absurd of circumstances.
Reaching the floor first, I stepped aside and waited for Jack. He hopped down the last few rung and I squealed in surprise. When he threw a wink my way, I slapped his shoulder.
“Come on, this way!” Jack grabbed my hand and we raced forth. My eyes widened when I saw our escape plan. Hope surged through me as I made my way into the little escape pod. Not feeling Jack behind me, I stopped before I could get my first foot in, looking around for him. I finally spotted him beside a giant lever that read DO NOT UNLESS AN EMERGENCY. What was Jack doing?! I watched in horror as he pulled the lever.
Instantly, the room began filling with water and alarms went off around us. Oh no! I scrambled into the pod as fast as I could, popping my head out to see where Jack was. The wall slowly opened, rapidly filling the room. Red sirens blared as Jack smoothly leaped inside and took the captain seat, throwing a smile my way. How did he do that?
"So... you ready?" he wagged his eyebrows at me.
"Jack! You can draw a picture later if you want. Can you please go"! I cried out with urgency as my heart beat out of my chest. How could he be so calm? Jack immediately started the pod and drove onto the ocean floor. As he pulled the throttle all the way down, the watch began the countdown. 60 seconds until detonation.
I held onto the edge of my seat, my knuckles turning white as the seconds ticked away loudly. The pressure in the pod was palpable, the sound of my own heartbeat drowning out the blaring sirens in the background.
Jack's hands moved swiftly across the control panel, his eyes focused and laser determination. "Hold on tight, Rose," his voice steady despite the chaos around us.
The escape pod shot forward, propelling us deeper into the depths of the ocean. The water outside the pod grew darker and colder, the weight of the impending explosion bearing down on us just like the weight of the ocean pressuring the outside of the pod.
With each passing second, my eyes flicked to the watch. 30 seconds... 20 seconds... The pod seemed to vibrate with the intensity of the situation.
I glanced at Jack, his face a mix of concentration and resoluteness. There was no doubt in my mind that he was doing everything he could to get us to safety. I had to trust him, even in the face of such uncertainty.
As the countdown reached 10 seconds, I closed my eyes and braced myself for the explosion that seemed inevitable. The deafening roar of the explosion reverberated through the water. The submarine had exploded with the sound of a thousand muffled thunders hitting all at once.
The force of the explosion rocked the escape pod, causing it to shake violently. We held onto each other, bracing ourselves for the impact of the blast as the pod trembled
The ocean around us came alive. The force of the explosion had created a massive shockwave, rippling through the water and causing a chain reaction to everything close enough to its vicinity. We watched in awe as the water swirled and churned, forming a colossal tidal wave that towered above us.
The wave loomed over the escape pod, its sheer size and power both mesmerizing and terrifying. The pod was tossed and turned like a tiny speck in the vast expanse of the ocean. The walls creaked under the immense pressure, and we held onto each other tighter, praying the pod would hold.
As the currents exploded in force, the pod was engulfed in a torrent of water. The sheer magnitude of the impact sent us spinning, disorienting us in the chaos. We were tossed and turned like rag dolls, the water swirling around us in a violent dance.
In the midst of the chaos, I caught a glimpse of Jack's face as his jaws clenched. His eyes locked with mine, a silent message passing between us. We were in this together, and we would fight to survive.
"I love you Rose." Jack said, his eyes telling me so much more.
"I love you too, Jack,” my voice broke. “I knew you would come back for me. I knew you could never leave me to die alone." I wiped my eyes which were once again filling with tears. How many times have I cried today? I didn’t think my body had any more tears to give.
The pod was jostled and battered by the immense force of the wave, but miraculously, it held strong. After a few more scary minutes that felt like an eternity, the water finally began to calm itself. leaving us in a state of disarray. We took a moment to catch our breath, the adrenaline still coursing through our veins.
"Die? Rose, we have a lifetime to live together. Now, just hang on. Oh, and I'm taking you to your favorite restaurant tonight. I didn't forget about Valentine's day," he said with a devilish grin.
"Oh, Jack!" I squealed, laughing with joy.
As we looked out into the vast expanse of the ocean through the pod’s window, we witnessed the aftermath of the tidal wave. The water around us was turbulent and frothy, the remnants of the wave crashing against the surface up above us generated by the sheer force of the explosion. It was a stark reminder of the power and unpredictability of nature.
As the waters continued to slowly calm, we took a moment to collect ourselves. With a deep breath, we navigated the pod toward the surface. When the pod finally made it, we realized we were only about sixty feet from where we had loaded onto the submarine. All this time we hadn't moved. We had killed the captain before he could take off. I began to laugh again when Jack put his hand on my shoulder and joined in.
Relief washed over me like a tidal wave, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding.
Jack let out a whoop of joy, his smile wide and infectious. "We did it, Rose! We made it!” His voice was filled with triumph.
I couldn't help but join in his excitement, a wave of gratitude and awe washing over me. We had faced the brink of disaster and come out on the other side. Plus, I was getting a steak tonight. What else could a girl want? My stomach let out a monsterous growl causing us to both throw another fit of laughter.
I looked at Jack, he was shining with a mixture of relief and pride. I, on the other hand, was drowning in his eyes. I knew he was the one and with him at my side, we could withstand any challenge—but right now I needed food!