The Prior

POV: Cass Abbot

The light shines into my eyes. I sit back up, away from the wood. Wood. Wood? I look around. I’m the first one awake, but the four of us are piled into some sort of room. It must be a cabin. Everything is wooden. I focus on the noise. There’s people on the floor above us. Maybe we’re in a basement? It’s just strange because we always wake up outside, in the woods, not inside of a room.

Finally, both Belle and Max stir awake at the same time.

“Where are we?” Belle whispers.

“I think we’re in a basement. There were people walking above us just a moment ago,” I mention. Max rubs his temples.

“I think I have the sheet...” Belle mutters searching for it.

Elliot manages to wake up at this point. He looks tired, his eyes sunked into place. I have an urge to run over there and give him a hug. Why am I feel like this? Bleh. I need to get my hormones checked.

“We’re moving aren’t we? I feel like we’re moving,” Elliot mutters.

“We’re on a boat,” Belle mutters.

“We’re what?” I say. Elliot just stares somewhere off in the distance.

“Did you just say a boat? I’m not sure I can handle another boat,” he says to no one in particular.

“Yeah, I guess we’re on a boat that is supposed to crash with 477 passengers and 10 tons of gold...” Belle says.

Elliot says “Gold?” at the exact same time Max blurts “The Titanic?” I walk over to a chest and open it. And behold, there was gold. I grab a piece and flash it to the others.

“Gold checks out,” I say, “And, it’s not the Titanic. It’s the SS Central America. It says it right here.”

“So what do we do?” Belle asks. Elliot still stares off into space. He seems worried. I mean, to be fair, it was only a bit ago that he got shot... on a boat. I also don’t think any of us expected to be here a month ago. This is all so overwhelming.

“Well, what are we supposed to do? Stop it from sinking? Because that’s kind of hard if the boat is moving,” Elliot exasperates at last.

“Um, I think we’re supposed to save a guy named John Ryland. He’s supposed to die, but I guess they need him alive for some reason,” Belle says.

“Why are we even doing this?” I snap. It came out a little harsher than I intended. I kind of make an ‘oops’ face.

“I don’t know,” Max sighs.

“Elliot, you’re like entangled with the FBI. You ever remember anything like this?” I ask. He just shakes his head.

“I’m a rookie, quite honestly. I really haven’t worked for the FBI that long. I don’t know!”

“Are we changing the present? Or like creating an alternative dimension? Will things be the same when we get back? Will we even exist in the new world we’re creating?” I question.

“Please do not question the time-space-continuum. My brain cannot handle this right now,” Elliot mumbles. As the boat suddenly begins to rock. Belle loses her balance and topples to the floor. She gives a thumbs up, but still remains on the floor.

“Okay so back to the plan,” I push. Max nods like he’s got an idea or something. He doesn’t say anything, though.

“So, are we just, like, supposed to go down with the boat? And like try to survive meanwhile saving this John guy?” Elliot says, almost panicked.

“I guess? I mean, I think the boat is moving. Like it’s a little too late to just not put him on the ship,” Belle says.

“Do we know the story behind how this sunk?” Elliot asks.

“I remember. I’m originally from Charleston, where it crashes. Basically, there was a huge hurricane. I don’t totally know the timeline, but from what I recall, the ship sets sail. The conditions slowly get worse, the sails are tattered and people have to go underneath the ship. And then, by the next morning, water began to fill the ship. They were still in control of it, but they couldn’t stop the water from coming in. They also couldn’t put coal in because of how much the ship was moving. After that, it still wasn’t getting any better. So, they evacuated women and children, then left the men and gold to sink,” I explain. Thank you, high school Charleston lore.

“So, what point do you think we’re at?”

“We’re under the boat and there’s no one else here. It’s only starting to shake. We’re only at the beginning of the troubles.”

Elliot sighs.

“So, do we even have a plan? Or are we just going to wing it like always?” Belle asks. I rub my eyes. They’re heavy from lack of sleep.

“We can all go up, see if at the very least we can locate the guy we’re supposed to save. Once we identify him, we can try to save him when the ship crashes,” Max suggests.

“I need to stay here. I feel like I’m gonna puke,” Belle says.

“Me too, but I’m not staying down here. I need the fresh air,” Elliot says.

“Max, you wanna stay with Belle?” I ask. He glances at me and then at Belle.

“Sure,” he says at last.

Elliot and I go up to the deck of the ship. We ask around to see if anyone knows this guy. After little luck, Elliot and I begin to split up. I wander into a parlor area where a few women stand.

“Excuse me ladies. Have any of you seen John Ryland around?”

A woman in a faded red dress wrinkles her face. Her two friends side-eye me.

“You just be the mistress.”

“I’m sorry?”

“John is my husband. You’re awfully bold to follow him and his wife onto a boat,” she says.

“I’m not. No. No. Look, I-” I stutter.

“Hush it, honey,” her friend says, before launching her fist into my face.

I tackle her back, which results in the 2nd friend screaming like it’s bloody murder. And, before I know it, I’m hauled out of the parlor by the ship crew.