CHAPTER 23: THE GREAT MELTDOWN

"Let's face it… You're dead…"

The night was nearing 3, they all prepared themselves upon leaving room 401. Tristan and Nicollette lassoed up the "Prince Quentin" and headed out to the stern. Joshua was frightened for what was about to happen to them. Knowing that Drew had acted vengeance towards the group. The ship was silent, most people were already in bed and resting. The time was in the dead of night, The ship was a breeding ground for disaster.

Upon reaching the stern. Drew was waiting… wearing his black trench coat and clever hat "They say that fishes always go for the bait… I guess you're now one." Drew grinned, unveiling his face like he was an embodiment of nightmares, filling up the breeze with his evil smirk.

"I am renowned by your obedience, following a peasant like me into uncharted territory on which you have no remorse or a clue on what you are heading into." Nicollette and Tristan stood there avoiding eye contact, crossed eyed and clutching fists.

"You look so desperate… I find amusement in your mourning." Drew taunted. "Look, hand over the prince and I'll let your friend go."

Nicollette and Tristan looked at each other worriedly. Then they looked at The prince all tied up and sobbing. "What did I do to deserve this? If money is what you want I can give you that. How much?" The Prince pleaded. "A million? I'll make it appear in thin air, just please let me go… I beg of you."

"The people need me! Please Drew. Nicollete, Tristan don't do this to me… I trusted you…"

*20 minutes ago*

Upon continuous searching around the Decks of the Titanic, rooms and dorms were barged in. Beverly and Gabriel eventually got lost among the lower decks of the ship. It was described to be "unvisited territory" for any upper class visitors. Rarely did guards inspect these decks, knowing full well that thugs roamed around these places. The two eventually reached the bottom deck G, the lowest deck of the ship. There was smoke coming from the engines of the ship, It was a deep mess under there. The two determined to find Caleb, profusely shouted "Caleb! Where are you." Gabriel and Beverly shouted. The two were out of breath and most definitely lost.

As hope seemed to dim, A royal guard shouted for the two. "Mr. Gabriel, Lady Beverly! Come quick!" The two looked at each other and ran towards the distressed guard. "Have you found Caleb?" Gabriel asked, practically kneeling from all the continuous running. "See for yourselves…" The royal guard responded, his eyes looking down at the floor.

The room was beside the storage facilities and the door was smeared with blood. Gabriel and Beverly were trembling… Scared to the bone, goosebumps began to show. Slowly the two opened the now busted door. It was a sight to behold… Gabriel looked at his friend trying to look strong and unbothered. Caleb was tied up to a chair with bloody wrists and wounded palms.

"That animal… How could he sleep at night." Gabriel said grimly. Beverly felt his pulse. "He's still alive… but definitely in dire condition." Beverly said optimistically dueted with worry. Gabriel ordered the guards inside and immediately took Caleb to see medical care. The cabin nurse entered the room and started bandaging the hand wounds of Caleb. The sufficient oxygen provided was able to give Caleb consciousness. Almost immediately after opening his eyes Gabriel and Beverly embraced their friend. "I'm so glad you're alright, I can't bear to see you in your condition for the second time." Gabriel recounted the most recent occasion when Caleb had come to his rescue, a memory of how Caleb had incurred injuries in the process, leading to his previous hospitalization.

"We're so glad you made it… Tristan, Nicollette and Joshua were very worried for you." Beverly added. Caleb was puzzled over what Beverly meant by "Joshua," Gabriel smirked and looked at Beverly with a poker face, he whispered "You weren't supposed to say that yet… He's still recovering, Gosh."

"My apologies." Beverly said, smirking and holding up a peace sign to both boys. The two chuckled. 

Caleb, still puzzled, wanted to know what on Earth was going on. "How do you know Joshua? And what about Prince Quentin?" Caleb said, puzzled from what was happening. "Hmf," Gabriel sighed, and began telling Caleb about the pendant and the letter of Director Mikaela for him. 

Gabriel looked Caleb eye to eye, "Quentin is your long lost brother…" Gabriel said, grasping Caleb's hand. "The necklace doesn't lie, You really are his brother… Prince Quentin had a jolt and had a flash of memories about you and him at the orphanage." Upon utter confusion Caleb pulled out the pendant from his pocket. Looking at the pendant Gabriel exclaimed "Yes! That is the pendant, that is the connection to Prince Quentin's pendant."

Caleb, utterly astonished, got a flash of memory of what happened the night when they were infants at the foothold of the Domus Orphanage.

"What are we waiting for, let's go find them!" Caleb shouted hopefully. He ran through the halls and furiously made his way through the grand staircase towards the stern of the ship. He thought to himself "A mistful life… I'm nearing its edge, I'm coming Joshua and I promise We will never see another dawn without each other…"

He ran swiftly, luckily the halls were empty because most were already in bed. Caleb looked at his pendant and grasped it firmly. He knew the time had come, to make up for all the lost years. 

Upon reaching the stern of the ship  a sight beholds him… Nicollette and Tristan were pushed aside, and beaten by Drew. As Joshua, the prince, was unconscious and in sight of the revolver barrel.

"Don't do this!" Tristan shouted, pleading. "Take me instead! I'm of no use anyway!" Tears profusely flowed as Tristan's shouts met with no response. His face filled with multiple nerves from utter struggle.

Drew retorted "You have no sufficient value, now say goodbye to your beloved Prince Quentin… or should I say Joshua!"

Caleb astounded by the happenings tackled Drew to the floor and shouted "YOU FUCKING MORON! DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH MY BROTHER!" Caleb punched him left and right accompanied by some unholy mouth talks. "YOU UNHOLY DOG! ILL FUCKING KILL YOU!"

Unfortunately Caleb's wound proved him weak. "You Idiot, bloody fool! You think you stand a chance?" Drew kicked Caleb away and loaded his gun and shot the incapacitated Caleb.

'CALEB!!" Tristan shouted desperately, His hands turned red from profusely trying his best to unravel the knots in his arms.

Gabriel, Beverly and Lady May soon arrived and untied the rest of the group. "Tristan Nicollette are you alright?" Gabriel uttered while untying the two. Immediately after being untied Tristan thrashed toward Drew. His rage was unmatched; he lunged Drew and disarmed his weapon. Tristan's eyes were filled with fury.

Drew looked at it and retorted "You're a monster! Damn it you sick creature." The two got into a merciless brawl. Beverly and Lady May got up and assisted Caleb bleeding on the deck floor.

"Agh!" Caleb shouted in pain. "It hurts so much! Ack…"

"Let's go somewhere safe and take care of this first" Lady May whispered, trying to calm down the already distressed Caleb.

"No, I'm not leaving without Joshua." Caleb pushed the two girls away and crawled towards his incapacitated brother. "Joshua! Quentin! I'm here… wake up wake up!" Caleb shouted pushing his brother around trying his best to wake him up.

Drew pushed Tristan back, beating him the second time. "You're weak! Helpless you will forever be worthless…" Drew was then met with a revolver to his forehead, held by Nicollette. She stared at Drew with vengeful eyes. And grimly voiced out "Any last words…"

Drew, for once in his life, felt terrified. Suddenly tears flowed from his deep green eyes. "It was never my intention to hurt you… I didn't want to do this… The Queen, Queen Winsley put me up to this. She took over me, I don't know what I'm doing, please save me!" Drew mercilessly begged. Drew's eyes returned back to there original brown color.

Nicollette noticed how it felt like Drew's killer instinct began to vanish for a while…

Joshua finally awoke, and everyone was confused on what Drew was saying. Lady May stood confused from what Drew really meant by that.

"The Queen wants the Prince to die… He is a roadblock to the throne and a major problem in the future. I tell you I have nothing to do with this… I'm just like you searching for my place in this world. I have a family… I have friends… In fact I love my life but this isn't me…" Nicollette held the gun away and conversed with the brokedown Drew.

"I pity your remorse, but still find it difficult to know your true motive…" Nicollette questioned. "The Queen? Queen Winsley put you up to this… how? She is an enigmatic Queen and wouldn't this be out of her jurisdiction?" Nicollette further questioned.

"No, you don't understand… She's not a Queen… She was ruined as a child. The only person she had ever loved, her son, even that was taken away from her. The world stripped her of all her dignity, all her pride, all her powers. Once she felt remorse and grief, she had unlocked her Oracle. She killed her family, not a single one spared. Then tricked the King into marrying her.

The King wanted an heir, but the Queen sabotaged herself that she may never want another son or daughter. Then she became known to be the infertile Queen. She focused on her vengeance to destroy the ones who ruined her life.  Joshua was taken only for the King's demand to have an heir and now she wants him gone."

Everyone was stomped. Joshua trying to catch his breath said "After all this time… It was the Queen, It was her idea to ruin us. I'm sick of her… that's why she always felt so distant."

"Nicollette, Joshua, Caleb, Gabriel, Beverly and Lady May… Take care of my family, Remrosa and Petro. I trust you'll save them from the vengeance about to be brought down to England." Drew pleaded, he stood up. 

"I'm sorry for what I'm about to do…" Drew said, smirking with tears of depression in his face. He picks up the remote from his pocket and detonates the bomb.

"Let's face it… You're dead…"