The red Cadillac pulled into the front entrance of a train station. Ben shifted the car in park and opened the door. As he got out he intentionally slammed the door shut instantly waking both Alex and Emma. Both girls let out a small yell and gasped for air. Ben stood at the trunk of the car laughing hysterically. The girls looked at him with very dirty looks. As Ben started to point and mimic the startled girls, Alex raised her hand toward him. He stopped laughing instantly and started to shake his head.
“Hey come one now, it was all in fun and games. Where all friends here right. There is no need to…”
Before he could finish his plea Alex opened her hand. A wave of invisible energy blasted from her hand straight in Ben’s direction. The blast knocked him clear off his feet and at least five feet behind him. As he hit the ground all the air he had left his body. He gasped for more while rubbing his chest. Alex got out of the car and walked over to him. She stood right above him and smirked.
“Not so funny now are you asshole.”
Ben shook his head. He put his hands together in front of him as a plea for forgiveness. Emma was now standing next to her sister. She offered her hand to Ben. He grabbed her hand and allowed her to help him up. Finally able to breathe he turned to Alex.
“That was…uncool…you could have killed…me.”
Giggling to herself Emma helped dust off Ben. She looked at her sister and tried to give her a disappointed look.
“Alex you could have really hurt him that time, I’m sure he was just joking. No harm right? You should apologize.”
“Your right Em, Ben, I am sorry.”
With a confused look he turned to Alex.
“You are…for real!”
“Yes Ben, I am sorry I hurt yo…”
Alex couldn’t hold it in any longer. She let out a laugh so hard she doubled over. Emma Started laughing too. She began imitating Ben on the ground writhing in pain. Alex stopped laughing for a moment just to tease Ben some more.
“You really think I would apologize to you, come one dude, get real. You deserved that anyway. Next time I might send you back farther.”
Emma looked at her watch. She nudged her sister and showed her what time it was.
“Okay guys funs over.”
Ben Shot Emma a dirty look.
“Who’s having fun?”
“Whatever, Alex and I have a train to catch and you need to get to work. Don’t you have a meeting to you need to attend?”
“Yea I do, so with that ladies, I will see you both in a couple of days. Stay out of trouble, Alex.”
Alex shrugged her shoulders and smiled at him.
“It can’t be helped Benny boy; I just have too much fun.”
“Right, Okay you girls take it easy.”
Ben jumped back in his car and started towards the lot exit. He stopped before he reached the street and waved back at the girls. They waved back to him. He pulled out into the street and drove off. The girls’ watched Ben drive out of their field of view. When they could no longer see him they turned toward the ticket booth inside the station. As they approached, Alex stopped and pulled a cigarette out of her pocket. She tapped Emma on her shoulder.
“Hey I’m going to have a quick smoke, could you get the tickets and I’ll meet you on the platform.”
“Sure, just don’t be late; the train should be boarding soon.”
Alex gave Emma a thumb up as she lit her cigarette. A passing attendant tapped Alex on the arm and pointed at the no smoking sign on the wall. Alex stuck her tongue out at the attendant and headed outside. Emma walked up to the ticket booth.
“Hi I need two adult tickets for the next train to Sacramento and connections to Barstow.”
“That will be $245.03 please.”
Emma gave a look of both astonishment and disgust.
“That’s a bit steep don’t you think.”
“I don’t make the prices lady I just sell the tickets.”
“Whatever, here. How do you crooks sleep and night?”
“Very well actually. Here are your tickets. The train leaves in 15. Have a nice trip.”
Emma snatched the tickets from the booth and muttered something under her breath. She headed outside toward the platform. She noticed that Alex was already sitting on a bench outside waiting for her. Emma walked up and sat down beside her. Alex rested her head on her sisters’ shoulder.
“How much were the tickets?”
Knowing that Alex would blow the whole thing out of proportion she decided to just gesture the price being so-so with her hand. Alex shrugged her shoulders and closed her eyes.
“Emma?”
“Yea?”
“What are we going to do now?”
Emma inhaled deeply and let out a heavy sigh. She rested her head on top of her sisters’ head. She stayed silent for moment thinking about what she was going to tell her sister. She felt Alex take her hand into her own and squeezed gently. Emma smiled.
“Well, first were going to go home and rest up a bit.”
“Okay, sounds good. What next?”
Emma’s eyes shifted to the train now pulling into the station.
“Then since we have a couple of days until Ben shows up maybe we could do a little bit of training. Getting better never hurts right?”
“Sounds like work to me but I’m cool with that.”
Alex nudged Emma playfully in the side and Emma poked her back in the stomach. They shared a quick laugh. They both looked up as they heard the conductor over the intercom.
“The 11 Coast Starlight to Sacramento will be departing Seattle station in 5 minutes. Have all tickets and luggage ready please, thank you.”
Emma stood up first and then helped Alex to her feet. The two started for the last car of the train. Emma pulled out their tickets and handed them to the attendant. He punched the tickets then handed them back to her. He stepped aside and allowed the two to enter the train. Alex turned toward Emma as they walked through the car.
“I love trains, they seem so romantic…maybe we will find a couple of cute guys on the trip.”
“I don’t think this is that kind of train sweetheart.”
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed anyway.”
They found their seats and sat down. Alex nearly trampled her sister trying to get the window seat. They felt the train rock beneath them. Alex looked out the window and watched as the station started to pass her by. She got comfortable in her seat and turned to Emma.
“How long is this trip going to be anyway?”
“It’s about twenty hours.”
“You’re kidding?”
“Nope, and that’s just the first part. We still have two buses and another train to take before where home.”
Alex pressed her head against the window and sighed. She looked back at Emma who was reading a magazine she had picked up from the seat next to her.
“What am I supposed to do for twenty hours?”
“I don’t know, sleep maybe.”
“Is there at least a dining car on this train?”
“Should be, why?”
“I think I’m going to get drunk for the trip…or at least a bit tipsy.”
Emma looked at her sister out of the corner of her eyes. She shook her head in slight disappointment and then went back to reading.
“Ok I’ll be back.”
Alex got out of her seat and headed toward the dining car. Emma watched and waited until Alex was out of sight. She put down the magazine and lay back in her seat.
“Time for a nap.”
She let out a sigh of contentment and snuggled in until she was comfortable. In a matter of seconds she was off to sleep.
Emma began to wake as she heard a loud beating sound outside of her window. She looked at her watch and realized she had been asleep for several hours. She looked around her car and noticed Alex wasn’t there. She sat up in her seat and slid over to the window.
“What the hell is that sound!”
She looked down out the window. All she saw was green scenery whipping past her. She looked to the left and then to the right, everything seemed to be normal. When she looked up her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. She saw a black helicopter hovering above the train. She jumped out of her seat and ran toward the dining car. As she raced through each car she noticed no one else had been riding the train. It had finally dawn on her that she and Alex fell into a trap. She busted through the door to the dining car. She saw Alex sitting at the bar.
“Alex!”
Alex turned to her sister and gave a quick smile. Emma rushed toward her with her hand outstretched. Alex noticed the fear plastered on her sisters face. As she rose from the bar she was thrown to the ground from an explosion that tore into the side of the train.
