A different kind of a Christmas story

Chapter 3: The train

*Christmas eve 9:30pm*

Reiner's POV

I waited patiently by the train doors for Bertholdt and Annie. We were planning on going light-seeing. We did it every year. We would board a train that would take us around the outskirts of town to see the Christmas lights. Glancing down at my watch, I noticed that it was 9:30pm. The train was leaving in five minutes. 

"Where the hell are they?" I mumbled under my breath. I noticed the evaporation from my breath in front of me. I always loved to blow out and watch my breath disappear into the cold air around me. I looked down at the paved ground, counting the stones on the road. I had nothing better to do. 

"Hey, bud. You ready?" Bertholdt asked out of nowhere, placing his hand on my shoulder, scaring me slightly. I smiled at Annie. 

"Hell yeah." I said, turning away from them to step into the train. The inside of the train seemed almost elegant. Definitely formal. There was a red and gold rug that ran all the way through the isles of seats that lined either side of the train. 

"Where are we sitting, Bertl?" I asked, forgetting my ticket number. Bertholdt took out his ticket and read the seat numbers. 

"We're sitting just over here." He said, leading us over to our seats. The seats where on either side of a table. It was almost exactly like a booth you would sit at at a restaurant. Bertholdt and Annie sat across from me. Pretty soon one of the conductors came by to punch our tickets. After that we were off. 

"I wonder what kind of lights we'll see this year..." Bertholdt pondered as he looked out the window as the train sped by the cold wilderness. Until we reached the city, we would be staring at nothing but vast forests. It usually took around twenty minutes to reach the city, so we could relax for awhile. 

"Do you guys want to play a game?" I asked them. Bertholdt and Annie looked at me. Bertholdt seemed excited, but Annie had no emotions on her face at all. I'm sure she was expressive around Bertholdt though... only Bertholdt. 

"Sure. What are you thinking, Ray?" Bertholdt asked, calling me by my nickname which they rarely used. 

"How about twenty-" I was cut off as there was a loud explosion that echoed through the train. Screams started down on the other end. 

"What the hell was that?" Annie asked, standing up out of her seat slightly. 

"I don't know, but it didn't sound good." I said, also standing up. 

"I need everyone to remain calm." The conductor's voice came on over the intercom. But everyone was freaking out. Before we could do anything, there was another explosion that launched us into the air. As soon as we hit the ground, we where knocked unconscious.