Chapter 1:

As Julia crossed a first corridor, she passed in front of a young woman with long red hair wrapped around themselves in a chignon so elaborate and tight that she furtively thought it was going to explode. The young woman was looking at the landscape, right in the middle of the not wide corridor, and Julia suddenly wanted to push her to the side rather than subtly pass behind her. She had to see that she was blocking the way, so why pretend? But Julia recovered quickly. She was not and never would be that kind of person. She would never dare to push someone because she was right in the middle of the passage. Besides, she could not help but roll her eyes when she had to stick to a compartment to sneak across the hall, without touching the young woman.

Once past this insignificant little obstacle, Julia continued her way for what seemed like miles. This train was only supposed to hold twenty-four passengers, yet it was as big as if it held at least a hundred. Each compartment, each small parcel of this train had been designed to represent great luxury and breathe wealth. Each wooden column, each floor and each marble table had been designed to give the best to their customers.

Julia had not chosen this train by chance. The Winter Mist train traveled from Toronto to Alaska. Sitka to be totally precise. It had never been a destination that appealed to her. But as she had always secretly dreamed of traveling on this magnificent train and seeing magical landscapes through the window, she took the plunge. With her salary as a doctor, as well as her family's fortune, she had honestly been able to afford a return ticket on this train.

She had thought for days about what she could do with her two weeks of "imposed" vacation. She was alone, she had no one to go with. So why not have fun?

Julia continued to the main carriage at the front of the train, where she knew there must be at least one employee of this damn thing that still would not start. As she came purposefully into one of the five dining cars, she slowly slowed down. She heard frantic whispers. Like an argument that did not want to be heard. Julia stopped at the sliding door of the car hesitantly. She had to go through here to get to the main carriage, but she clearly did not want to open the door and find herself face to face with two people in the middle of an argument.

"…it's not fair, I assure you it…right."

Julia heard, despite herself, the whispers of a woman.

"I do not know what to tell you."

The young doctor grimaced. It was not just any argument. It was a couple's argument. Even better… This way, it was going to be even more embarrassing when she walked into the room. Julia turned her head to look behind and jumped violently when she saw a man staring at her with suspicious eyes. He slowly walked towards her, not taking his eyes off her, until he was planted in front of her.

"What are you doing?" he scoffed.

"I…I wanted to go to the main carriage." Julia hesitated, looking at the tall blond man with a mustache whose tips almost touched the middle of his sunken cheeks. He had piercing green eyes and wore a suit of the exact same color.

"Go for it…"

"I'll go…" Julia answered with annoyance. "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing." he frowned. "I saw you eavesdropping at the door… You must admit it's rather strange."

The young woman suddenly realized that indeed, she must have seemed strange to this man. At least as strange as he seemed to her.

"Yes… Excuse me." smiled Julia to lighten the mood. "I hear two people arguing in the dining car and I don't want to embarrass myself and them at the same time."

She looked at the face of the man she judged to be in his mid-40s, a little older than herself. And he gave a reassuring smile, which immediately relaxed the young woman in this empty corridor.

"I understand. We're going to get into the car together, so we'll bother together. I must go to my compartment which is on the other side."

Julia smiled back and suppressed a frown. Why was he on this side of the train if his compartment was on the other side? The doctor shook her head. She had always been too curious. She sometimes wondered if she was doing the right job.

The man held out his hand.

"Magnus Duval."

Julia took her hand and shook it gently.

"Julia Ogden."

Sometimes she refrained from saying "doctor" Julia Ogden. But she thought that was probably too pretentious, but she liked people knowing that she was here by herself and not because of a husband or something.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Ogden." he smiled flirtatiously at her again. "Okay… We'll open that door and just walk through. Act like nothing happened." he added with a wink.

He then slid the door open and walked past her. He rushed into the luxurious dining room, and she followed him. The whispered conversation stopped instantly, and she could not help but turn her head towards what appeared to be a couple. They were both frozen in place, eyes guilty for being caught arguing. They were near a table in the rear end of the car.

Julia looked away when she felt Mister Duval's hand on her back for pushing her lightly in front of him. However, she had been able to easily engrave in her memory their physique. The woman appeared to be in her fifties, but very well preserved. Black hair, while a few strands had started to turn gray. She wore a classic pale pink dress, with an expensive little white cardigan. She held her hat matching her dress in her gloved hands. As for the man, he had a rather sporty build, the hair also black, but he seemed much younger than her. Maybe the same age as Julia. He wore a smart black suit with a charcoal blue tie. He had a rather manly face with a perfectly trimmed beard.

When she was finally in the next corridor of compartments, she turned to Mister Duval.

"Thanks."

"It was a pleasure, miss."

He nodded and walked past her. He turned right and opened a door that must have been his compartment. He ducked inside and closed the door behind him. Julia huffed anxiously. She felt like she had run through an obstacle course before she even got to the main wagon.

She reached into her jacket for her pocket watch and checked the time, but it was empty. She looked in her other pockets, but nothing. Julia shook her head. She must have put it back in her bag out of irritation. Definitely… This trip started perfectly well.

Note: Well, this is only the beginning, you must set the scene of course haha! I really hope you will like it.