Strong as Steel | B.Barnes

prolouge

Studying Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights as they are also called, might not be the most common job in the world. Though it was for Cassandra and Sean Danvers.

After the mysterious disappearance of her sister Carol Danvers, Cassandra decided to do everything in her power to research what could have caused it, and that finally led her to the Northern Lights.

Many people are fascinated by their beauty, though no normal person would know about their change in behavior for the last six years.

Although Carols disappearance was heart-breaking a new joy soon found her way into Cassandras life by the name of Olivia. She was barely a few months old when her aunt disappeared so there were no memories left behind for Olivia, although her mother made sure to tell her about the great things her aunt did.

Even with Cassandras life having new meaning in it didn't stop her and Sean from bringing their daughter alone. The family was always together, but it came with the risk of something happening to their daughter in absence of any other relatives and no money to afford a constant babysitter.

Northern Lights were never close enough to cause any harm to humans, but with their change in behavior came the occasional dip in the lights closer to the earth than ever before, leading to the Danvers family travelling to Sweden.

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December 21st, 1995

Jokkmokk, Sweden

Olivia was laying in her bed, looking out of the tent and towards the sky where dancing lights of green, yellow and pink could be seen. Although it was late the small six-year-old could not sleep knowing that something so beautiful was right outside.

Though it was pretty it was freezing outside, even by the Swedish standard, and the only thing keeping her warm was the thick sweater given to her by her mother and the small heater in the tent. Her thick dark blue winter jacket was hanging on the bed post closest to her head, her hat and scarf hanging over it neatly.

She could hear her parents talking outside as they stood by their machines. Her mother had explained to her many times that the machines could measure something in the lights, though she never explained any further (probably because her six-year-old self couldn't fully comprehend it).

She sat up in her bed and rubbed the slight tiredness out of her eyes before throwing the blanket off her legs and turning so that they were hanging over the edge. She quickly put on a second pair of socks before putting on her boots, already feeling the slight chill the room gave her. She threw the hat on the bed before putting on the jacket and the scarf, making sure both were tight enough against her body to not let the cold seep in.

It took only a few steps before she was outside of the tent, her breath becoming white as she looked up at the sky with a smile on her face. A few snow flakes landed on her face, though she paid them no attention as she started to walk towards her parents.

Her father spoke in a hushed tone, but became silent as soon as he noticed Olivia. Her mother noticed it to and turned around to see her daughter.

"Honey what are you doing out here? It's freezing!" Her mother said as she placed the scarf higher on her face and pulled off her gloves to put her small hands in her own.

"I wanted to see the lights, and I couldn't sleep." Her small voice was slightly muffled by her scarf when she spoke. Her mother smiled at her and blew warm air on their hands, making Olivia giggle in delight.

She lifted her daughter up to her side and made her feet dangle a little as she turned around to look at her husband.

"What do you say Sean? Should we let her stay here for just a few minutes?"