Olivia slowly opened her heavy eyelids to the smell of her mother's cooking. Dreaming about breakfast, she stretched out her arms and legs and yawned. Slowly, she slid off the bed and put on a simple t-shirt and pants. Dragging her feet, she instantly spotted her sister, Inora crouched outside their father's study, her ear pressed against the door, holding her breath.
No longer heavy-lidded, Olivia walked over to Inora and opened her mouth to demand what she was doing. Inora's index finger instantly flew to her lips, signaling to be quiet.
"What are you doing!? You know you're not supp-", Olivia hissed through her teeth but Inora clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Listen", Inora mouthed and pointed at the door.
Reluctantly, Olivia put her ear to the door while looking around uncertainly. Her father's voice was strained and shaky and her talked in quiet hushes and once in a while, he would type something on the computer. Olivia managed to catch a few sentences.
"... But 6 years are not enough! ... I don't know what to do! ... No!" George's voice sounded tired, "... I know, I know ... Okay, I swear I wont tell anyone ... Bye and God save us", George hung up and sighed holding his head in his hands.
Olivia lifted her ear from the door.
"What was that about?" Olivia breathed, eyes wide.
Inora's eyebrows furrowed, "I don't really know, but it sounded bad. Olivia glanced back at her father's door. He was doing something on the computer, once in a while cursing. Olivia gulped. She and her sister occasionally eavesdrop on their father's conversation about astronomy and new found galaxies, planets etc. but their father was always excited about the discoveries and neither one of the sisters ever heard him talk in that tone.
"So what did you hear?" Olivia asked, knowing she'll regret it later.
"Well, something 'huge' is coming towards us. S.P.A.C.E. is trying to avoid it, I think", Inora, bit her lip, "And if we are unable to avoid it, it will be the end of life on this planet".
Maxina eyes grew large and immediately went rigid. She looked as if she had been slapped.
"What!?", Maxina shrieked.
George whipped around and opened his door, not surprised to see his two nosy daughters crouched outside. Usually, he would chuckle in amusement and recite, in full detail what had happened. Today, he truly hoped that his daughters did not hear his conversation.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked with a you-better-tell-me-the-truth-look.
"Well", Inora said with a false smile while giving a glare that Olivia knew well and meant that she was going to be dead.
"We, I, um... We were going to ask you a question", Inora finished.
"Um... Yeah, about the universe", Olivia agreed, hoping that will be enough to survive her sister's wrath.
Inora gave Olivia a slight nod and Olivia knew that she was forgiven.
"How was the universe made?" Inora asked, while pulling out a notebook and pencil.
George looked at both of his daughters, catching their almost unnoticeable signs. He knew that they had heard his conversation but how much? After a moment of considering, he decided to let the girls go, hoping that whatever they had heard would scare them and keep them away from his study.
"Well, the universe began in a loud bang which we call the 'Big Bang'", George began.
"The Big Bang?" Olivia wondered out loud.
"Yes", George said and began his tale.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
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