James Hanaway and his daughter Aurora known as Rori were on their way to a new town, to a gated community called Pandora. James hadn't thought much of it, but Rori was unsure as she was into her supernatural stories and she knew that Pandora never meant anything good. Not that she wanted to mention this to her father as he had been so excited about the move. Rori's mother passed away when she was just a baby and her father had single handedly raised her and as far as she was concerned, he had done a bang up job. She hadn't known any better, though she did look to her aunt as a sort of stand in mother. However, her aunt wasn't moving with them, and it would be the first time in a long time that it would just be her and her father. Not that her aunt had lived with them, but she saw her a hella lot. Her dad had told her aunt that she could travel to be with them as often as she liked though.
It had been a long journey so far, but Rori didn't mind, she had her iPod to listen to music, magazines to read and her iPad to play games on. However, the batteries had since ran out on both her devices and so she was now just reading her magazine. James noticing that her ears were now free, decided to break the silence. “So, Rori, are you looking forward to your new life in the community?” He glanced at her and gave her a bit of a smile, then concentrated on the road again. According to the GPS system they should reach their destination in around a half hour now.
Rori put her magazine down onto her lap and turned to face her dad, “Sort of. I never wanted to say anything because you were so happy about the job, but I'm, I don't know, something about the name of the place gives me the shivers. I can't explain it.” She looked away and bit down on her lip, she hadn't wanted to tell her dad, but he could also tell when something was bothering her, she never could keep anything from him. James was worried about that, and while he was driving it wasn't going to be easy to talk to her properly. He needed a drink, so he decided to take a break, even though they were only half an hour out, he had just noticed a resting station up ahead. “Let's take a break and go for a coffee and talk about it kiddo.” Rori turned and smiled and shrugged, “Okay.” She should have just kept her mouth closed, she didn't want to burst her dad's bubble and she knew that's exactly what she was probably about to do, it wasn't fair at all.
James pulled up at the service station and locked the car, taking Rori's hand he walked the two of them into the cafe. He ordered them both a latte as it was their go to drink and they were soon sat at the table with a doughnut each also. “So, tell me what is bothering you about the community kiddo.” He had a feeling that a lot of it would be to do with leaving her friends behind, but he had spoken to her about the move in great detail, to make sure she was happy with it and she hadn't given him any other indication about doubts until now. Rori bit into her doughnut and shrugged, swallowing her bite before talking, “Just something about the name. You do know about Pandora's Box right? Did you read about the community and the sort of people that live there?” She took more of her doughnut and coffee.
To be fair, he hadn't. He just thought that it was your typical gated community that needed a sheriff on site. That being said, he hadn't thought to question the fact that he would be the sixth sheriff in a matter of months to be assigned to the community. Now Rori had him thinking. “Well, I got a run down on the type of community, and a list of the people who live there, but that was about it. I didn't think I had to delve into the characters at all. Please don't tell me this is to do with your love of all things supernatural?” He chuckled a little as he chomped down on his own doughnut. However, his chuckle turned into a frown as he saw the look on his daughter's face. “It is, isn't it? Dammit Rori, why didn't you say something sooner?” He wasn't mad at her, just amused, the frown turned into a smile then laughter. “You do know they aren't real, right?” He winked at her and finished his coffee. Reaching a hand across the table, he took it and squeezed it, “We'll be fine sweetheart, you wait and see, you will wonder why you ever questioned the move. And I found out that there are plenty of teenagers in the community so I am sure you'll make new friends soon enough.”
Rori finished her doughnut and coffee and looked up at her father, oh, how could she be upset, one look of his smile and her heart melted. He was right, she was being stupid, it was going to be great. She used to get picked on at her previous school and never had that many friends anyway, that's why she wasn't overly fussed about the move. “You're right, I'm being silly. Come on, let's go, I'm actually getting excited about it.” Why she would be worried about the place, since she didn't find the supernatural creepy, in fact, she was fascinated by it. What if there were actual supernatural creatures there? She might find herself in a Twilight novel and fall in love with a vampire, how cool would that be?
James laughed, stood up, picked her up and swung her around and placed her on the ground again, “Right, come on then kiddo, let's go.” They both made their way back to the car and once again they were on the road to finish the short journey to the community.
Introducing Captain John McCoy - Portrayed by Karl Urban
James and Rori were now outside the community, the gates naturally were closed. “How do we get in?” Rori asked not really sure how it all worked. But as she peered out of the window, she could see that the community went on for quite a good bit, it wasn't even houses from what she could see, there were shops too. Wait, was this like a town where everybody lived and didn't even have to leave? That was kind of cool but also weird. Right? James smiled, “I've got a security pass already, I just slot it into that space there and then, it opens and throws it back out at me, like that. Gotta be fast.” He chuckled as he took the pass that had indeed been spat back out at him.
As James slowly drove into the community, the gates closed behind them, and it really was like another little world. It wasn't just like houses, it was like a complete town that was fenced and gated in. There was flowers, and trees all around the edges as far as James could see anyway. There were houses grouped together, with spaces and then shops grouped together also. Just driving along he could see that there were grocery shops, beauty shops, supermarket, heck there was even a cinema complex, school and bowling alley. That was only what he could just see, the community wasn't a small one, not in the way that he had imagined or thought. Rori was blown away by what she could see. She had been a little worried at first about moving away from all she knew and loved but already this was giving her a massive air of excitement. “Wow dad this is like, well, wow, a whole new world. I had no idea it was this, well, big.” She started to laugh nervously. James was still trying to source the office that he had to call into, in order to get their house keys and other information that they might need about living here. “Not gonna lie sweetheart, didn't expect it to be this big either. Though given the number of folks living here I probably should'a realised.” Rori smiled and nodded her head, she was going to love living here, she just knew it. All her sadness at leaving her old friends behind was already gone.
Finally after driving for about fifteen or so minutes, James found the sheriff office. “Right, this is our first stop. Gotta pick up our keys and my work badge and that. You okay to stay in the car?” Rori smiled and shrugged, “Yeah, unless you want to introduce me to whoever is in that office, then yeah, I'll stay.” James smiled, “Probably plenty time to introduce ya kiddo, unless they insist on it right now. Back in a jiffy.” He leant over kissed her on the cheek and then made his way to the office.
The office was actually the law enforcement building. When he walked in it was full of different offices all over, and police wandering around. He wasn't really a police officer, but he was still classed as law enforcement. He walked up to the reception desk and was told he would have to talk to the captain of the precinct. He smiled and sat down. Shortly after, a bloke not far off his own build, but dark hair, came strolling out, chewing on gum by the looks of it and when he spoke, what sounded like a thick Aussie accent. “Alright mate, ya finally made it then. Captain John McCoy, you've got the pleasure of having me as your boss. Don't worry I don't bite, well, only those who get on my nerves.” He held his hand out for James to shake and then handed him his sheriff badge and house keys. Smiling at him, “I'll need to show you where your house is, it's not too far, but ain't next to the station either. I'll come back out with ya, and ya can follow me, got it?” James shook John's hand, “Nice to meet you, and sure, that's fine, you'll meet my daughter then, she's in the car.” John smiled, “Nice one. Come on then.” He stepped out with James and walked with him and then he soon saw the pretty girl in the car, “Hey, I'm John, your dad's new boss. Lovely to meet you ya pretty thing. Pretty damn sure my son is gonna like you.” He winked and chuckled, especially when he saw how red the girl got. He then slapped James on the back, “Teasing mate.” He grinned, but when Rori got over her embarrassment she smiled, “I'm Aurora but I get called Rori, and I'm sure I'll get to meet him soon enough, I need new friends.” She poked her tongue out at him and then laughed, and John laughed too, while James just stood back and hoped to god that friends was all his daughter and his boss's son would be. How awkward would it get if they should fall out if they became a couple.
John made his way to his car and James began to follow him, it took about ten minutes to reach the place that was going to be their house before John stopped. James did so too, pulling into the driveway that was beside the house. John got out, as did James and Rori, “This is your home, it's already furnished with essentials, but I know ya got some home comforts on their way, they should be here for ya soon. We took the liberty of getting some groceries and leaving them for ya, welcome to Pandora.” John winked and patted James on the back again and then stepped back into his car, “See ya work eight sharp in the morning, will brief ya on your job then.” And with that, he was off leaving James and Rori alone.
James unlocked the door and when he stood inside, his breath was taken away. The house was not only huge, it was stunning. The décor was amazing and it had a huge spiral staircase made in white marble. Their was a chandelier in the hallway and if this was just a taste of the rest of the house, it was going to be like living in a palace. “Well, kiddo, what ya think?” Rori was blown away. “I'm shocked, this place is stunning. I'm literally going to love it here, it's huge, there is only you and I and it looks like its got hundreds of rooms.” She started to laugh as she ran around the house, running up the stairs shouting down, “There's like twenty rooms up here, it's amazing. You have to see this.” James laughed and made his way up the stairs to join his daughter and marvel at the new place that was going to be their home likely for the rest of his life.
James and Rori spent the best part of an hour checking out all of their new house, it was so big it took them that long. It was like a mansion in comparison to their previous home. It had a tennis court in the back, along with an infinity pool room, a games room with a pool table and darts and other enjoyable games. The kitchen was massive, and had an island in the middle for preparing food. The whole place was decked out in whites, creams and peach hues and marble everywhere. The place was furnished with pretty much everything that they would have needed. James would probably have to get all of their own furniture put into storage when it arrived, as it wasn't going to be necessary, other than a few sentimental personal belongings.
Now that it was the evening, they had ordered a pizza for their dinner, and they were just waiting on it arriving. “Well, I might not have been too happy at leaving my friends behind dad, but I think I am going to like it here. This house is amazing.” She was being serious as well. He had told her that there was plenty of young people for her to befriend here, not that she had met any of them yet. But hopefully that was correct and she'd soon have as many friends here, as she did back in her old home town. James looked over at his daughter and smiled, sighing gently, “That's great to hear sweetheart, I was worried, but you know it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Now look us, living like royalty almost.” He chuckled, and that was when the door bell went. Rori jumped up, “I'll get it, it will be the pizza no doubt.” James smiled, “Okay kiddo.” He picked up the newspaper and flipped through it until Rori came back with their food.
When Rori opened the door, a young guy was stood against the porch wall, with the pizza box in hand and she noticed how quickly a smile formed upon his face when he set eyes on her. He was cute with ash blonde hair and bluey grey eyes. He was so handsome in fact, that she lost all sense of forming words, as her mouth fell open. He began to laugh, what else could he do? “Hey there, you seem to have lost the ability to talk. I'm Jake Wheeler and I'm here to deliver your pizza if that's not obvious enough.” He held the box out to her, it was already paid for, so he didn't have to wait on any cash, and could easily have just walked away. However, he was drawn to her and he wasn't quite sure why. Rori, took the pizza from him, as if on auto pilot and knew she should just shut the door and go in and eat it with her dad, but something compelled her to stay. She managed to gather herself together and finally was able to say something. “Hi, thanks, and sorry, I, I suppose I wasn't expecting someone my own age to deliver it. I'm Aurora Hanaway, Rori to my friends.” She put the pizza box down and held out her hand to him and Jake took it and shook it. “Lovely to meet you Rori, wait, you're already telling me your nickname, so does that mean I'm a friend and we don't even really know each other? You make friends real fast.” He chuckled and winked at her, which made Rori blush a little. “Yes, well, I just didn't want to be so formal, but we can be friends if you want.” As he held her hand, holding onto it for way longer than necessary for a welcome hand shake, he got a real fuzzy feeling. Something inside was telling him that there was something about her, that for some reason, he had to be there for her, that he had to protect her at all costs.
What Jake didn't realise was that he had just imprinted on Rori. Jake was one of the special people that lived within the community, he was a werewolf. He hadn't been told about all the things that came with being one of those, he just knew that he was one, that's all his parents had told him. He hadn't really felt anything for a girl before, and maybe that's why they hadn't told him about that aspect of his abilities. He knew that he could transform into a wolf at will and that he could heal from wounds very quickly apart from when injured with silver, which was toxic to them. However, this feeling was intense and all he wanted to do was to pick her up and cuddle her, but he couldn't, she'd think he was mad, they didn't know one another, but he did know that he wouldn't let anything happen to her, ever. “Well, I think I should let you go inside and eat that before it gets cold and before I get told off for not returning quick enough to deliver more pizza. I'm not working tomorrow if you would like to meet up for a Coke or something and get to know each other more?” Jake asked, and smiled at Rori.
She wasn't sure what to do, but she did want to make new friends, and that didn't mean that the first one couldn't be a boy, right? She nodded and smiled, biting on her lip a little, “Sure, why not, yeah, that would be nice. So, you know where I stay, but you don't have my number, maybe best to call and make sure I'm at home and not busy or something.” She then scribbled her number down on a corner of the receipt attached to the box and handed it to him. “Don't lose it.” Jake took it from her and grinned, “Oh, don't worry, I won't.” He winked and then made his way back to the pizzeria to deliver more pizza and Rori made her way inside with a flutter in her heart.
When she returned with the box, James sat forward, “You took your time, was he making it on our doorstep?” He winked, for he had heard most of the conversation and was teasing Rori. She blushed, “No, just, he was cute and we spoke.” She couldn't lie to her dad, she wouldn't, and even if she tried, she couldn't, he always saw through it. “Just teasing kiddo, looks like you might have made your first friend. I think it's going to be good here.” James took a slice of the pizza and munched on it, and Rori nodded, smiled, “I think so.”
As they both ate their pizza, outside, something was lurking, as it dusk began to draw in and it got darker outside. They were walking slowly through the trees to the back of the house and then they peered through the window. They didn't know why they were drawn to this house, but there was an aroma coming from it and it wasn't that of food, but it was exhilarating to this person, and whatever or whoever it was, they wanted to find out more about it and they wouldn't stop until they found out what it was. Standing outside the window, sniffing, and trying to find a way to break inside, and then caught off guard by a noise off to the left, with hunger, they had to let go of the sweet aroma that was magnetising and went after the quick moving animal, they caught it within seconds, and soon the blood was dripping from their fangs, satisfied for the time being until their next feed.
