-AROUND 18 MONTHS AFTER BLAST-

It was agonizing for Pandora and the others at Outpost 3. Unlike her fantasies of a new and safe life, it was a living hell. Of course, Pandora was grateful for even being alive and for being treated like royalty, but she hated the fact that it was people like Mallory that got shoved aside and treated like slaves. Although it was unlike Pandora, she began to open up and befriend the people around her. Of course, there was Coco and the Gallant's, but there were other richer people who could afford to stay in such a 'haven', like Dinah Stevens - a former talk show host - and her son, Andre and his 'late' partner, Stu. And there was Timothy and Emily - the star-crossed lovers - who found safety due to their mystery DNA. 

Pandora enjoyed everyone's company at the start, but after what felt like a century with the same people, listening to the same song, and talking about complete nonsense, grew tedious for the young girl. And even though a lot had happened in the 18 months she had been underground - such as being served Stu as a stew for supper or having live snakes for tea, nothing seemed to excite Pandora. Life was had just been terrible for her, that not even cannibalism scared her. Hardly anything scared her these days.

It wasn't until Miss Venable had asked for all of the Purples and Greys to meet in the lounge to inform us of important news. Pandora sat between her new closest friend, Mr Gallant, and the arm of the sofa. The raven-haired lady and the blond hair-stylist got along like a house on fire. They talked every day about everything and anything to keep them sane. They would tell each other secrets that no one else knew of and promised to not tell another soul. Pandora was hardly listening to the intimidating woman as she focused on the distant clicks of heels on a marble floor. 

The clicking stopped as her green eyes landed on the culprit. Her gaze started at the person's pointed black leather shoes. Her eager orbs scanned up their legs and torso, taking in every detail on the figure's attire. Her stare moved higher until she reached the gentleman's face, and admired the sharp features of his profile. His long, golden hair framed his beautiful head perfectly, and the painted red eyelids emphasising his bright blue eyes. 

Pandora's gaze studied his body once again as he walked around the other sofa to approach Miss Venable, before feeling a sharp nudge to her left rib cage. Her head shot around to identify the culprit and her glare landed on Gallant, who was smirking at her and his eyes also followed the man's movements with a hint of lust in his eyes. 

"How big?" Gallant crudely whispered in Pandora's ear. 

The girl's eyes widened with slight humour and disgust, "Excuse me?" She whispered back with a playful scoff.

"Oh shut up, Miss Innocent, I know you're a slut like me," Gallant gently laughed and shoved her shoulder with his own. Before she could actually answer Gallant's question, her attention was drawn to the eery silence of the lounge. Her eyes snapped back to Miss Venable to see the mystery man by her side, staring down at her expectedly. Everyone in the room could tell that the superior woman was feeling intimidated as she backed away to stand by her partner, Miss Mead. Pandora stared in shock and confusion at Venable and then back to the stranger. 

"My name is Langdon, and I represent The Cooperative. I won't sugarcoat the situation. Humanity is on the brink of failure. My arrival here was crucial to the survival of civilized life on Earth. The three other compounds In Syracuse, New York, Beckley, West Virginia, and San Angelo, Texas have been overrun and destroyed. We've had no contact from the six international outposts, but we are assuming that they, too, have been eliminated." The man - Langdon - spoke in a smooth and calm tone, almost unsettling for the topic at hand. 

"What happened to the people inside?"

"Massacred," Langdon replied quickly as if it were nothing. "The same fate that will befall almost all of you -"

"Almost all?" Someone else interrupted, but Pandora never caught who. 

"In the knowledge that this very moment might occur, we built a failsafe The Sanctuary."

"The Sanctuary?" Another person questioned, testing both Pandora and Langdon's patience. Pandora just wished people would stop interrupting so she could get some peace of mind. 

"The Sanctuary is unique. It has certain security measures that will prevent overrun." Pandora was almost impressed at how well he was handling his impatience. Pandora could always sense other's true emotions, no matter how hard they tried to hide it, it was like a gift. That or she was just extremely good at reading people. "I have been sent to determine if any of you are worthy and fit to join us."

There was a slight stir in the room as people began to quietly protest to themselves. "The Cooperative has developed a particular and rigorous questioning technique we like to call 'cooperating'. I will then use the information gained to determine if you belong." Langdon proceeded to explain his sudden presence here. 

But Pandora felt there was another reason why he was here, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Pandora was snapped out of her thoughts as her best friend shot his hand up in the air. "I volunteer to go first."

Langdon quickly responded with clarity and confidence, "And so you shall. The process should only take me a couple of days, so you won't be kept in suspense forever. For those of you who don't make the cut, all is not lost. If the worst should happen and feral cannibals come knocking, down one of these. One minute later, you fall asleep and never wake up. 

I look forward to meeting each and every one of you."