Standing in the kitchen, trying to calm my screaming baby brother, I wondered how I ended up here, in a friend’s house, orphaned with Tommy, my baby brother, when just a couple of months ago I was the jealous step-daughter, worrying about school and how much time Dad would have left for me when Maria finally gave birth. It’s hard to believe that I used to be that girl. It all seems so petty now. I liked Maria, until she and Dad got together. Even then, I didn’t find her too horrible. When they got married, that was it. She stole his attention from me and I was determined to get it back. If only I knew what was waiting around the corner.

Lisa comes in and takes Tommy from me. “I’m going to take a walk.” I tell her. She nods as she calms Tommy down with a bottle of milk. I kiss his head on my way out the door, feeling completely useless. I’m supposed to take care of him now but Lisa spends more time with him than I do. I suppose it’s good for her to spend time with him. Maria was her daughter, now she’s gone, just like Dad. Just like so many others.

In a way, I could blame Jason for all of this. He opened the gateway, released the demon. But then again, it was only a legend. How could we know it was true? We should have listened. I should have stopped him. All these should haves, but, when it comes down to it, we weren’t acting on our own. The demons were working their magic from the other side, pulling Jason towards them and stopping my protests. My mouth kept shut while my brain screamed at me, at him. I guess you could say it was fate that made him open the box.

“Relax Samantha; it’s just a box what could happen?” Jason giggled.

“But Jason, it’s not just a box. It’s the box! It’s dangerous.” I protested. “And don’t call me Samantha.”

“Oh Samantha, don’t be silly. Everyone knows that’s just a silly old legend. It’s probably one of Steve’s jokes again. We’ll open it and it’ll just be a jack-in-the-box or something. You know what he’s like.”

“It’s not Samantha. It’s Sam or Sammy if you can’t manage that.” I said. “And anyway, what if it’s not a joke, what if it’s the real thing. No-one ever knew where Pandora hid it.”

“Stop being such a chicken, Sammy.”

“Jason…”

I wish I had finished that sentence. I wish I had used my power to make him see reason and go and find someone. But I didn’t and I’m as guilty as him. Those people died because of us.

Everyone keeps telling us that it’s not our fault. After all, we’re only kids, still learning about the world and its mysteries. How were we to know that some strange power was working on our minds? I still think that I should have. Had I reached out and looked into Jason’s mind, would I have seen it? Maybe.

But I didn’t. I held back and let him open the box. I let him release the nightmare that had haunted a thousand dreams since Pandora had closed the box.

Pandora’s box. The legend had passed down over the centuries and the most popular version was wrong. The truth was that Pandora never opened any box or let any evil into the world. Pandora was born into a world where the evil already roamed. She grew up in a fearful time, when demons roamed the Earth, killing at will.

She grew up to be a powerful sorceress, who dreamed of freeing her people from the constant fear of attack. So she made a box and poured into its making all of this desire. Then the demons attacked. Pandora stepped out of her house and opened the box, and they were pulled in and trapped inside it. The box was inscribed with warnings. It should never be opened, lest the demons escape. It was preserved by magic and hidden, kept safe, until Jason found it.

He opened it and it fell apart, leaving a small pile of dust. He turned to me smiling, “There,” he said. “Nothing to be afraid of.” I stared in horror as a dark light grew behind him. Seeing my face, he turned. A loud groaning noise came from the light. I didn’t stay to see or hear anymore. Grabbing Jason’s hand, I ran from the room, pulling him with me. Once we were out, we pushed the door shut and leaned against it, willing it to stay closed. It was too late. We had already released them.

The sounds from behind the door grew louder and louder. “Look what you’ve done!” Jason just stared at me. Concentrating, I tried to seal the door shut with my mind, but that wasn’t my strong point. I was best at premonition and telepathy, not sealing doors and boxes and things shut. I decided to hope for the best and run for help. I grabbed Jason again and dragged him away from the room, back towards the rest of the museum. One thing was for sure, I never wanted to break the rules ever again.


Catch me as I fall,
And even more so while I'm standing tall.

It's great, nice spin on an old story.

Except instead of Pandora's Box it should have been Baldrick's trousers. I loved that Blackadder episode!

Ah, it's in the third series. I think the funniest series.

Nice one anyway.

Thanks. I'll have to try to watch it sometime.


Catch me as I fall,
And even more so while I'm standing tall.

Yep, that'd be good and you're welcome.