The Arena

1: Welcome To A World That's No Longer Yours

I always wanted to explore. Ever since I was a little boy, I always dreamed of adventure. But I guess I never thought about how adventure came In many forms. Unfortunately for me, I got the bad kind.

If anyone had told me that they were out there, I would have been ecstatic. But now that I know what they are capable of... "excited" is far from what I would be.

The name's Zack Galleby. I'll explain what happened. Remember what I tell you. Because I'm reliving these memories for you, and let me tell you this now, it's not a happy story.

Because this is the story of boy who was broken. A boy who has been to the depths and back.

This is my story.
So take it seriously.

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"I want to explore, there's so much out there that I don't know! But here I am, stuck on the farm. Why do we even have a farm, I mean, I know why we have it, I just wish I wasn't the only one maintaining it. I mean, Dad used to help, but he's gone, and Mom is busy with work, and I... I guess that kind of does just leave me... But, and don't get me wrong, I love the farm, but it's just not my thing. I sit up on that rock at night and think about what's out there. We are only the tiniest spec in the universe, so small it's nearly incomprehensible! And I want to see more, I want to know more... you get what I'm saying?"

I sighed. "No. No you don't get what I'm saying, you want to know why? Because you're a cow."

She mooed.

"Fine. I guess you are a pretty cow." I finished brushing her fur and left Leslie.

My Mom was at the house on top of the hill. She's an engineer that worked in the city not too far away.

My Dad had died four years ago, I was fifteen. He was a surgeon, but he loved animals, so he got us a few. My mom was fine with it so long as the smell didn't reach the house, so we put the farm at the bottom of the hill. We have only a few animals, my Mom says she won't get anymore after they all die (the only reason she keeps them around is because they remind her of my dad). We had a few chickens, a cow, and a horse left at the time.

I walked over to the horse stable, and took out Cora, my horse. I hopped on and was about to take her for a ride, but I heard my mom call me from the house.

I sighed and rode up the hill.

"What do you need, Mom?" I asked.

"I'm gonna need you to run to Mr. Shamen. I accidentally left my tablet there. He knows you'll be coming to pick it up so there's no getting out of it."

I sighed. "I do it one time, and you never let me live it down."

She rolled her eyes. My mom had brown hair that went down a little past her shoulders, and hazel eyes. She was sitting in a chair eating breakfast while wearing casual clothing, as it was her day off.

I veered Cora around, and almost got away with it, but she noticed.

"Just take the car. I swear you have a problem."

I sighed. "I just want to go out and explore, but no," I mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing!" I stiffened.

"Zack, you're 19. Responsibilities are a thing, you know. And a thing that you cant outrun."

"Yeah, I know," I sighed and hope off Cora. I brought her back to her stable and grabbed the keys from of the counter. "I'll be back soon."

"Thanks," she got up from her chair and gave me a hug. "I'm surprised you don't smell like cow." She laughed.

I smiled and went to the garage and into the car to go drive to Mr. Shamen's house.

When I got there, he almost immediately opened the door, as if he were watching me the whole time.

"Hey, kiddo!" He called.

"Hey, Mr. Shamen," I said as I stuffed the keys in my pocket.

"Here's the tablet. How's the farm?"

"Oh, it's uh, good, I guess."

"Yeah? How's that cow of yours doing?"

"Leslie? Oh, she's doing much better. No more demonic mooing... heh..."

"Ah, yes. Didn't know cows could sound that way. Even if they are sick..."

"Heh... yeah... anyway, uh, I gotta get go-"

"Have ya seen my new dog? He's a playful one, sure you'd love him."

"Oh, a new dog? ...I guess I could stay a few more minutes..."

"Sounds awesome! C'mon, he's off in the backyard."

He took me in through his house and into the backyard where his new dog immediately came to greet us. It was a golden retriever, that I could tell.

"His name is Brady. He loves people."

Brady licked my hand.

"Aww, he's so cute. How old is he?" I asked as Brady flipped over for a belly rub.

"About a two years old is what they told me at the shelter."

I smiled and rubbed his belly. "So cute. I wish I had a d-"

We heard a loud explosion in the distance. Smoke could be seen miles away.

"What was that?!" I shot to my feet.

"I don't know, kiddo, but it didn't sound too good."

We rushed outside, people were in panic, screaming and running in all directions.

"What's going on?!" I shouted over the mass.

Mr. Shamen pulled me inside his house, and we ran into his living room. He turned on the tv to the news channel.

"Extra terrestrials are invading. Stay indoors, they are not friendly. I repeat, they are not friendly. Mass panic has erupted throught the city, these aliens are only capturing or killing. U.S. army is working on countering them, we'll keep you updated."

"Oh no..." I whispered. "This can't be real."

"I'm afraid it is, kiddo. And we're in the center of it all."

My eyes widened in terror as I realized one thing. All my life I had dreamed of adventure. All my life I was always fascinated with space. But now, my dream was coming a reality, and this was not what I wanted.

And in the midst of it all, only one thing was running through my mind. "Mom."