It was a scorching hot day as I woke to start my 364th day on Mars. As usual, the only thing I could see from my bed was the never-ending sea of red rock. By the time I left my house, all of the adults, including my parents had already started setting up for ‘The Big Day.’ As usual, the little girl, whom nobody knew the name of, was sitting against the school. Her parents, both scientists, had sent their daughter on the first ship to Mars, after Earth was declared dead due to climate change.  The little girl, living alone, had never said a word to anyone in the small, temporary town of D-14. 

This little girl was a constant reminder of what everyone had left on Earth. Personally, she made me think about my old school and living in New York, but she also reminded me of the bad times when all of the beaches had flooded and when it was too hot to go outside. Most of all she reminded me of the friends I had left.

When global warming had gotten bad, the government had suggested transporting some people to Mars.  As soon as the first Americans had reached Mars, it was discovered that a previously unknown species was occupying Mars. One that had similar abilities, but had a different presence.

This species, which no one knew the correct name of, were labeled the Glaredons” and they weren’t keen on sharing their territory with humans. When we arrived, there was a deal made. Two members of our society, randomly drawn, would be sacrificed to the glaredons to fuel their annual feast. Everyone knew that this condition wasn’t ideal; however, they also knew that we had no other options, with Earth destroyed, and no other planets known to have liveable conditions. So, because of this, instead of having a somewhat-peaceful 364th day on Mars, here we were setting up for what was now labeled as ‘The Big Day,’ not knowing what it would entail or who would show up.

At this point, it was starting to get dark, but the Glaredons were arriving. There were more green creatures than I ever could have anticipated. They were emerging from all corners, and it appeared that they had some preparing of their own. Two glaredons that had the appearance of servants were wheeling in a massive drum, which we quickly figured out was filled with the names of all of the citizens of D-14. Even though it was still early in the evening, my parents instructed me to go to sleep, so the adults could finish what they were doing.

All of the commotion outside had kept me up for hours but I finally fell asleep, at a time I assume was around seven. I don’t remember anything from the night, which is unusual while on Mars, but I do remember waking up with a dreary feeling and a pit in my stomach. The streets of D-14 had drastically changed since I went to bed the previous night. The decorations had gone from apocalyptic to festive, yet the red rock streets had a deserted feel. The reality of ‘The Big Day’ set in. It had dawned on everyone that two people were going to lose one of their family members, classmates, co-workers, friends or so much more.

Numerous Glaredons started to show up around ten thirty. It was getting closer to the picking. The Glaredon who appeared to be in charge had stepped up to the massive drum to pick two names. My heart was racing. The first name, Karen Shellings, appeared on a screen. I had never heard that name. Confusion turned to sadness as we realized who it was. The little girl, whom nobody had previously heard of, started creeping toward the stage. I felt bad that she would never get to see her parents again; however, there was still one more drawing. The name Anne Claredon popped up on the screen. I started bawling as I crept up to the stage. All of the relieved citizens of D-14 had left the main square and gone back to their lives.

The Glaredons forced myself and Anne to the ground for our last moments. The last thing I remembered was the face of the Glaredon staring over me.