Chapter 1: Draft

"We want you for the K. D. M (Kaiju Defense military)!" the old man dressed in stripes said while pointing his finger to whoever was watching the television. I rolled my eyes and walked outside to our pool area in our backyard.

The year was 2051, and it was a perfect spring afternoon in Spring Field, Missouri, perfect temps, clear skies, cicadas were buzzing. It couldn't get more perfect. My mother was lying down on one of our three Chaise Lounges under a tent with a magazine open next to the pool and my dad was over by the grill, grilling some bratwursts with his phone in his other hand, probably looking at the news.

"Did you hear they're drafting kids at the age of 12 now for the military?" my mom asked my dad without taking her eyes off the paper.

"Yeah, I did..." my dad responded without taking his eyes off his phone.

"Don't you think that's too young?" my mom asked dad.

"Sure..." my dad said.

I rolled my eyes.

"Is that all you two talk about? Blah blah, blah news, blah blah blah military and Kaijus, I mean seriously take a moment to enjoy this beautiful day, and dad you're gonna burn the bratwursts!" I shouted.

They both looked at me glaring, then continued with what they were doing. I huffed.

"There are much worse problems out there in the world than your dad burning the bratwurst." my mom said.

"Don't worry Rowan, I won't burn the bratwurst, you know my bratwursts are number one in all of Spring Field, so I think I know what I'm doing." My dad added on while grinning as a bratwurst caught on fire.

"Oh $@#%, " my dad cried out as he picked up the bratwurst like a hot potato, bouncing it one hand to the other back and forth until he dropped it into the pool. My dad sighed and went back to the grill with a frown.

"So much for the best bratwurst griller," I murmured to myself.

"Rowan, how about you help your dad out and dive in the pool and get the bratwurst," mom said.

I frowned but I know if I didn't our pool would become dirty and that would be a bigger mess for me to clean up since my parents wouldn't do it themselves even though they caused it. I went back inside and upstairs to put on my swim trunks for the 'deep-sea adventure'. As I got back down to the pool area, I got ready to jump into the water.

"Three, two... One!" I plugged my nose and cannonball'd into the water. I opened my eyes to see where the hot dog was. The bubbles rushed up my face from the jump. It felt nice and cool. I felt free from the troubles of the world underwater. I wouldn't mind if we switched places with the Kaijus where we live underwater and they live on the surface.

It was blurry, but I could see the bratwurst on the other side of the pool. I loosened up and swam towards the bratwurst gracefully. I took my time and enjoyed the silence under the water. I did a few graceful spins of joy and let out a laugh, which was more like a gurgle. I grabbed the crispy but soggy bratwurst. I swam up to the surface, letting my head poke out of the water.

"I got it!" I shouted pridefully. I looked around, waiting for a response.

"Um, hello I got it!" I said again.

"Good job Rowan," my mom said. Wow, not even a thank you just a "good job". I put my lips underwater and made bubbles with my lips.

I swam over to the edge of the pool to climb out. As I was climbing out, my mom was walking over to my dad. I was interested suddenly. It must have been important if it meant getting out of her chair and walking into the sun. She whispered something into my dad's ear. I leaned closer. But obviously, that wouldn't do anything, since they were so far away. My dad nodded, then went back to grilling, and my mom went to go sit back down. A drop of sweat slid down the side of my dad's head. It could have been from the heat from the grill or even the sun, but I didn't think so. The look on his face looked nervous. Something wasn't right... I could feel it.

For the rest of the time, I floated on our pink flamingo floaty, looking up into the sky, wondering when a Kaiju foot would stomp on us and our house.

"Are the bratwurst ready yet?" I asked.

"Yeah, come and eat!" my dad said eagerly.

We ate that afternoon, then went inside for the rest of the day. I lay in my bed, reading this web novel called "How To Survive An Apocalypse." It was pretty interesting, I guess. I finished the chapter, then set my phone down on the dresser next to my bed.

Bing!

I got a notification. I picked up my phone. It was an email from the K. D. A.

My eyes widened. My throat lumped up. I tapped the email to see the contents.

"Congrats soldier, we have drafted you for the Kaiju Defense Army..." That was all I needed to read. I ran to my parent's room. With a swoosh! I threw the door open, panicking.

"Mom... Dad..."

"What is it, Rowan?"

I gulped. "The K. D. A has drafted me," I said

Their mouths opened and gasped. I sobbed with them for the rest of that night. I was going into the army; I wasn't suited for the army. I'm a toothpick. Hell, I could barely lift a milk carton.

The next day,

I had my stuff packed and now I was waiting for the K. D. A bus to come to pick me up.

The bus arrived: it was big, blue, and had stripes that ran along the side. I hugged my parents goodbye, and I went on my way onto the bus. I mouthed the word to my parents, "I love you." They mouthed it back. I'll try to make it back to my parents but I can't promise I will so that's why I didn't choose to say that to them and I think that's why they didn't say it to me either.

As I got onto the bus, the driver asked me, "What's your name, sir?"

I hesitated, then responded, "Rowan Cadum, s-ir."

"Ok, what's your date of birth?"

"3/27/37, sir," I said

"Ok, show me your thumb"

I put out my thumb.

"good just like that..." Prick! He pricked my finger. It didn't necessarily hurt, it was just annoying.

"you can go sit down now," the driver said. I walked down the alley as kids looked up at me. They looked surprised or scared.

"They're probably suffering from the trauma still," I thought to myself.

I sat in an open seat near the back. I heard whimpering and sniffles coming from behind me. I looked at the seat behind me. It was a young girl. Probably 12 or 13. She had long, curly brown hair with long bangs that covered her eyes. She looked up at me. I quickly sat back down, acting like I didn't see her.

"O-oh *sniffle, I'm sor-rry I hope I didn't disturb you with my crying, I can move," she said. Her voice was quiet and high-pitched, sort of like a mouse.

"no, no, no, you didn't disturb me I was just wondering where the noise was coming from, that's all," I exclaimed.

"O-ok," the girl stuttered.

She sniffled for most of the ride, but I didn't mind. I had sympathy for her. Being drafted at the age of 12 and being separated from your parents must really suck.

"Psst, Hey you..." the kid that was sitting next to me whispered.

"What?" I asked.

"Why did they prick your thumb?" He asked.

"do they not usually do that?" I asked.

"No, they usually prick your index finger, see." he showed me his index finger, which had a dot band-aid on it.

"Well then, I don't know why they did," I told him.

"Maybe you're special!"

Me special? There was nothing special about me, or at least that I know of.

"Thanks for letting me know I'll ask around when we get there," I told him. He nodded.

"By the way, what's your name?" I asked him.

"I'm Chase," he said.

"Well, nice to meet you, Chase. I'm Rowan."

We shook hands and talked for the rest of the ride. I could tell the girl behind me wanted to join in, but was too shy.

The ride lasted for a few days as we made food stops and stretching stops along the way.

"We're here!" the bus driver said excitedly. No one else was excited. We were all nervous.

"Welcome the K. D. A Base Camp in Florida"

We all gulped and walked off the bus. "Here we go," I thought to myself. This is where our journey as a soldier starts.