Bathed in the glow of the moonlight, Arlo lay on his back, his gaze fixed on the stars above, lost in peaceful contemplation.
'What happened?'
"BOOOOM!"
Another explosion shattered the silence, sending a shower of fiery debris over Arlo. The blast left his ears ringing and a searing pain in his stomach. Yet, Arlo didn't flinch; he continued to stare at the sky. His eyes stung from the gunpowder that had splattered on his face, and tears welled up, not from the irritation but from a deeper pain.
Arlo realized his life had come to an abrupt end, once again.
"HELP!" The air was filled with frantic cries for help.
"Help Arlo, he is on fire," a stranger rushed to Arlo's aid, dousing him with a bucket of water as his shirt smoldered. The man used his jacket to smother the remaining flames.
"Arlo, are you okay?" the man asked, helping Arlo to sit up.