O.N.E. Mateo

The innocent 4-year-old Mateo Angel García, orphaned by the pandemic, is thrown into the foster care system. His life becomes a roller-coaster as he bounces from one family to another. Being more intelligent and driven than most is his only constant.

This new foster home is pure torture.

Treated like slaves, given the bare minimum and abuse reports ignored, the kids have to protect each other and try to find a way to stop the madness.

Mateo’s friends and chosen family are working hard to help the kids legally, but their efforts are constantly blocked.

If only he was like them...

Mateo has to discover their secrets, keep them, learn their world, and live through being Jenny’s favorite target of abuse.

The future depends on all the pain he's suffering, according to the mischievous Goddess Bastet.

A group of paranormal zealots by the name of O.N.E. are constantly ruining his and his loved one's happiness.

Darkness haunts his every step.

The thing about Mateo is... he can always find the light in the darkness, and he will do everything in his power to fight back!

*************

I see Patricia seething and realize she's seen my arm. I fasten a few buttons and try to hide it, but it's too late.

"Mateo. What. Is. That?" Everyone stops to look and find out why she's so angry.

"It's fine. I..."

"Show me." she demands.

"Yes, ma'am." I sigh in defeat. I know better than to argue, and she's still my case worker, on leave or not. As soon as my arm is uncovered, anger and shock fill the faces of the people around us. "She's been arrested!" I blurt out, and the tension eases.

"That she has!" Mark announces, walking up the stairs. "I'm not sure it'll stick. There weren't witnesses, and she claims to have grabbed him to keep from falling." Out of the corner of my eye, I see Angelise shake her head 'No' with a pained expression. Mark looks sad. I wonder what that was about? "That's okay." He tries to highlight the good in the situation, "It's on record, at least. Let's have tea, and we can all discuss the plan."

...

I'm lying awake, staring at the decal painting on my ceiling, too energized to sleep. Hushed whispers catch my ears, and I hear Tía Emily cry out in pain from the yard. I look out my window. It looks like her arm is broken. How did that happen? I keep watching, and it's like she's possessed! I'm shocked, and everyone is so calm. I go to scream at them to help her when a hand is placed over my mouth. Before I can panic too much, Angelise comes into view and holds her finger to her lips, telling me to keep quiet. I turn around to see it was Eian covering my mouth, and our squad has gathered. They all keep quiet and give me the signal to watch like we would in paintball.

...

I lay in bed trying to calm my heart when my door opens and Abuela Edwards comes in. She kisses my cheek and whispers, "I know what you saw mijo. Please keep an open mind. If you were one too, all of this would be so much easier." I roll over and give her a questioning look. "If we knew your grandparents or any relation that was one of us, like Gemma, we could have you out of the system." she's silently crying. I move quickly to hug her.

"It's okay, promise. You're doing all you can."