Changing Our World: The Faction, #0.5

By Erin Osborne

One second.

That's all it takes to completely wreck someone's entire world.

Every single aspect of my life changes at the tender age of eight. Not only do I lose my favorite person in the world, but the entire town turns their back on me. I lose the only close friends I've ever had and they move on with their lives as if I never existed for them. 

One day.

That's all it took for the vultures to descend like a pack of wolves. With no one at my side, the bullies come at me from all sides. Even from the one person I never believed would treat me as horrible as they do. There's no way to defend myself from so many willing to attack me just because they don't like me for their own various reasons.

Silence.

I suffer in silence on a daily basis. No one knows the shame I carry or the pain filling me. There are days I want to end it all. To live a peaceful existence without all the torment. I'll never tell anyone the truth of what I feel or how bad I just want it all to go away.

Now, I have to live in my hell. To keep going and face every single demon torturing me because it's not just my life at stake any longer. There is someone I'll give up my life to protect and he deserves the entire world. Too bad I don't realize I'm not the only one suffering for the decisions made we have no control over. 

 

This is a why choose story where the FMC will not have to choose between her men. This is the prequel to the story and the first book will release soon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Erin Osborne
• Release date: Nov 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215981085

Book preview

Chapter One

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Arabella

Eight years old

TODAY IS A big day for me. At least that’s what my daddy tells me. My mom can’t be bothered to say anything about it. Though, she doesn’t say a lot when it comes to my daddy’s parents. I guess they don’t like one another. However, today, I’m finally big enough to go to one of my grandparent’s parties. They’re mainly for the big people, but sometimes kids get to go too. Today is the first time I get to go to one that’s not for my birthday or something for my daddy or me. I’m really excited even if I’m trying to hide it. My mom doesn’t like me getting too hyper or showing much emotion at all when she’s around. Especially when it comes to going to my grandparent’s house. Though, I love spending time with my grandma. She loves me and gives me the best hugs ever. My grandpa always tells me stories. And I get to eat all the cookies my grandma makes.

Sweet pea, are you ready to go? my daddy asks me, walking in my room where I’ve been sitting quietly on my bed.

Yes, I tell him, my smile so big it hurts my face.

Grandma’s waiting for you. Let’s hit the road.

I follow my daddy from my room as we head to the car parked out front. My mom isn’t anywhere I can see her as we go through the house. I’m not sure what she does when we’re not home, but lately my mom doesn’t do anything with us. She’s always alone and barely comes out of her room when I’m home. It’s a horrible feeling to believe she doesn’t like me. A secret feeling I keep to myself because I don’t want to hear my daddy getting mad at her again. They fight too much and I won’t be the reason my daddy leaves us. Though, my mom has told me more than once when he does leave it will be because of me. Everything that happens here is my fault and there’s nothing I can do that’s ever right if you ask my mom.

Daddy helps me in his car, making sure my seatbelt is buckled tight before closing the door and going to the driver’s side to get behind the wheel. When he starts the car, the music from the radio is blasting so loud I shriek and cover my ears. Playing his music loud is something my dad always does when I’m not in the car with him. Currently one of his favorite songs is playing through the speakers as he hurriedly turns down the volume. Someday Never Comes by Creedence Clearwater Revival is a song I’ve heard almost on a daily basis for as long as I can remember. My daddy knows every single word to the song as he begins singing along with the music. I love listening to him sing along to whatever song is playing when we’re in the car or at home. His voice is magical.

I watch out the window as my daddy drives us through town. Everything looks so clear and bright today as the sun shines down on the world around me. People walk up and down the streets laughing and talking together while looking at the various stores lined up on Main street. My eyes lock on the library as I wish to go there again. Daddy took me last week and it’s filled with more books than I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I want to read them all. Travel to distant lands, make new friends who will never be taken from me, and learn so many new things. When I was in there the last time, I read two books while my daddy was looking for something of his own to read. Now, I want to go back but I’ll have to wait a few more days for him to be ready to return his book.

As we head out of town, I look at the trees lining the side of the road as the buildings get farther and farther apart. Once my daddy turns to make our way up the hill to my grandparent’s house, I won’t see anything but tall trees blowing in the breeze of the day. It’s a trip we’ve taken countless times and I love watching the trees. They’re so strong as they bend and move in the wind. While I love watching them move in the breeze, nothing beats seeing them as the leaves begin to change colors and turn into the brilliant orange, yellow, and reds. It means my favorite time of the year is here and it’s time for hot cocoa and the cold weather to come in. We don’t always get a ton of snow, but that’s okay. It’s not like my mom will let me go out and play in it when my daddy isn’t home.

Riding up the hill, I take in the large gate in the distance. It keeps everyone else out of where my grandma and grandpa live. You have to give your name to the men at the little building in front of the gate and then they open them for you. At least that’s what has always happened when my daddy shows up. I don’t know what happens if you don’t have your name on the paper they always look at when we get here. The men who stand at the gate scare me. They never smile and always kind of have a mean look on their faces. It doesn’t matter who’s standing guard, their look is always the same. They also have weapons on the belts around their waist. I’m scared to know what happens if someone shows up and they aren’t allowed behind the gates.

Name? one of the scary men bark out as my daddy rolls down his window.

Ben and Arabella Moore, my dad says, a smile on his face as he looks at me.

With a nod of the scary man’s head, the other guy opens the gate. My daddy doesn’t roll his window up until we’re ready to move through the gate and away from the men. I’m not sure why he does this, but it’s always the same. Maybe it’s what you’re supposed to do.

Are you ready to see grandma and grandpa? Daddy asks me, a large smile on his face as he slowly passes all the large homes behind the gate.

These houses are the biggest ones I’ve ever seen in my life. My grandma’s house is so large I think everyone behind the gate could live in it and there would still be plenty of room. I love seeing the stone, shiny stuff, and wood that make up these large houses. Everything behind the gate looks perfect and part of me wants to live here so I can feel like a princess living in a castle. That’s how big these houses are. Sadly, I only get to visit every now and then before returning to our smaller home and my mother.

***

My grandma had her ladies work on me as soon as we got here. They did my hair, changed my dress, and made sure my face and hands are clean. I must not have done a good enough job when I took a shower at home this morning. I’ll have to remember to do better the next time I come here with daddy. I’m now wearing a white dress with a big, puffy skirt. It twirls when I move around and skims across my legs. My grandma told me how pretty I was as she led me back down the large staircase while holding my hand. The ladies also put my hair up in a ponytail. I was wearing it down because my mother doesn’t like doing my hair. She gets all grumpy and yells at me if I ask her for her help. So, I usually wear it down and just brush it. That’s something I can do on my own.

Walking outside holding my grandma’s hand, I frantically search the yard for my daddy. There are so many people here. All adults I’ve never seen before. The ladies are wearing dresses in all the colors of the rainbow and the men are wearing suits and ties. It’s what my daddy usually wears to work. My grandma leads me over to a table and helps me in a chair before kneeling down to talk to me really quick.

Sweetheart, I’m gonna leave you at the table. There are some people I have to talk to. You can eat and drink anything you like here, okay? Your daddy is talking to a few guys he went to school with, but he’s here. I’m sure there are some other kids around here. I don’t want you going anywhere without letting your daddy, grandpa, or me know, she tells me, a smile on her face.

Okay, Grammy, I say, returning her smile with one of my own.

I remain at the table as men and women walk through the party carrying trays of food and drinks. A few of them stop by the table I’m at and offer me some of what they’re carrying around. One of the ladies even brings me over a chocolate milk. It’s in a fancy glass and I’m scared to drink out of it in case I make a mess or break it. With all the adults here today, I know I’d be in trouble for sure.

As I look out at the party and see all the adults talking and laughing together in small groups all over the backyard of my grandma’s house, I catch a glimpse of some boys running around. They look older than me and I know I’ve never seen them before. I stretch out my neck and try to find those boys again. Excitement flows through me at the thought of having other kids to play with. They’re running like crazy around the yard and through the people so it must be allowed. I haven’t seen anyone yelling at them yet.

Why are you sitting over here all by yourself? a voice says from behind me, scaring me as I almost knock over the fancy glass of chocolate milk.

Turning my head I see five boys standing behind me. They look like the boys who were just running through the party. Two of the boys look identical to one another and I do a double-take at them. The boys start laughing as they continue staring at me.

What’s your name? another one of the boys asks me, a smile on his face. My name is Fallon. These other boys are Kash, Dash, Dante, and Braxtyn. You haven’t been here before. Who are you?

Fallon stands just a little bit in front of the other boys. He’s wearing a suit like the other men here today with shiny shoes covering his feet. His hair is longer than everyone else’s too. It’s brown with these blond streaks through it. Like someone used a paint brush to put the other color in his hair. Looking in his eyes, they have flecks of gold in them. Fallon’s skin is also tan where I can see his hands, face, and neck.

Kash stands a little behind the other boys. His blond hair is cut short and brushed to the side. The blue of his eyes shocks me because they’re so bright. I’m drawn to his eyes and can’t seem to pull my gaze away from them. Like Fallon, his skin is tan as if he spends all of his time outside and has to be dragged inside at the end of the day. Kash is also wearing a suit like the other boys. His shoes aren’t as shiny though. I want to giggle as I look at them because he stands out among his friends with his shoes that aren’t perfect. Kind of how I’m feeling today—not perfect and pretending to be someone I’m not.

Dash and Dante are the ones who look identical. They both have dark hair that’s shaved down shorter than everyone else’s. There’s not enough hair on their heads to brush. As I take in their tan skin and suits, I make my way back up to looking at their faces. There has to be a difference in the two boys somewhere. When my gaze lands on their eyes, I spot the difference. One of the boys has brown eyes so dark they almost look black to me. The other eyes are a lighter brown and have a green ring lining the edge of them. They both smile at me as I try to figure out which one is Dash and who is Dante.

Who are you? I ask the boy with nearly black eyes.

I’m Dash, he says, a bright smile covering his face.

And you’re Dante? I turn to the identical boy next to him.

With a nod of his head, he looks away from me and out at the adults in the yard. Must not be much of a talker.

Turning my attention to the last boy in the group, he’s taller than the others by a little bit. Braxtyn is his name. He’s got longer dirty blond hair with sparkling dark blue eyes. They almost look navy in color as I stare at them for a few seconds too long. Like the other boys, he’s wearing a suit with the shiny shoes. There’s a small stain on the cuff of his shirt that looks like grass as if he stopped himself from sliding along the ground. Braxtyn doesn’t bother trying to hide the stain as he smiles at me.