Read Apex 3: Shaylo Attacks for Free Online Page B

attention she’s giving you.”
    “It’s always nice to have enemies, I guess,” he said resignedly. “I wouldn’t know what to do without them.”
    The truth was that he didn’t give a damn if Hank hated him because they’d never liked each other in the first place. It was no loss at all.
    His mom patted him on the top of the head and then kissed his forehead. “Happy birthday. Get some sleep,” she said before leaving the room.
    Sally entered as soon as she left , with a plate piled high with food. She had fruit jammed in her shorts pockets and two bottles of water clutched in her fist.
    She locked the door and ate with him. She had a voracious appetite, and for more than just food.
    He felt like he was in a dream when she left him. He drifted off into the most pleasant sleep of his entire life.

Heart to Heart
     
    Watson was sitting in the chair beside his bed when he awoke, staring at his hands like he might find the meaning of life nestled somewhere between his fingers.
    He looked up and said, “Oh, hey pal. Glad to see you awake.”
    Jack coughed and sat up straighter, wondering why the heck Watson was there.
    Watson cut right to the chase. “I noticed Ms. Hopkins has taken a shine to you.”
    Jack felt immediately uncomfortable. “I suppose she has.”
    Watson nodded and cleared his throat. “You should know that she’s been through a lot. She lost everyone during the first invasion. She’s a lost soul and she’s vulnerable to influence.”
    Jack’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t know that. It explains why she’s so upset sometimes.”
    “Just be good to her, okay? I don’t want to see her go through any more turmoil.”
    Jack considered Watson’s concern, and realized he was right to be worried. He said, “I’m hardly consistent these days. I’m all over the damn place. Maybe I should take a step back if you’re worried…”
    Watson cut him off. “She doesn’t need stability. She needs strength. I’m not here to tell you to back off. I’m here to tell you that you’re the perfect person for her. She needs someone powerful to look up to and you’re the most powerful man on the planet. But I want you to treat your role in her life with the respect it deserves.”
    Watson was acting like Sally was his own daughter. Then again, most of the troops in his charge were young and most of them had lost someone so it was no wonder he’d stepped in as a sort of surrogate parental figure.
    Jack still wasn’t convinced he could be trusted with someone’s feelings that were so vulnerable.
    He said, “I don’t know, sir. If she needs someone to emulate, I’m not the guy for her. I killed aliens as they tried to escape. I’ve committed several murders in the past month. I know I’m a good person, but sometimes that doesn’t matter. I do terrible things anyway. I’d hate for anyone to think I was worth looking up to.”
    “I disagree. You’ve done what was necessary. That makes you strong. And you’re not a bad person either. You don’t have to be perfect all the time to be a good guy. Let me tell you a story . I think it’s an ancient Native American tale or something. I don’t know and it doesn’t matter.
    “It goes like this: There are two wolves within all of us who fight each other for dominance over our lives. One of them is full of hatred and greed and lacks remorse. The other wolf is gentle, peaceful and kind. Do you know which one will win the fight?”
    Jack shook his head, enthralled by Watson’s newfound demeanor but also by the story.
    Watson said, “The one that wins is the one you feed.”
    Jack smiled. He usually hated crap like that, but this time it was clever and appropriate to the situation.
    “I promise to feed the good wolf from now on,” he said with a halfhearted smile.
    “Good boy. Now get the hell up. You’ve been lounging around for two days and there’s shit to do.”
    Jack chuckled and shuffled towards the edge of the bed as Watson got to his feet and