Free Nemesis: Box Set: Books 1 - 3 by David Beers Page A

said, trying to mimic her earlier words.
    “Hey,” the male figure responded.
    Morena looked at the garbs covering her own body and then looked at those of the father. Completely different. Jeans and a t-shirt on the host while the father wore a collared shirt and tie. Her mind was a constant search and a constant observation—trying to match up the things she saw with the things Bryan knew. She had never attempted something like this before, never needed to.
    She ate the sustenance, what Bryan called breakfast, while the two other people spoke. She kept quiet, listening, and trying to give answers when they spoke, but mainly just trying to understand. Understand what all of this meant, because Morena needed time. She needed to understand more about this world before she could attempt to bring Briten back.
    She would need this Bryan creature to regain some form of consciousness soon. She would need him, though she didn’t like it. She needed him to direct her through this world, at least for a few days.

12
    Present Day
    M ichael opened his eyes before he could identify the noise. He didn’t move, just opened his eyes and stared off the side of his bed.
    “Michael, you up?” His father called from outside the locked door. He probably wasn’t happy about Michael locking his door, but it sounded like he needed something, so he wouldn’t mention it. When his dad wanted something, a lot of Michael’s transgressions could be overlooked, praise God.
    “I am now,” Michael said, still not moving.
    “I’m hungry. Do you want to drive me to Burger King? I’ll buy yours too.”
    Michael looked down at the watch on his wrist, and saw that it was nine in the morning. His father either had started drinking pretty early or was still drunk from last night. He sounded okay though, if a bit slurred, but that was to be expected. He wasn’t angry and that was a blessing Michael couldn’t discount.
    “Okay,” he said, knowing that if he said no, hell would break loose in this trailer.
----
    “ T he Packers are gonna have a good year this year,” his dad said, looking out the front window. Michael could smell a slight odor of booze, but nothing too strong. It meant Wren probably had a few drinks this morning, but at least he wasn’t trying to drive. Sometimes he’d get in his truck regardless of how many vodka Gatorades he’d drank, and no one could stop him.
    Today he’s making smart choices, asking me to drive him and all. Haha.
    “You seen the defensive line they put together?” Wren asked.
    Michael didn’t look over at him, just kept his hands on the wheel. Of course he hadn’t looked at the Packers’ lineup. He didn’t have the time or inclination to look at it. He couldn’t care less about the Packers or football in general.
    “No,” he said.
    Wren went silent for a few moments.
    “How’s school going?”
    And then Michael understood what was happening here. He had thought his dad was just really excited about the Packers’ upcoming season, but this was so much worse than something that simple. His father was trying to hold a conversation. He did this from time to time, and it always pissed Michael off. The every-once-in-a-while check-ins, as if his father actually gave a damn. Most of the times their conversations were just Wren talking up a storm about whatever went through his mind, and Michael acting like he was listening, though none of it mattered to him at all. Either that or his dad was screaming.
    Michael didn’t want to do this now. He didn’t want to talk to his dad, didn’t want to talk about school, didn’t want to talk about football, didn’t want to talk about a single damn thing.
    And yet, Michael couldn’t say any of that. Not if he wanted peace.
    “Not bad. I’ll probably have all A’s this quarter.”
    “Really?” His dad asked, looking over to him now, genuine surprise in his voice.
    “Yeah,” Michael said, nodding.
    “Wow, Mike. That’s…that’s something. When will