Human Nature (Book 4): Human Nature IV by Borthwick, Finlay (13 ebook reader .txt) 📕

from what?” Nate yelled out from the back of the hall with his arms folded.

“From—Well, everything. Animals, other survivors, the weather… Just whatever, really.” Rajan fobbed this query off, for he was neglecting to tell the majority of the group about Garry’s warning; the only other people who knew of the so-called ‘Bandits’ were Michelle, Rob, and Maylene, as these were the only people that Rajan even somewhat trusted.

“And what do we do if we get there and the whole thing’s destroyed?” Vivi joined in with Nate’s derision.

“As long as the walls around the safe zone are still standing, it doesn’t matter what state the area itself is in.” Rajan asserted. “With the right motivation, anything can be rebuilt – And I think that survival is motivation enough for most of us.”

“How—How long will it take to get… To get there?” Yelena asked, attempting to maintain her cool, though it was clear that she was still emotional over her fellow survivor’s death.

“Well,” Rajan, noticing Yelena’s distressed state, answered her question with a delicate tone, “If we leave within the hour, we should make it by sunset. Like I said, the safe zone is right in the heart of London.”

Yelena nodded, “Alright—Alright.” Still misty-eyed, she accepted that this course of action was the most logical one.

“Okay then.” Vivi nodded, no longer wanting to punch holes in Rajan’s plan; though if she knew the truth about why he wanted to get to safety, perhaps she wouldn’t have been so understanding.

Michelle was conversing with Rajan outside.

“We should wait until tomorrow.” Michelle suggested. “If these so-called bandits are even half-as dangerous as your mate Garry described them to be, we don’t wanna get caught out at night-time, do we?”

Rajan nodded, understanding Michelle’s point, but then countered, “They’ve been roaming these streets for years. They’re dangerous and they’re everywhere.” He swallowed hard, “I had this weird feeling on my way back from the rubble… I felt like I was being watched,” He shuddered at the memory, “If my instincts were correct, then it’s entirely possible those bandits out there followed me back and have eyes on this place right now.”

Michelle thought to herself momentarily.

“We have to leave today.” Rajan reiterated boldly to her. “Otherwise, we may not even be alive to see tomorrow.”

Inside the safe zone, many of the residents had flocked to the hotel restaurant following the harrowing hurricane that had claimed one of their own the previous day.

Many of them gathered around the bar; after all, the safe zone had its’ own brewer who produced his own post-apocalyptic cocktail.

“To Richard!” Kieran raised his glass as he proposed a toast to his late friend.

“To Richard!” All of the others at the bar toasted in unison as they clinked their drinks together.

Elliot and Annabelle were sat at their usual table within the restaurant itself, watching as everybody toasted the late Richard along the bar.

“I feel bad for the widow.” Elliot commented.

“I don’t think they were married.” Annabelle corrected her brother.

“Oh,” Elliot shrugged, “But still. Poor soul.” Elliot said sympathetically, for he himself knew it was like to lose the love of your life.

“How’s everything over here?” Erica, appearing out of seemingly nowhere, sat down at the table with her two friends. Cora was following closely behind her.

“Everything’s fine. We’re doing great, Erica.” Annabelle confirmed.

“I can’t believe you found her again.” Elliot remarked to Erica about Cora, completely unaware that she was very much within earshot of his words. “I don’t remember much about Cora, but I do remember her being a sweet kid the first time we lived in this safe zone.”

Then, one of the chairs at the table skidded back as Cora sat down in it.

Elliot straightened himself upright and cleared his throat, “I uh—Hello there, I guess?” He nudged Annabelle lightly, requesting information as to who exactly had just joined them at the table.

“You don’t have to be coy, Elliot.” Cora told him with a smile, noticing how discreet he was being. “You’re blind. I don’t blame you for not realising I was nearby.”

Elliot took a moment to appreciate the fact that both Erica and Cora were in his presence, “I was just saying, it’s so beautiful that you two found each other again.”

“It is indeed.” Cora agreed with a smile as she gazed over at her mother.

Having left the performing arts theatre behind, Rajan was now leading his group into Central London.

“It’s so weird not hearing the sound of car horns every five seconds.” Rob glibly remarked, causing Michelle to chortle lightly.

“Were you a taxi driver?” Vivi asked.

“Not quite.” Rob shook his head. “A bus driver.”

“That must’ve been the most hectic job in the world.” Michelle commented.

“Oh, believe me, it really was.” Rob advocated as he remembered his ‘past life’ and all the mayhem that it brought me. “Being a bus driver and getting stuck in gridlock traffic—Let me tell you, you’ll never know pressure quite like it.”

As Michelle continued to smirk at Rob’s story, she noticed Yelena to her right; the poor girl was walking alone and staring down at the ground, still in complete shock over the brutal death which she had witnessed the previous day.

In an attempt to better get to know her fellow residents, Gwen had opted to take watch duty with Rylie at the main gate; the same gate through which she had arrived via the first time around.

Gwen stood directly in front of the closed gate. Looking through the palings and straight into the tunnel that led up to the gate, she replayed the memory in her mind of driving through it in Vincent’s pickup truck.

“You lived here before, didn’t you?” Rylie queried, having noticed Gwen’s revering.

She nodded in confirmation, “Only for a little while, but yes.”

Rylie traced Gwen’s gaze, and now looked through the gate