Human Nature (Book 4): Human Nature IV by Borthwick, Finlay (book recommendations website .TXT) 📗

“Richard!” Rubin cried out, directing Richard’s attention towards him. “Look out!” Rubin noticed the large object hurtling towards Richard at an alarming rate.

As Richard turned back around to face the oncoming debris, his eyes widened in shock and horror, for it was too late to step out of its’ path.

‘CLUMP!’

The fierce gale had smashed the large object directly into and then over Richard’s head. Instantly, a large gash broke out on his brow, followed by galloons of blood seeping from it.

Narrowly dodging out of the way, Rubin glared at the object as it breezed past him as well now; it was the detached door of an old sports coupe…

Having turned around slowly, Richard now stumbled through the merciless thunderstorm towards Gwen and Petra. “Help—Help me…” He requested of them in a low tone, due to his shock and concussion. Then, seconds later, his eyes rolled back as he collapsed.

“Richard! Oh God!” Gwen ran to Richard’s side, catching him as he fell. “Richard! Wake up!”

Petra and Rubin looked over at each other with expressions of fear on their face; though they were not as afraid of the horrors of the storm as they were of how Valorie would react to what had just happened.

Gwen firmly placed two fingers against Richard’s neck. “Shit, shit!” She cursed in urgency before then placing her fingers against his wrist; but no matter where she checked, the result was the same.

“How is he?! Gwen?!” Rubin yelled down at her, exasperating his lungs in order to be heard over the storm.

Ruefully, Gwen turned around and looked up at Petra and Rubin. Sombrely shaking her head, she announced, “He’s gone…”

There was erratic knocking at the door.

Still warming themselves up by the fireplace, Nikola and Valorie looked to each other in unease.

The erratic knocking occurred a second time.

Without a second thought, Nikola rose from the fireplace and ran towards the door. But before she had even completely turned the handle, it was forced open from the outside.

With a flurry of torrential rain behind them, Petra and Rubin came rushing in; though Rubin was carrying ‘something’ wrapped in a blanket in his arms.

“What happened?” Nikola asked, shocked to see how large the ‘object’ which Rubin was carrying was.

“We had to make a detour to the hotel on the way back.” Rubin revealed. “Gwen gave us a blanket.” He gestured to what he was carrying his arms.

“A blanket?” Nikola was confused. “What would you need a blanket--?” And then, as she realised that Richard was not standing with Petra and Rubin, it became clear to her what had happened.

“Yeah.” Rubin nodded remorsefully upon noticing the expression of shock and realisation fall upon Nikola’s face.

“May I?” Nikola politely asked as she hovered her hand over the blanket.

Permitting Nikola to do so, Rubin faced away.

Cautiously, she unwrapped the top layer of the blanket.

Inside, it was indeed the corpse of Richard, still sporting the large and fatal gash on his forehead, with crusty blood having dried up in the crevice.

Nikola sighed and looked to the ground in remorse. Then, she gazed over towards the fireplace; Valorie was none the wiser to what had happened. She was still innocently warming her hands up in front of the flame.

“Who will say it to her?” Petra asked.

Nikola raised her hand in affirmation, still facing towards the fireplace. “I’ll tell her.”

Petra and Rubin watched dismayingly as Nikola took those slow and sorrowful steps towards the late Richard’s next of kin.

Down in the basement, the water level had now risen above Cora and Mac’s shin.

“Come on! Just a little more effort!” Mac clenched his teeth as he and Cora put all their strength into shifting the crate that blocked the gaping hole.

But then, Cora noticed something. “Wait—Listen!”

“What?” Mac queried.

“Just listen!”

And so, the duo took several seconds to listen to their surroundings. Much to their surprise, everything was now still. The rain was no longer beating down outside, nor was the wind rapidly blowing against the basement door.

“Look!” Cora proclaimed excitedly as she pointed up towards the crate; water was no longer trickling down from around the edges.

“Yes!” Mac punched the air jovially.

“You see! I told you we’d be okay!” Cora was so excitable that she wrapped her arms around Mac and embraced him tightly.

“You were right indeed, Cora.” Mac affirmed with a smile as he rested his chin on top of her head; their difference in height was perfect for cheerful hugs such as these.

Then, the good news quickly became even better.

“Hello? Is anybody in here?” A muffled voice called out from the house above.

Requiring verification that what they had just heard was real, Mac and Cora both broke from their embrace and looked each other in the eyes.

“You heard it too?” Mac asked.

Cora nodded blithely.

“Yes! Yes, there is!” Mac cried out. “We’re down here! Oh God, we’re here!”

“…Mac? Is that you?” The muffled voice queried.

Mac scurried up the basement stairs and flattened himself against the door, “Yes! Yes, it is! Who’s that?”

“It’s Kieran!”

Never had Mac been so happy to hear Kieran’s voice.

“Hang on! I’m gonna get you out of there, okay? Just sit tight! The storm’s over now!” Kieran informed them with all the good news that they needed to hear.

But things weren’t universally happy across the safe zone.

“It was my fault!” Valorie wailed, blaming herself for Richard’s demise. “He only went out there because I thought I’d heard something! I—It’s—It’s not fair!” She broke down into a flurry of tears, resting her head on Nikola’s shoulder as she did so.

“He was a good man, Val.” Nikola espoused. “He went out there so that you wouldn’t have to. You’re right, it’s not fair. But he gave up his life trying to