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

Gale sighed sarcastically. “Alright fine. I guess you deserve it for behaving anyway.” He produced two energy bars from his robe and slid them both across the floor to Naomi.

Without any hesitation, she immediately ripped into the first one.

“And take this too.” He tossed her a packet of tablets, “You must have an awful headache.”

Whilst Naomi was distracted with the energy bar, Gale quickly glanced over at the one mirror above the sinks which was still perfectly intact and present.

Unknown to Naomi, the mirror was fake. There was a camera behind it that had been monitoring her every move.

Though for some reason, it seemed as though Gale himself was unnerved by this, as though he were also under surveillance.

Chapter 2: Memory Lane

Gwen and Alek were beginning to lose consciousness.

“It’s okay--” Alek tried to reassure her, still clenching her wound. “Whatever happens-- I’m here… Teacher.” He became nostalgic over their scouting trips.

Gwen tried to smile, but this only pained her even further.

“Hey!” One of the now-friendly men opened the front gate, “These two are still alive out here! Doc! They need you!” He shouted backwards into the courtyard.

Three other men then came rushing through the open gate and circled around Gwen and Alek.

“Jesus, these do not look good...” One of them assessed, briefly glancing over the two wounds.

Unfazed by the people around him, Alek continued to focus on Gwen. He repeated, “It’s okay…” To her. Then, his eyelids fluttered, and finally closed, as he passed out.

“Keep pressure on them!”

“What’s her name?”

“Gwen, if you can hear me, this is going to hurt.”

“He’s not breathing!”

“Got a pulse!”

“We’re losing her!”

“Come on! Don’t give up on me! Stay in there!”

Nikola and Rubin waited outside the room in which their new allies were operating on Gwen and Alek. Then, a familiar face came their way.

“Jázmin!” Nikola called out to her and caught her attention.

“What’s happening in there? Are they alright?” She asked after Gwen and Alek.

“It’s impossible to say right now.” Nikola commented.

“Does Annabelle know?” Jázmin asked with seemingly genuine concern.

“Yes. I radioed Petra myself.” She looked down at Rubin who was gripping the radio tightly.

“And Elliot?”

Nikola shrugged. “No idea. We’re not even sure where he is…”

Elliot trod lightly throw the forest, feeling like he was floating. He admired everything happening around him; the sound of the leaves crunching beneath his feet, the sound of the birds touching, and the warm hand of his lover intertwined with his own. The only drawback was that he felt rather light-headed, as though this entire experience was all a dream.

With her freed hand, Olivia brushed Elliot’s cheek. They looked deeply into each other’s eyes.

“Beautiful.” She remarked. “Your soft blue eyes… It’s just like looking out across the ocean.”

Elliot felt as though something was inaccurate about that comment, though he felt ‘too good’ to enquire it any further than that.

“You’re here.” Elliot repeated once again. “This is all that matters, right?”

She nodded and moved her hand down to his chin. Gently, she kissed his lips.

“Aw. How sweet!” A familiar yet unpleasant voice taunted from behind Elliot.

Recognising it, he turned around, and suddenly, his feeling of freedom turned into fright. “Sonia?”

She smiled evilly at him. “Hello again, Elliot. Nice to… Well, see you again.” She taunted.

“Ignore her.” Olivia grabbed his cheek and turned his head back to face her. “She can’t hurt you, Elliot. Not anymore. Just look at me. Everything’s alright.”

“Oh my, I really do admire the way that you lie to him.” Sonia stepped closer.

“I love you.” Olivia told Elliot, desperate to keep his attention on her.

But still, Sonia was set on ruining this ‘special’ moment. “I’m still alive, Elliot. Somewhere out there, I’m alive. I took away your sight, but you were unable to take away my life. Doesn’t seem fair, really, not even by my standards.”

“Bitch!” Olivia drew her pistol out on Sonia.

Elliot stood back, feeling completely helpless.

“Go on then. Do it.” She taunted, glaring Olivia dead in the eyes.

“Olivia, don’t!” Elliot begged. “We can still be better than her!”

Sonia laughed. “Actually, I think it went something more like… This!” She lunged forward at Olivia and stabbed her.

“No!” Elliot cried out and dropped to his knees.

“What?” Sonia pulled her knife out and pushed Olivia back against the tree. “That’s what happened, isn’t it?”

“Let me go… Let me go!” Elliot begged, as the sky turned to grey, and the sunlight disappeared. Heavy rain began to pour, and thunder began to bellow out.

“You’re weak, Elliot! That’s why she’s dead! That’s why she will always die in every little ‘What if?’ dream of yours…” Sonia berated him, and then knelt down to join him on the ground.

Elliot’s eyebrows dipped, as he became cross, “I’m going to kill you one day…”

Once again, Sonia laughed off his threats. “Good luck with that!” Then, she slashed his throat open with her knife.

“Elliot!” Nikola tried to steady him; he was shaking vigourously amidst his dream-turned-nightmare.

Then, he ceased. “N-Nikola?” He recognised her voice. “My eyes…” Elliot held his hands out in front of him; but of course, he could not see them, nor anything at all. “I had it back. My sight was back!” He screamed ferociously, disgruntled at the abrupt ending of his dream. “They’re the only place I can see, Nikola. My dreams.”

“Uh…” She didn’t know what to say. “Elliot, listen, you need to come with me.”

“What? Why?” He asked, as he felt Nikola wrap her arm around his. “You’re doing that gently.” He had learnt to figure out what the mood of a situation was just from how sensitive a person’s touch was. “What’s happened? Is mum alright?”

Nikola sighed. “Just come with me…”

Everything was quiet and