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

side shone through her choice of terminology here, “But I’m afraid it’s a little too early to tell what gender it is.”

“It’s a boy!” Adela exclaimed through her happy tears, having no doubt whatsoever about her baby’s gender. “His name is Danny.” She proudly announced to her nurse.

Erica herself was now becoming tearful; she was having flashbacks to the day that she first found out Cora was going to be a girl. “That’s—It’s a beautiful name… Danny.” Erica was indeed fond of Adela’s choice.

Alek was being rather quiet, keeping to himself in his armchair.

Emile, too caught up in his own worries, had neglected to realise that something was not right with his fiancé.

“My heart—It bleeds for poor Tia.” Emile proclaimed. “She doesn’t deserve any of this,” he was referring to more than Alek would possibly ever realise, “Such a sweet and innocent little girl.” His guilty conscience grew.

Alek remained silent, cradling his shoulder as he did so.

At last, Emile noticed that not all as well, “You alright, dear?”

Alek idly nodded in verification, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“…Is that all?” His partner’s blunt answer was not enough to convince Emile. “Why are you holding your shoulder like that?”

Alek shrugged, causing him to wince lowly.

“Alek?” Emile prompted him with disenchantment, “Show me your shoulder.”

Alek turned away.

“Alek, show me!” Emile marched over to him and pried Alek’s hand away out of its’ clenching position. Then, he tore open the collar of Alek’s shirt. “Oh my God, Alek!” He exclaimed in a frightful astonishment.

Somehow, Alek had been shot. There was a small bullet stick in a wound in his shoulder, the area around it having reddened up with swollen veins.

“What the hell happened to you?” Emile caressed the wound to get a feel for it.

“…Shot.” Alek bluntly responded with a still face.

“Yes, I can see that,” Emile rebutted, “But when?”

Alek sighed, “Before the storm.”

Emile shuddered, his eyes jittering from side-to-side in a heartbroken manner, “…How long, Alek?”

Alek looked up into his lover’s eyes, completely unfazed, “Two days.”

In an instant, Emile rushed Alek onto his feet, “We have to get you to Erica right now!”

“No!” Alek refused as he attempted to break from Emile’s grip.

“Yes, we do, you idiot!” Emile berated him in a caring way. “The bullet didn’t go through, Alek! If we don’t get it removed as soon as possible, the lead will poison you!”

“Just—Leave it.” Alek was becoming too weak now to resist Emile’s ushering.

Ignoring Alek’s mindless grunts and quickly turning the door handle, Emile kicked the door open with force, as he forced Alek out of the cottage.

“Emile… I said no!” He planted his feet firmly on the ground, causing Emile to skid him all the way past the destroyed solar farm.

“Why not? Why don’t you want the bullet removed?” Emile questioned, still forcing Alek along as he did so.

“It’s too—Too risky!” Alek protested as he rapidly shook his head.

“What do you mean it’s too risky?” Emile did not understand this response in the slightest. “Marianne and I removed the last bullet that you got shot with, remember?”

Alek nodded, “Exactly.”

“Okay, let’s stop for a moment.” Emile stood in front of his lover and gripped him firmly on both arms, “What do you mean by ‘exactly,’ Alek? I’ve removed a bullet from you before, so you don’t want me to do it again? How does that make sense?”

With droopy eyes, Alek elaborated, “It’s the same place I got shot before,” he noted, “If you take it out, there’s an increased chance that I will—”

“No, you won’t.” Emile intervened, refusing to let Alek say that word. “You’re gonna be absolutely fine, okay? I’ll—I’ll get you to the hospital, I’ll get Marianne—And Erica! And Tina!” He would throw everything on the line here and now if it meant saving Alek’s life; but how much of that resolve was love and how much of it was guilt?

“Erica’s happy…” Alek further explained, “She’s just found her daughter—I don’t want to start giving her flashbacks to—To Czechia.” He blinked intently in an attempt to keep himself awake.

“Why wouldn’t you at least ask me to help you, then?” Emile further asked with a heartbroken tear.

“…Because I love you, and I hate it when you worry.” Alek asserted. Then, he passed out.

“Alek! Alek, no!” Emile caught his partner as he fell, hoisting him up to carry him in both arms. “That’s it! We’re going to the hospital!” Emile gritted as he bulked himself up to hold Alek’s weight.

In an attempt to get to know the vilomah, Mac was currently on watch at the front gates with Dawn.

Things were rather quiet for some time; Mac didn’t quite know what to say, for everybody only talked about Dawn in one way.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Dawn, finally breaking the silence, informed him. “You’ve got the same look in your eyes that the rest of the people here do when they look at me—That poor, poor woman.”

Mac sighed, “I’m sorry, Dawn. I really am. It’s just—Well, what exactly do you say to someone in—” He didn’t know how to word it politely.

Knowing what Mac was trying to say, Dawn finished his sentence for him, “To someone in the situation of grieving for their deceased child every single day?”

Contritely, Mac nodded.

Dawn turned her entire body to face him now, “You say… Anything. Literally anything.” She affirmed. “Losing your child is one thing, but when everybody around you is too afraid to even acknowledge you? It’s like you’ve lost all of them as well—For a grieving parent, silence is the real killer.” Having wanted to explain this truth to somebody for so long, Dawn just said it for what it was.

“I—I can’t even imagine, Dawn.” Mac shook his head dismayingly, “Nobody deserves to go through that. Not even in these times.”