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

sombre back in the town. Erica and Tina were taking a slow evening stroll.

“It’s just… It’s not right.” Tina remarked with regards to Gwen. “All that talk Elliot gave us about remembering those we lost; now it looks we’ll be adding our best friend to the list.”

Erica was just as silent as the atmosphere around her.

Noticing this, Tina decided to interrupt the quietness with a thoughtful idea. “Maybe we should go and see how Annabelle is doing. Petra’s a lovely lady, but she doesn’t have the same connection to that girl as we do. What do you think?”

Erica stared at the ground with a blank face, suppressing her emotions, and then nodded in agreement.

“Well, on the bright side,” Rubin optimistically said to Jázmin, “At least J.V. and his family are down for good. We’ve made some new friends too!”

“Yeah, yeah we have.” She affirmed and nodded with a light smile; though her eyes suggested she was playing along with an ulterior motive.

From the end of the corridor, Elliot and Nikola entered from around the corner.

“Elliot!” Jázmin called out and rushed over to him, taking over from Nikola as his support.

“Mum. Where’s mum?” He was straight to the point.

Jázmin looked to Nikola, “Haven’t you told him?”

“Told me what? What’s going on? Just tell me already!”

Nikola shook her head, “It’s better if he sees it… Well, senses it, for himself.”

Elliot’s whole world stopped; the void filled only by his ear drums pounding.

“Get the door for us.” Jázmin requested of Rubin, who complied.

Cautiously, Jázmin helped Elliot into the room.

“Here.” She stretched his arms out one-at-a-time onto Gwen’s torso.

There were no more words to be said; Elliot was completely shattered.

“She is frail.” Petra informed Erica and Tina before they entered Annabelle’s room. “As you have said, I do not know her how the two of you know her. I have difficulty with English still, but I think I heard her whispering of a man; ‘Andy’.”

Erica and Tina looked at each other, realising now just how badly Annabelle was holding up.

“If help is needed, I am here.” Petra bowed her head respectfully before opening the door for her acquaintances.

Erica entered the bedroom first.

On the other side of the bed, Annabelle stood upright, staring out of the window.

With feet like a ninja, she hastily and quietly made her way to Annabelle’s side, and then deeply embraced her. “Whatever happens, we will always look after you.” She could feel Annabelle trembling in her arms and could hear her snivelling as well.

A tear formed in Tina’s eye as she watched Annabelle bury her head into Erica’s shoulder.

“I will give you time.” Petra whispered, closing the door on them.

While Jázmin had exited the room again, Elliot was still holding on tightly to his stepmother. “Is she going to die?” His voice cracked as he asked this, fearful of the truth.

The room became suspiciously quiet.

“I know you’re still in here.” Elliot commented. “Is my mother going to die?”

“…Your mother could live.” The man responded from the other side of the room, currently observing Alek’s vital signs. “Your friend here may live as well.” He added optimistically, trying to draw away from the possibility of death.

“Were you a doctor? Before, I mean…” Though part of him genuinely wanted to know this, he was also trying to distract himself as well.

“Not quite. I was a shrink.” He corrected Elliot.

Elliot nodded, “Of course. That explains why you answered a different question to the one answered.” He referred to how the man had said the two ‘patients’ may live, despite asking if they would die.

“The name’s Emile, by the way.” He was about to go over to Elliot and offer a handshake, but then remembered he was blind upon looking up and seeing his cold grey eyes.

“I’m Elliot, but I’m guessing someone told you that already.” He deduced.

“Yep.”

“That accent… What is that?” Again, while still genuinely curious, Elliot was also trying to distract himself.

Emile laughed. “If you’re wondering where I’m from, the answer is Denmark. My accent is one-of-a-kind; a ‘perk’ of being born to an English mother and a Danish father, if you will.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the door opening.

“Jázmin? Is that you?” Elliot asked, still stretching his arms out to keep physical contact with Gwen.

“Uh…” A female voice replied, though it was not a familiar one. “Who are you again?”

“His name is Elliot.” Emile answered for him. “Elliot, meet Marianne. My best friend in the whole wide world.”

Elliot grunted; for his best friend was currently dying underneath his hands.

“There’s over twenty of us in this place.” Emile revealed. “Most of the folks have run back to their families now that the Valerinos are extinct.”

“And you two? Why are you still here?” Elliot asked seemingly ungratefully, but in truth, he was just very much confused as to why Emile and Marianne were trying to save two total strangers that would’ve killed them in a heartbeat less than an hour ago.

“The father of my child left me long before the world ended,” Marianne answered first. “My son meant everything to me. It didn’t matter how young I was, I loved him from birth until--”

Elliot nodded, understanding how that sentence was going to end. “And you?” He addressed Emile.

“A similar story. My family was only ever one person, but he’s long gone now. I’ve got nobody to go back to… But I know that she does.” He pointed to Gwen, though Elliot could only figure this out from his emphasis on the pronoun.

“I’m sorry.” Elliot struggled to say these words, but ultimately, everybody in this room was human and had emotions. “For your losses. I’m sorry.”

“What about you?” Marianne turned the question around. “Apart from your mother, I mean; you got anyone else these days?”