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

Again, Erica did not respond.

Tina look several steps in and repeated the question at the same normal volume once more, “What colour is an orange?”

“It’s—Well, it’s orange.” Erica had, for a splitsecond, thought that this was actually a trick question.

“Hmm.” Tina raised her brow in curiosity as she lowered her voice once more, “What is the capital of France?”

“Sorry?” Erica asked as her ears pricked up, “Did you ask something just then?”

Tina sighed and strode slowly over to her wife’s side, “You’re immediate hearing, as it were, is definitey getting back to normal, that’s the good news.”

“…So, what’s the bad?” Erica hesitantly asked.

“Well, beyond that, I’m afraid the improvements are minimal to none whatsoever.” Tina revealed. “I think that the best of your improvements have already happened, dear. I don’t think you’re hearing’s ever gonna quite go back to normal.”

Erica laughed, “Well, that’s alright.”

Tina found this reaction to be rather peculiar, “Is it though?”

“Yes,” Erica affirmed as she removed her blindfold, “It just means that we’re gonna have to spend a lot more time together so that I can lipread off of you.” She winked.

Flushed, Tina tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. Then, she moved in passionately kiss her lover.

Chapter 15: The Martyr

Being held at gunpoint still, Nolan and Donna had escorted Nikola, Rubin, Kieran, and Valorie to the side of a large warehouse.

“It’s a trick.” Valorie grumbled, not believing that the two untrustworthy bandits had led the group to the right location.

“Oh, it’s not a trick.” Donna rebutted with a smirk.

Getting restless now, Valorie moved around in front of Donna. Then, with a smirk of her own, she raised Nolan’s own rifle towards him, “Isn’t it?”

Donna shook her head and rolled her eyes, “How ironic that you’re the real idiot in this situation.” She taunted Valorie, knowing that she was not going to pull the trigger.

“Brave words coming from the woman whose mate currently has two guns pointed at him.” Valorie referred to Kieran, who was still holding a pistol to the back of Nolan’s head.

“Alright, this is getting boring now.” Donna commented, before loudly shouting out, “Euan! Visitors!”

As Donna’s voice echoed out, everyone else fell silent and looked around the streets in befuddlement.

“Donna? Is that you?” A voice shouted down, peering over the rooftop of the warehouse.

Instantly, everybody looked up.

“These ‘lovely’ people want to have a little chat!” Donna yelled up. “Mind if we come on up there?”

Euan debated in his mind for several moments, stroking his chin as he did so. “Alright!” He finally called back down as he disappeared from view again.

“Well,” Kieran began, “This should be interesting, to say the least.”

After the group had ascended to the warehouse rooftop with their hostages still at gunpoint, the atmosphere was quickly rather tense.

On one side, Rubin and Nikola had Nolan and Donna apprehended with pistols, whilst Valorie was aiming across the rooftop with Nolan’s rifle towards Euan’s henchmen. Kieran was standing face-to-face with Euan himself in the centre of this makeshift battlefield.

On the other side, Johnno and another bandit were stood several metres away from Euan whilst aiming M1 carbines towards their new foes.

“Do you like our carbines?” Euan taunted Kieran, so close to him that he could smell what he had eaten for breakfast that morning. “We looted a royal armoury and took those beautiful bolt-action weapons of war for ourselves.” It was clear that he was quite the firearms fanatic.

“I don’t give a shit about your guns,” Kieran brushed his opponent’s taunting off, “I want to know what the fuck you lot are planning.”

Euan looked at him condescendingly, “We’re planning to take all your shit and then kick you out of our territory.”

Kieran squinted at him suspiciously, “And what about the people in the safe zone?”

Euan chortled, “We’ve no conflict with them. Just as those walls are their territory, these streets – Kyle’s streets – are ours.” He revealed why the safe zone had not been attacked or occupied hitherto now.

“Then what was it your little underdogs here were talking about earlier?” Kieran nodded back to Nolan and Donna, “About your little plan?”

Euan sighed, “Well, to tell you the truth, we weren’t going to lay a finger on your group until you killed poor little Benji the other day.” Although he had counted on Benji being killed, Euan still played along as though his comrade’s death was not his responsibility.

“Look, for the last time,” Kieran stated, “We don’t know what group you’re talking about—We’ve already said this much to your comrades too!”

“All the same,” Euan fobbed him off, “Whether or not you were apart of that little group,” he was very much aware that they weren’t, “We need to make the score even for Benji’s death… That means we now, in fact, do have a reason to attack the safe zone.” Euan had been searching for a reason to attack the place for a long time, though could never bring himself to have territorial control as his justification for doing such a thing.

Kieran tried to warn Euan off of acting on his plan with a stern look.

Then, Euran declared, “In Kyle’s honour, we shall take the safe zone and make it a part of his—”

Kieran burst out with laughter right in Euan’s face.

Though Euan’s expression indicated that he was quite far from amused.

“Kyle this! Kyle that! What is he? Your fucking martyr?” Kieran questioned as he continued to laugh hysterically.

“Yes.” Euan bluntly confirmed. “Kyle taught us not to live in fear of others. Kyle taught us to be the others that people were afraid of. And now, here we are, in full control of the streets which straggling survivors like you dare not to step foot in.”

Kieran’s laughter faded away as