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

Now, Valorie was the one with the conniving smirk. Upon hearing Euan’s back break, and his screaming abruptly stop, against the ground, she ran over towards Donna and struggled with her to take her revolver.

“Bitch!” Donna clenched her teeth as she continued to fight with Valorie for possession of the handgun.

Letting his guard down, Nolan took his gun off of Rubin and now aimed it towards the bloody and worn-out Kieran.

But Rubin was not going to let his new friend die on this day. In an act of vengeance, and thinking in the spur of the moment, he bit down hard on Nolan’s shin.

“Argh!” Nolan winced out in pain, causing him to instinctively drop the rifle.

With Nikola’s assistance, Valorie had finally snatched the gun from Donna and now had her on her knees.

“Drop it!” Johnno ordered Valorie. “You’ve got three seconds, and then I’ll-–”

“Fuck you!” Rubin yelled at Johnno in the same moment that he shot him with Nolan’s M1 carbine.

As Johnno clenched the fresh bullet wound in his chest, Rubin shot him again. This time, the force of the bullet had sent him off of the roof as well; Johnno had just met the same demise as his de-facto leader.

Rubin was left in shock, for although he had just saved his friends, he had not killed another man in a long time, nor was he hoping that he’d ever have to do such a thing again.

With no eyes on him, Nolan proclaimed, “Fuck this!” Sprinting as fast as he could, he made a break for the open hatch and retreated down into the warehouse beneath.

“Hey!” As Nikola went to give chase, Valorie held her back, “Let him go… Let’s stay better than them.” She justified her ethics.

Although Nikola groaned at letting her enemy go, she knew that Valorie was in the right, and thus complied.

“Now then,” Valorie bent down and looked Donna dead in the eyes, “You’re coming back to the safe zone with us, and then—Well, then you’re gonna tell us everything about your group.” She revealed to her nemesis.

Chapter 16: Spoken Secrets

In the operating theatre, Alek had finally woken up. Much to his delight, the first thing he noticed through his blurred vision was Emile sitting at his bedside. “Hey…” He addressed his fiancé pleasantly.

But Emile’s expression could not be anything further to the contrary; he had a large, glum, and disappointed frown on his face.

To help unblur his vision, Alek rubbed his eyes intently and then squinted several times. Now, he could see just how displeased Emile looked.

“The bullet’s out. Just take your antibiotics and you’ll be fine. That’s what Erica said, anyway.” Emile apathetically informed him.

Alek coughed dryly, “What’s—What’s wrong?” He was slurring his words as he recovered from the surgery and was also slightly caught off the guard by the large medical patch that had been placed over his shoulder where the wound was.

“Who shot you, Alek?” Emile had waited long enough for his answers and was not going to wait any longer.

Alek reached for the cup of water next to his bed and gulped the whole thing, completely ignoring Emile’s question.

“Why won’t you tell me?” Emile insisted. “Are you… Hiding something from me?” He became worried, fearful that perhaps Alek had somehow found out about ‘the secret.’

Alek continued to blank him.

“Alek, please. I’m here for you, whatever it is.” He took his fiancé’s hand and gripped it tightly, “Please Alek, talk to me baby.”

Alek shook his head dismissively, “It doesn’t matter. It was just some randomer who was deluded after the plane crash.”

Emile did not believe this for one single second, “Alright… Now let’s have the truth, please.”

Alek sighed, “Look, Emile, I just need you to trust me on this, it doesn’t matter.”

But until Emile knew for certain whether or not Alek was aware of his secret, he had to press him for answers, “If you don’t tell me who shot you, Alek, I swear I will tie up and torture every single person here.”

Although Alek knew Emile was neither physically nor mentally capable of doing such a thing, he could appreciate how much such a gesture reflected the love that he had for him.

‘Knock-knock-knock!’

Much to both men’s surprise, they had a visitor in the operating theatre.

“Come in!” Alek called out, trying to slyly avoid Emile’s questioning of him.

The door opened, and into the theatre came Marianne.

“Marianne!” Alek was joyful to see the woman who had removed the bullet from him the first time that he was shot.

“I heard about what happened!” Marianne professed in shock, “My goodness, are you alright, Alek?”

“I’m fine.” He confirmed with a bright smile.

“The bullet’s already been taken out,” Emile informed her, “Looks like you were a little late to the party this time.” He bantered.

Marianne laughed in kind, then joined Emile at Alek’s bedside.

Noticing the concerned expression on her face, Alek felt obliged to ask Marianne, “Is everything alright?”

“With me? Everything’s fine, yes.” She answered casually. “Alek, it’s you that I’m worried about—Who the hell shot you?”

Emile turned back to Alek and raised an eyebrow at him, seconding Marianne’s question.

Alek sighed, “As I’ve already said to my beloved here, it was just a deluded passenger after the crash.”

Marianne was baffled by this answer, “So you had that bullet in your shoulder for four days?”

Again, Emile raised an eyebrow at Alek, agreeing with Marianne’s call.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. The bullet didn’t hit anything crucial, that’s why I was fine up until earlier today.” Alek proclaimed with confidence.

“Even so,” Marianne stroked her chin in curiosity, “It’s not as if we were flying with a bunch of strangers… Everybody on that plane knew each other. So, which one of your friends is in an unfit state of mind that