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

up a Smith & Wesson revolver that was silver-plated with a wooden handle.

Marianne looked down at the gun in her hands as she caressed it with her thumb; for with this weapon, she was intending on doing something rather unthinkable…

Elliot was brushing his hand along a rack of rifles. He would briefly feel up and down each weapon in order to figure out what it was.

“Crap.” He remarked about the first one.

“Crap.” He remarked about the second one.

“Looks cool… But crap.” He remarked about the third one.

“Crap.” He remarked about the fourth one.

“Bingo!” He finally proclaimed as he pulled the fifth rifle out of its’ slot and loaded a magazine into it; it was a Colt M16.

“What the hell are you doing down here?” Annabelle approached her brother from behind.

“I’m gearing up.” Elliot bluntly answered.

Annabelle rolled her eyes, “I mean why are you doing that? All due respect Elliot, but you’re gonna be a lot more useful with words than rifles equipped.”

Elliot tittered at this remark, “My senses are ace, Annie. I can literally pick up on people’s emotions.” Although he was in fact good at reading atmospheres around him, this was more of a psychological ability than an empirical one.

“Nope, give me the rifle.” Annabelle tried to take the Colt from him.

“I can do this, Annie! I want to fight!” Elliot proclaimed with determination.

“How the hell are you gonna aim?” Annabelle brusquely asked him the question for how it was, without beating around the bush.

“Trust me, I’ll know when to shoot.” Elliot stood his ground.

“You know—Alright, fine.” She sighed, “Just make sure you keep a safe distance from everyone else.”

At one of the tables in the restaurant, Michelle and Rob were having a nice conversation, blissfully unaware of all the commotion that was escalating within the safe zone.

“Seriously?” Michelle was flabbergasted at Rob’s confession that he did not drink tea.

“It’s just so bland and disgusting. It tastes like warm milk.” Rob defended his opinion.

“Is that because you forgot to put the teabag in?” She quipped.

“Oh ha-ha, very funny.” Rob joked back with her.

Their innocent conversation was interrupted as Rajan came running from out of nowhere and slammed his hands down on the table.

“Raj? What is it?” Michelle desperately questioned him in a sudden panic.

“Listen to me very carefully,” he addressed his allies hazily, out of breath from how fast he had run, “We need to hide right now; The Bandits are coming.”

But neither Michelle nor Rob rose from their seats. Instead, they looked over at each other with stern expressions.

“What?” Rajan prompted as he looked to and from the pair of them.

“Well, you see Rajan,” Rob began as he scratched the back of his head, “These people took us in. Sure, we might’ve got off on the wrong foot, but they’ve given us a safe place to say. We’ve got food, drink, roofs over our heads, a recreational park to stroll through – We owe them.” He lectured Rajan.

Realising what Rob was trying to say, Rajan insistently shook his head, “Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it.”

“We’re going to stand with them and fight.” Michelle had just said it.

“Are you out of your minds?” Rajan scolded them both. “This isn’t our fight! We need to let the residents and The Bandits do what they’ve gotta do.”

Now, Rob did indeed stand up from his seat, “And if we don’t help them, The Bandits will win. If they win, not only do we lose our new home, but we will be letting innocent people die.”

“If The Bandits win,” Rajan countered, “That’s just how things are meant to be. Either they let us stay or kick us out of their territory. We have no right to assist either side in this battle!”

“Rajan,” Michelle addressed him softly, “I get it, I do. You don’t want to be a part of the killing. But surely, you must understand, that with or without our help, people are going to die here very soon.”

Rajan stood his ground, “All the same, my role is to save, not to kill—And I will forever stand by that resolve.”

Rob sighed and shook his head dismayingly.

“I know you think I’m being obstructive, Rob,” Rajan glared at his ally, “But I will not break my morals for the sake of somebody else’s turf war—”

“That’s good for you then, Raj,” Michelle interrupted him as she too now stood up, “But with all-due respect, Rob and I have the freedom to make our own decisions. You’ve been a good group leader, but you don’t tell us what to do – Surely you must understand that?” She repeated his own earlier question back at him.

Rajan stared at Michelle for several seconds before backing down and sighing. “You’re right,” he mumbled in acceptance, “You have free will, and I’m not going to stop you. Even if I think you’re wrong, I hope you both make it out of this alive.”

Michelle humbly nodded, “Thank you…” She unexpectedly hugged Rajan tightly, “…For everything.”

“You’re welcome,” Rajan accepted her gratitude as he slipped out of their hug, “I’ll be in that cottage on the far side,” he referred to Alek and Emile’s home, “Come and find me when you’re done, okay?”

With a smile of respect, Michelle nodded once more.

“We’d best get to the armoury.” Rob ushered her.

“Go on.” Rajan stepped aside.

Without another word, Michelle and Rob both made their way out of the restaurant and towards the weapons’ storage.

Given the notable increase in concern, there was a large crowd on gate duty this afternoon, as opposed to just two people.

“Do you believe all this?” Dawn mumbled to Mac.

“I think so.” He answered her with uncertainty. “To be honest with you, I really don’t know what to believe right now… It just all