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

which she had acquired from a mysterious butcher whilst he ventured around Europe, though obviously, this butcher was not someone who required Natalie’s help.

OCTOBER 2033

 

This year had presented Natalie with more luck. In recent months, she had encountered several survivors whom she had been delighted to help get back on their feet.

In his old age, Xavi was beginning to become rather slow, and would often lag behind Natalie a lot. At some points, she would even carry him just to make sure he didn’t fall too far back.

“You’re a big boy, aren’t you?” Natalie commented about Xavi’s weight, for now was one of those times when she was having to carry him in her arms.

Xavi was too lethargic to squeal or react in any noticeable way.

“Ah!” Natalie noticed a small farmhouse down the end of a gravel road in the distance. “What do you think, Xavi? Nice place to take a rest?”

Again, the fox did not respond.

Deciding for both her and her companion, Natalie walked on down the road and into the sunset, headed for the nearby farmhouse.

As the months went on, however, Natalie and Xavi’s stay at the farmhouse had quickly becoming more than just a one-time place to rest. Instead, they had now turned this place into their residence.

Natalie had given up with touring France with the mission to save people, for she felt horrible forcing Xavi to do so much walking after all his years of service to her.

OCTOBER 2034

 

Near to the present day, things had turned bad for Natalie.

Xavi’s seizures were beginning to become more frequent, and he would now spend most of his days lying around not doing anything.

Knowing that the end was near for her friend, Natalie knew that there was only one thing she could do for her friend.

“It’s alright, Xavi. It’s alright.” She stroked his head lightly for the last time, before slowly taking several steps back from the haystack on which the fox was currently resting.

As if he knew what was about to happen, Xavi closed his eyes tightly.

“Just—Just go to sleep, Xavi.” With a jittery hand, Natalie slowly raised her pistol as she wiped a tear from her own eye.

‘BLAM!’

Just like that, the deed was done.

After the gunshot had finished ringing out through the farmhouse, everything was silent again. The loud bang had caused the few nearby birds that were still alive to flee into the sunrise.

After wrapping him up in a blanket, Natalie had taken her friend’s corpse outside. Respecting him as much as she would a human, she carefully lowered him into his shallow grave.

“Rest in peace… My friend.” Natalie solemnly declared as she held back an intense flurry of tears.

Grabbing the shovel, she slowly and respectfully piled the dirt over Xavi’s wrapped up corpse.

Chapter 22: Another Time

LONDON

NOVEMBER 2034

 

It was a rather quiet night in the safe zone. As such, after all the noise and commotion that had been going on recently, Erica had found herself unable to sleep.

Progressing on through the empty streets, that were still filled with debris from the storm, she took a moment to reflect on what everybody was doing in their homes as she passed them.

Looking up at the hotel, she knew that Elliot, Gwen, and Annabelle would all be fast asleep in their individual rooms on one of the middle floors. She also thought it likely that her new friends Sandra and Ryle were likely somewhere inside the building as well.

Around the next corner, Erica passed the hospital that she was now very much the director of. Aware that Alek was spending the night inside just in case, she found it reasonable to assume that Emile was at his side still as well. The thought of their relationship brought a smile to her face.

And then, Erica found herself paying a visit to the only area inside the four walls that she had been avoiding: the graveyard.

The wooden crosses that she had once erected to mark the graves were still stood there in the ground. Over the years, they had become so stuck and buried within the soil that not even the supernaturally strong hurricane had been able to blow them away.

She loomed over the first grave, which was marked:

‘PRICE

1972 – 2028’

“It’s good to see you again, old friend.” Erica lamented as she bowed respectfully to him, recalling a fond memory as she did so; a memory from a time long before Elliot and Gwen had shown up with their group at the main gate...

LONDON

APRIL 2027

 

Erica had been called in by Tina to assist with a situation that she had only radioed in as “dire.”

Within minutes, she was bursting through the hospital doors. “Tina! Price!” She yelled to her friends who were carrying a man on a stretcher.

“Erica! Follow us!” Tina ordered the woman who, little did she know, would one day be married to her.

As she followed her fellow medics into the operating theatre, Erica insisted on more information. “What the hell happened? Who is he?”

“We don’t know!” Price answered in an equally desperate tone. “He just showed up at the gates and told us he’d been stabbed!”

“Stabbed?” Erica shuddered as she requested verification.

“Listen to me, you’re the only one who can do this.” Tina comforted Erica upon hearing the distress in her voice, “You’ve treated gunshot wounds in your time, you’ve got more experience than Price and I combined—You can do this, Erica.” She told her firmly.

Taking several deep breaths, Erica nodded, hesitantly accepting the role as chief surgeon.

“Keep him steady, Tina.” Erica requested as she closely examined the man’s stab wound. “Alright Price, I’m gonna need you to fill that syringe with alcohol.” She nodded to the metal bowl on the bedside cabinet.

Price complied and, once having