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

more now than she did back then, though perhaps the stress of the apocalypse played a heavy role in that excitement.

“Vivi?” Maylene noticed that her friend had slowly broken out of the party atmosphere, “What’s the matter? Are you okay?” She asked with genuine care.

She nodded quickly and smiled, “All good over here, May.”

“Then why are you sulking at the back of the bus for?” As she asked this, Maylene grabbed Vivi’s hand, “Come on! Let’s get into the mood!” She forced her up onto her feet and danced with her to the upbeat and funky music that was now blaring out of the party bus.

“You know,” Cora mumbled to her mother as she too listened on as the party bus came closer, “I never would’ve had Tina down as a party gal, and yet, she’s the one driving that rather loud and obnoxious piece of junk.”

Erica laughed, “Tina’s full of surprises.”

“Well,” Cora agreed with a raised eyebrow, “Given the fact that she’s gone from being that random nurse that worked with you all those years ago to now being my potential stepmother? I think you understate just how full of surprises she is; she’s bursting at the seams with them.”

Again, Erica laughed, and felt a warm level of endearment at how Cora had referred to Tina as becoming her stepmother.

As Vivi continued to dance with Maylene, she appeared to be rather upbeat and living in the moment on the outside. However, inside her mind, she was remembering the last time that she had danced with someone…

HERTFORDSHIRE

JULY 2025

 

Although Vivi had told Lucas she would arrive at eight, the time was far closer to nine by the time she had arrived.

Almost instantly, she was regretting her decision to turn up. As she waded through the overcrowded house party, she was slightly put off by the sight of couples snogging on the sofas, underage lads drinking themselves into a blackout state on the stairs, a gang of several older teenagers taking illegal drugs in the bathroom, and many other rather surreal sights too.

“Vivi!” Lucas noticed her in the living room from the conservatory. He quickly came trotting over to her with two beers in his grasp.

For once, Vivi was actually pleased to see him.

“Here, I got you a beer!” He told her excitedly.

“Thanks.” She replied with a blunt smile as she carefreely accepted the bottle from him.

Not sure of what to say to her, Lucas awkwardly stood in front of Vivi and watched her as she sipped her drink.

On top of everything else going on around her, her own friend being creepy was the last thing that Vivi needed.

“Who else is here?” Vivi asked, as she had not recognised any of the other faces on her way in. “Whose house even is this?” It had only just dawned on her that, although Lucas had given her the address, he had not told her who it was that even lived here.

“Honestly,” Lucas began before leaning in to whisper the rest of the answer directly into her ear, “I haven’t a clue!”

As Lucas retracted from her personal space, there was a great look of bemusement on Vivi’s face, “So, you mean you’ve just showed up at some random person’s house and then invited me along? Why?”

Lucas shrugged, “Not sure. Like I said, just a bit of fun, right?”

Vivi rolled her eyes and sighed, “Goodbye Lucas.”

“Wait, where are you going?” Lucas halted her as she turned around.

“Home.” Vivi affirmed bluntly. “I appreciate the invite, Lucas, but like I told you over the phone, I’ve got a shit ton of assignments to do and the last thing I need right now is, well, this.” She threw her hands up, gesturing to the party that was all around her.

“Don’t leave!” Lucas pleaded with her, “Come on, just finish your beer first at least. Please?”

Although she thought about conceding for a moment, Vivi ultimately stood her ground, “No. I’m going home, Lucas. End of.” Without another word, she stormed out of the house, leaving Lucas stood there in the middle of the living room with an accidentally broken heart.

LONDON

NOVEMBER 2034

 

After doing several laps of the safe zone, the party bus had finally arrived at the recreation park.

Quickly, all of the partygoers loaded out of the side door.

“Come on! Everybody out!” Tina ushered them, “The party’s right over there!” She pointed to the flabbergasted Tina and Cora, who were watching their first guests stagger towards their gazebo, seemingly already drunk.

Vivi was the last to get off of the bus. Although she found it rather comical to watch all her tipsy friends straggle their way towards the park, she couldn’t help but feel as though there was somebody rather important missing from this night of fun…

HERTFORDSHIRE, FEBRUARY 2026

DAY ZERO

 

Vivi’s phone rang out.

“Come on, Lucas, come on! Pick up!” She quickly shook her leg up and down out of the sheer anxiety that was now coursing through her system; it was rather ironic that, for once, it was her who was desperate to get through to Lucas and not the other way around.

At last, he answered his phone, “Viv—Vivi!” He was stuttering, and it sounded as though he had a considerable volume of liquid pouring out of his mouth.

“Lucas! Lucas, have you seen the news?” Vivi asked him in a panic, staring at her television screen as she did so, “They’re saying that people all over the world are just… Dropping dead! Like, on the spot! Lucas, have you heard about this…? Lucas?”

He could be heard violently throwing up at the other end of the line.

“Lucas?!” She bellowed into her speaker in a panic, her hands now trembling in worry. “Don’t worry, Lucas, I’m gonna get help!” She had quickly deduced that he was having one these