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

‘attacks’ that was being reported about all over the news.

Although, when putting Lucas on hold, her idea was to call the emergency services to send an ambulance for her friend, she noticed that she had four missed calls from her mother, who was at work on this day. Forgetting about Lucas momentarily, she desperately called her mother back.

The phone rang out for quite some time before it died out; Vivi’s mother was out of reach.

“Dammit!” Vivi cursed, as she suddenly remembered her friend, and switched the line back to him, “Lucas! Lucas, are you still there? Lucas!”

Although Lucas had not hung up, all that could be heard on his side of the call was a car alarm blaring outside. It was muffled, indicating that the phone was facing down towards the floor.

“Lucas—Lucas…?” She called out to him more softly than desperately this time, as she now knew deep down in her heart that her friend had just passed away…

LONDON

NOVEMBER 2034

 

It had only taken half-an-hour for all the attending residents to show up in the park. Though naturally, given what had happened in recent days, not everybody was in the mood to party, and had instead opted to remain at home.

“So, you’re the nurse’s daughter, right?” Vivi approached Cora confidently.

“Correct! Well, technically, I’m both nurses’ daughter.” Cora rectified her, viewing Tina as her own kin as well now.

“Oh, right you are!” Vivi politely agreed. “So,” she tried to think of conversation to make, “I would ask you what your job is, but uh, apocalypse, you know.”

Cora laughed, “That’s alright. As a matter of fact, I do have a job. I’m currently an apprentice nurse working under my mother in the hospital.” It was surprising just how good Cora’s conversation could be once she was immersed in it; she only ever needed that initial ‘push’ from an outside influence.

“Ooh, how fancy!” Vivi remarked.

“What about you? I’m not like, looking down my nose at you or anything,” Cora pulled out all the steps, and words, to ensure that she would not be misunderstood, “Do you have any sort of work you do nowadays?”

Vivi shrugged, “I survive—And that’s good enough for me.”

“I’ll drink to that!” Cora declared as she raised her glass and clinked it against Vivi’s.

Annabelle, with Yelena and Maylene, arrived under the gazebo.

“Oh! May, Yellie,” Annabelle addressed her new friends with affectionately short nicknames, “This is my old buddy, Cora! Cora, these are my new buddies Maylene and Yelena!”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Cora greeted them as she shook their hands.

“Likewise, you’re a little legend around here.” Yelena told Cora with an endearing smile.

“Really?” Cora blushed slightly.

“Damn right!” Maylene affirmed. “Annabelle here told us that you once savaged a guy who threatened her!”

Although Cora could not recall to the events of this story, and thus believed it was actually a lie to make her seem cooler, she went along with it, “Oh, yes! I remember!”

“Annabelle also told us you’re a little shy,” Maylene called her ‘new buddy’ out, prompting Cora to scratch the back of her neck awkwardly, “But, I’m sure we can help with that,” she nudged her amiably, “I’d love it if we could be friends.”

Cora’s eyes widened in surprise, for not once, neither before nor after the apocalypse, had somebody wanted to be her friend, “Yes! Of course!” She declared ardently.

“Great!” Maylene proclaimed with equal gratitude.

“Ahe-ahem.” Yelena coughed to catch Cora’s attention, “I’d also like to be your friend.”

Cora smiled jovially, “Hey, all five of us are friends now!” She threw her arms over Annabelle’s and Vivi’s shoulder.

Then, in turn, Annabelle and Vivi threw their arms over the shoulders of Maylene and Yelena, the latter two doing the same to each other as well – Now, they had, both literally and figuratively, formed a friendship circle.

Unseen from under a neighbouring gazebo, Erica watched as her daughter made new friends with a relieved smile on her face; this was the only sight that she had ever truly wanted to see.

Chapter 24: The Zodiac

CZECHIA

MAY 2034

 

Five fighter jets flew on overhead through the beautiful blue sapphire skies of Europe.

The pilots couldn’t resist gazing down at the beautiful landscape beneath; from above, it would be impossible for somebody not in the know to tell that the world had essentially ended.

“Leo squadron, we’re breaking formation at the back!” The leader of the flock announced from the front of their imperfect V-shaped formation, referencing how the two pilots at farthest back were beginning to get a little ‘too’ distracted by the scenery.

“Sorry Loveknot!” One of the pilots apologised over the intercom.

“Yeah, sorry about that, sir!” The other drifting pilot expressed his regrets as well.

The V-shaped formation was now perfect again.

“Uh, are you guys seeing this?” An entirely different pilot radioed in now, having noticed something peculiar down beneath.

“What is it, Grossman?” Loveknot queried to his righthand woman who had just called the sight in.

“Look down there! To the left!” She directed her comrades’ gaze.

Down beneath, there was a rather narrow yet elongated town that ran parallel on either side of the river flowing through the middle of it – But this was not what Grossman had drawn everybody’s attention to.

“Are those—People?” Bales, who was Loveknot’s righthand man, called in as he spotted a great many figures scattered along the riverbank beneath, all beadily gazing up at the sky…

“Tina! Erica!” Petra burst into Annabelle’s room, interrupting a rather tender moment.

They both spun around instantly, “Petra? What is it?”

“Look!” She ran into the room and leapt over the bed, opening the window, and pointing upwards to the sky.

A faint mechanical whirring filled the room.

Erica and Tina looked at each other fearfully, then jumped up to the window.

“Everyone is hearing it!” Petra