Human Nature (Book 4): Human Nature IV Borthwick, Finlay (great books for teens .txt) 📖

“This was the tunnel I came through to get here.” Gwen lamented and then her eyes widened as she reached a shocking realisation, “Crikey. It’s been so many years since then.”

“A-ha!” Rylie clicked their fingers upon noticing Gwen’s ambiguity over how much time had passed. “Don’t suppose you happen to know how far into the apocalypse you were when you first arrived here, do you?”

Gwen raised an eyebrow in confusion but answered Rylie’s question nonetheless, “Yes, we were two years in… Why?”

Rylie grinned as they produced a small notebook from their pocket. “That means the year was 2028 when you first arrived here, so…” They flipped through the notebook whilst making several mental calculations. “That means it’s been… Oh, blimey! It’s been six years since you first arrived here, Gwen!”

“You—What?” Gwen was completely astonished at how Rylie had figured this out. “Can I see that?” She pointed to the notebook.

“Be my guest!” Rylie handed it to her.

As Gwen flipped through the pages, her face became more and more overcame with shock; Rylie had been keeping a day-to-day calendar ever since Day Zero…

… “2034?!” Gwen blurted out in sheer awe.

“That’s right!” Rylie was extremely upbeat and proud of how they had managed to keep track of the days. “Today is the ninth of November 2034!”

“I—I don’t—” Gwen had not been this dumbfounded in a long, long time. “God, I’ll be sixty in a few years!” Her entire body shivered at the realisation of this fact. “And Annie--” In her shock, Gwen had forgotten to use Annabelle’s preferred name, “She’s twenty-five?! When her father died, she was only—” She halted her words, having not thought about her deceased husband for a long time either.

“Oh, God. I’m so sorry!” Rylie quickly believed that they had a mistake by revealing to Gwen how much time had passed.

“No, no, it’s okay!” Gwen gently handed the notebook back to Rylie without any negative feelings. “No need to apologise. Actually, I should be thanking you. At long last, it actually feels like I’ve got my bearings again!” With a beaming smile on her face, she resumed her watch duties, looking out into the tunnel with happiness, rather than remembrance, this time.

The sun was quickly going down over the horizon, and the safe zone still did not appear to be in sight.

“Are you sure we’re going the right way?” Maylene had to ask Rajan.

“Garry said the safe zone was in the heart of London,” Rajan insisted, “It’ll be hard to miss four gigantic walls.”

“And yet still we are.” Nate flippantly added before gazing behind him, “Yelena? You alright?” He cared for her deeply.

Yelena nodded nonchalantly, “It’s just—Seeing that man, I mean, his head was cut right off!”

“It’s over now, Yelena. I promise, you won’t have to see anything like that ever again.” Nate reassured her with a pat on the back.

Rob and Michelle had fallen behind at the back of the group.

With goosebumps on the back of his neck, Rob quickly turned to gaze behind him.

“What? What is it?” Michelle reached for her knife upon noticing just how quickly Rob had turned around.

He took several seconds to survey the vicinity before asserting, “Nothing… It’s nothing. I just felt like we were being watched, but we’re not.” He shrugged the ominous feeling off and continued to walk on.

Michelle, however, quickly glossed over the area for herself, for she too had been feeling this same discomfort ever since the group had left the theatre.

Unseen from a high rooftop, a pair of beady eyes was monitoring Rajan’s caravan through a pair of binoculars.

“Uh, Euan, I seriously think we should start hanging back a little bit.” The man to stalker’s right suggested. “That woman at the back knows something’s up.” He had noticed Rob and Michelle’s discomfort, despite not having a pair of binoculars for himself.

Lowering the pair of binoculars, Euan mumbled to his comrade, “Radio down to Benji and tell him to get ready – We need to pounce on these stragglers before they reach the safe zone – These streets belong to the Neo-Bandits, and in Kyle’s honour, they shall know it.” Euan ordered with an evil smirk.

Obeying this command, the man pulled his walkie-talkie up to his mouth, “Benji, come in.”

There was a moment of static before a bold voice responded, “Go for Benji.”

“Euan’s got a plan, Benji. You’d best be in position…”

The sun was now very much in its’ setting phase.

“I don’t get it!” Rajan angrily exclaimed, “Where the hell is this place? It should be here!”

“Take it easy, Raj.” Michelle tried to comfort him.

But again, Rajan’s stubbornness had disabled his ability to think rationally. “No, Michelle! This place, it’s supposed to be more than just finding new allies—It’s supposed to be a sanctuary! A new home for us! A place where I can keep all of you safe!”

Michelle was saddened to see Rajan burning himself out. “If the safe zone’s not here, then it’s not here. That’s not on you, Rajan. Nor is it on Garry… It’s just the way that things are.” She reasoned with him.

Then, an unfamiliar voice interrupted their conversation, “Are you guys also looking for the safe zone?” The man enquired.

Everybody in the group immediately raised their weapons at the stranger, including knives, wooden spears, and fishing harpoons; except for Rajan, who instead had equipped his diplomacy.

“Whoa, whoa! Take it easy there!” The stranger raised his hands in an instant.

“Who the hell are you and where the hell did you come from?” Michelle wasted no time in asking the pressing questions as she edged towards the man with a sharp cleaver.

The man cleared his throat, “My name is Benji, at your service.” He bowed to Michelle with his head.

Michelle pouted at him, “Well, Benji—”

“It’s very