Whilst Michelle was taking her time with shovelling the unearthed dirt back over the corpse, Rajan appeared to be hurrying. Noticing this, Michelle informed him, “You can slow down, you know. Rushing this isn’t going to change anything.”
But Rajan ignored her and continued to shovel the dirt at an increasing pace.
“He didn’t deserve this.” Yelena affirmed, shaking her head in disgust. “He was so kind… He didn’t deserve this at all.” She repeated in utter dismay.
“Yelena.” Michelle gently lowered her shovel to the ground; for the oak tree that was once there had been blown away and decimated by the hurricane. “Look,” she rubbed Yelena’s back, “This is just how things are these days… It’s sad, yes. But we have to get over it or we’ll be consumed by the grief. Okay?”
The tender moment was completely overshadowed by Rajan’s rapid shovelling.
“It shouldn’t—It shouldn’t have been him.” Yelena said disbelievingly.
“It shouldn’t have been anyone.” Michelle added as Yelena rested her head on her shoulder.
In Rajan’s sombre eyes, it was clear why he was in such a hurry; his toxic trait of needing to save everyone had taken a great toll on him, as two people that he could have saved were now dead. He wanted to get his late ally buried and move on from it because, just as Michelle had said, Rajan knew he couldn’t let the grief consume him, otherwise, more lives may be lost…
The previous night, the rest of the group had shimmied into an adjacent performing hall, for none of them wanted to be sleeping in the same room where a large piece of debris had fallen.
Striding up onto the stage, Rajan prepared to address the survivors who were left, “Excuse me, everybody. May I have your attention?”
The few murmurs that had already been going on abruptly stopped, as everybody did indeed give Rajan the audience that he had requested.
“Now—Um,” Rajan hadn’t prepared what he was going to say, “We’ve taken a bit of a hit, there’s no two ways around that.”
“Is that supposed to be a pun?” Vivi, a relatively young yet surprisingly resourceful survivor, heckled.
“I’m—What?” Rajan didn’t understand what she was referring to.
“The helicopter blade! You know, the massive object that killed one of our friends?”
Rajan sighed, “No—No, that wasn’t a pun by any stretch of the imagination.” He replied, completely bewildered by her jeering. “Anyway,” he resumed his address, “The man who I found out there yesterday gave me some rather useful information: There’s a safe zone in the heart of the city.”
The murmurs amongst the crowd rose up again.
“I know, I know, you’re all thinking it’s probably not operational…” Rajan tried to put himself on the same level as his allies, “But that doesn’t matter. We’ll be far safer in those four still-standing walls than we will be hopping around out here on the streets.”
“Safer from what?” Nate yelled out from the back of the hall with his arms folded.
“From—Well, everything. Animals, other survivors, the weather… Just whatever, really.” Rajan fobbed this query off, for he was neglecting to tell the majority of the group about Garry’s warning; the only other people who knew of the so-called ‘Bandits’ were Michelle, Rob, and Maylene, as these were the only people that Rajan even somewhat trusted.
“And what do we do if we get there and the whole thing’s destroyed?” Vivi joined in with Nate’s derision.
“As long as the walls around the safe zone are still standing, it doesn’t matter what state the area itself is in.” Rajan asserted. “With the right motivation, anything can be rebuilt – And I think that survival is motivation enough for most of us.”
“How—How long will it take to get… To get there?” Yelena asked, attempting to maintain her cool, though it was clear that she was still emotional over her fellow survivor’s death.
“Well,” Rajan, noticing Yelena’s distressed state, answered her question with a delicate tone, “If we leave within the hour, we should make it by sunset. Like I said, the safe zone is right in the heart of London.”
Yelena nodded, “Alright—Alright.” Still misty-eyed, she accepted that this course of action was the most logical one.
“Okay then.” Vivi nodded, no longer wanting to punch holes in Rajan’s plan; though if she knew the truth about why he wanted to get to safety, perhaps she wouldn’t have been so understanding.
Michelle was conversing with Rajan outside.
“We should wait until tomorrow.” Michelle suggested. “If these so-called bandits are even half-as dangerous as your mate Garry described them to be, we don’t wanna get caught out at night-time, do we?”
Rajan nodded, understanding Michelle’s point, but then countered, “They’ve been roaming these streets for years. They’re dangerous and they’re everywhere.” He swallowed hard, “I had this weird feeling on my way back from the rubble… I felt like I was being watched,” He shuddered at the memory, “If my instincts were correct, then it’s entirely possible those bandits out there followed me back and have eyes on this place right now.”
Michelle thought to herself momentarily.
“We have to leave today.” Rajan reiterated boldly to her. “Otherwise, we may not even be alive to see tomorrow.”
Inside the safe zone, many of the residents had flocked to the hotel restaurant following the harrowing hurricane that had claimed one of their own the previous day.
Many of them gathered around the bar; after all, the safe zone had its’ own brewer who produced his own post-apocalyptic cocktail.
“To Richard!” Kieran raised his glass as he proposed a toast to his late friend.
“To Richard!” All of the others at the bar toasted in unison as they clinked their drinks together.
Elliot and Annabelle were sat at their usual table within the restaurant itself, watching as everybody toasted the late Richard along the bar.
“I feel bad for the widow.” Elliot commented.
“I don’t think they were married.” Annabelle corrected her brother.
“Oh,” Elliot shrugged, “But still. Poor soul.” Elliot said sympathetically, for he himself knew it was like to lose the love of your life.
“How’s everything over here?” Erica, appearing out of seemingly nowhere, sat down at the table with her two friends. Cora was following closely behind her.
“Everything’s fine. We’re doing great, Erica.” Annabelle confirmed.
“I can’t believe you found her again.” Elliot remarked to Erica about Cora, completely unaware that she was very much within earshot of his words. “I don’t remember much about Cora, but I do remember her being a sweet kid the first time we lived in this safe zone.”
Then, one of the chairs at the table skidded back as Cora sat down in it.
Elliot straightened himself upright and cleared his throat, “I uh—Hello there, I guess?” He nudged Annabelle lightly, requesting information as to who exactly had just joined them at the table.
“You don’t have to be coy, Elliot.” Cora told him with a smile, noticing how discreet he was being. “You’re blind. I don’t blame you for not realising I was nearby.”
Elliot took a moment to appreciate the fact that both Erica and Cora were in his presence, “I was just saying, it’s so beautiful that you two found each other again.”
“It is indeed.” Cora agreed with a smile as she gazed over at her mother.
Having left the performing arts theatre behind, Rajan was now leading his group into Central London.
“It’s so weird not hearing the sound of car horns every five seconds.” Rob glibly remarked, causing Michelle to chortle lightly.
“Were you a taxi driver?” Vivi asked.
“Not quite.” Rob shook his head. “A bus driver.”
“That must’ve been the most hectic job in the world.” Michelle commented.
“Oh, believe me, it really was.” Rob advocated as he r
emembered his ‘past life’ and all the mayhem that it brought me. “Being a bus driver and getting stuck in gridlock traffic—Let me tell you, you’ll never know pressure quite like it.”
As Michelle continued to smirk at Rob’s story, she noticed Yelena to her right; the poor girl was walking alone and staring down at the ground, still in complete shock over the brutal death which she had witnessed the previous day.
In an attempt to better get to know her fellow residents, Gwen had opted to take watch duty with Rylie at the main gate; the same gate through which she had arrived via the first time around.
Gwen stood directly in front of the closed gate. Looking through the palings and straight into the tunnel that led up to the gate, she replayed the memory in her mind of driving through it in Vincent’s pickup truck.
“You lived here before, didn’t you?” Rylie queried, having noticed Gwen’s revering.
She nodded in confirmation, “Only for a little while, but yes.”
Rylie traced Gwen’s gaze, and now looked through the gate bars and into the dark tunnel for themselves.
“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 nice to meet you!” Rajan intervened, forcing Michelle’s threatening hand down as he stepped in front of her. “I’m Rajan.” He offered his hand out for a shake.
Benji exhaled a sigh of relief. “Good evening there, Rajan…” Within the blink of an eye, he reached out to grab Rajan before pulling him into his grip.
“Motherfucker!” Michelle raised her cleaver again.
“Ah-ah-ah!” Benji taunted negatively at her as he pressed a blade of his own against Rajan’s throat. “Drop it, little missy. Then, drop your things.” He commanded her before turning to look across the rest of the procession, “All of you! Drop all of your things right now! Or Rajan here,” he intensified his grip as he threatened him, “Will die…”
Michelle hesitated for several moments, still holding her cleaver up. Then, reluctantly, she sighed, “Do as he says.” She ordered her allies.
Rajan remained silent, feeling as though his
mediation would be rather useless given his position.
Like Michelle, the rest of the group were reluctant to stand down as well. Though eventually, the majority of them did so.
“We can take him, ‘Chelle!” Nate suggested enthusiastically as he kept his harpoon up.
“Nate’s right!” Vivi backed him, “There’s nine of us and only one of him! We can do it!” She too kept her harpoon raised.
“Final warning! I’m serious!” Benji bellowed at his unrelenting foes.
“Nate, Vivi! Please!” Michelle pleaded with them, “Just drop your fucking weapons already! Look around; everybody else has already done it!” She pointed out.
Now, without any eyes on him, Rajan took his chance. Using all his might, he ripped his right arm free of Benji’s grip, and then quickly elbowed him in the abdomen.
‘GOWH!’
Benji scowled in agony, clenching his now-winded abdominal area.
“You dead son of a bitch.” Michelle mumbled as she stormed over to the injured Benji with her cleaver raised again.
“Michelle, leave him!” Rajan ordered as he stood in front of her.
“He just threatened to kill you!” Michelle was astounded by how forgiving Rajan was.
“I know… But once upon a time, so did you.” Rajan pointed out, giving a slight indication of what the two’s past had been like.
Although Michelle could not deny this, she looked past Rajan and down at the winded Benji who was cradling himself on the ground. “It’s your lucky day pal.” She sternly informed him before retreating.
Rajan turned and crouched down in front of Benji, “I’m sorry I had to do that.” It was ironic that he was the one apologising here. “You left me no other choice.”
Benji coughed as he sat upright, “Oh, you will be sorry.” He grinned as he cryptically mocked the group, “You and your merry little band here.”
Although she was walking away from the situation, Michelle stopped dead in her tracks as she listened in on Benji’s heckling. Slowly, and with a face like thunder, she turned around once again.
Human Nature (Book 4): Human Nature IV Page 11