The Downfall Series Box Set

by Edie Baylis

  “Hello?” came a voice.

  Jane remained silent, unsure whether to answer or not.

  “Hello? Anyone here?”

  “Is that you Owen?”

  Pushing open the door Owen walked in, his eyes nearly popping out realising Jane was in the bath, naked. “Or, er, sorry...”

  Jane laughed. “It’s fine!” She desperately needed some normal conversation after the last three rather weird days in the squat.

  “How are you?” Owen asked, sitting on the toilet lid and tried not to look like he was drinking in every inch of Jane’s flesh, even though he was and she knew it.

  “I’m ok thanks. In fact, yeah, I’m fine,” she lied, eyeing him closely. She needed to get back into the swing of things and he may well be the way to do just that.

  “Think it’s time you came out for a drink, girl!” Owen grinned, almost able to read her mind.

  Jane studied her toes in the bathwater and looked up slowly. “Think you might be right!”

  SETH WAS DOWN TO HIS last cigarette. He stared at the dog curled up on the bed next to him and the whisky bottle which was virtually empty. He didn’t feel even slightly drunk. His head was working way too fast for the alcohol to stick to the sides.

  Propping himself up, he revisited the urge to punch the wall again out of frustration and instead cracked his knuckles, focusing on a damp patch on the wall at the end of the bed.

  He frowned. Maybe he should attempt to pay that fat bitch another visit? She’d have to be in at some point and she wasn’t intelligent enough to hide. He’d torture the fucking truth out of her and once she’d admitted it, he’d drag the lump of lard to Jane so she could hear the truth directly from the horse’s mouth. Then she’d believe him wouldn’t she?

  Sparking up his last fag, Seth pushed himself to the edge of the bed and extracted his boots from under a pile of crumpled clothes. Doing his laces up, he sighed. Digger had been scouting, but unusually for him, had failed to locate Jane.

  When Seth discovered who’d been sheltering her, he’d teach them a lesson they wouldn’t forget in a hurry. In fact, he’d punish everyone he possibly could until it resulted in getting Jane back where she belonged.

  Digger had however slipped him Paul’s address, so first he’d pay that twat a visit and find out exactly what his involvement was in all of this mess.

  Standing up, Seth shrugged his coat on, muzzled the dog and walked from the room.

  JANE WAS WRAPPED IN a towel drinking a can of Fosters when Mudflap returned. Looking around she breathed a sigh of both relief and disappointment to see he was alone.

  Owen blew a plume of smoke slowly towards the ceiling as he sprawled in a chair watching Jane’s every move. “Well? Did you see him?”

  Placing three bin bags of Jane’s belongings down on the floor, Mudflap wiped his hand across his brow. “No.” He fished his cigarettes out of his pocket. “He’s gone.”

  A cold wave ran over Jane. “Gone? What do you mean?” Unable to hide the panic in her voice she silently berated herself once more for being even slightly bothered and tried to deflect this by rummaging through one of the bin bags.

  The truth was she was bothered. Very bothered. She needed to get over Seth, but wasn’t sure how to.

  NINE

  PAUL PUT HIS CRASH helmet on, hoping it wouldn’t mess his hair up. As usual he’d spent the entire morning being ignored by everyone on the shop floor. That was of course when they weren’t laughing at him. He didn’t care. Let them laugh.... Oh yes, let them bloody laugh. They’d be sorry because soon he’d be doing things they could only dream of.

  Arranging to go to the pub at lunchtime, predictably like the tossers they were, his workmates made a big deal of not asking him - they just watched him sitting on his own as they all walked out. He hadn’t wanted to go anyway, but that wasn’t the point. They were taking the piss and he was sick of it. In fact, more than fucking sick of it.

  Still, he’d be out of it soon. He was moving on to better things, he could feel it.

  Walking round to where his Honda was parked, Paul swung his leg over the seat, flicked the side stand up and booted the kick start down. Slowly he rode the bike out of the works car park and onto the road.

  SETH DROVE THE SENATOR around the back of the old red-brick factory that hosted a collection of cheap bedsits and was pleased to see a parking space free next to the back door. Glancing at his watch he smirked. Nearly midday. Thanks to his homework, he knew Paul had his lunchbreak at 12 and would therefore be back any time now.

  Sparking up a cigarette, he leaned back in the driver’s seat to wait, sitting up slightly when a motorbike turned into the car park and pulled up in a wooden lean-to. He watched Paul dismount and take his crash helmet off.

  Seth stifled a laugh watching Paul shake his hair and admire his reflection in the bike’s wing mirror. He decided to give the prick time to get in before he made his move. He didn’t want to be rude now did he?

  Feeling adrenaline pumping, Seth rubbed his hands together. He was looking forward to this. Glancing in the rear view mirror he saw the heavy metal door was ajar as arranged. Well done Digger, he thought, checking his watch again.

  Ok. That was long enough.

  Running up the stone steps with the dog following faithfully at his side, Seth pushed the metal door open. Slipping inside easily, he glanced around the dark and musty hallway and his eyes flicked from side to side, searching for number five.

  Walking over the cracked floor tiles, he banged on the chipped wooden door with his fist, making sure he was out of the way of the spy hole. Not that the thick fuck would have the sense to look through it. Paul wouldn’t be expecting a visit at lunchtime.

  After a pause, the door opened slightly and Seth quickly shoved his foot in the gap.

  Paul didn’t get a chance to react when he was grabbed around the throat and manhandled quickly into the room.

  Kicking the door shut behind him, Seth smiled with a glint in his eyes. “Good morning Paul. Got a moment?”

  Unable to disguise his shock and horror, Paul wondered what he should say, but before he could think of anything a fist connected with the side of his head. Crashing backwards across the room, he landed painfully against the wall next to the small kitchenette.

  Keep your head, Seth chanted silently, determined not to knock the dumb fuck out straight away. He needed answers first.

  Walking over to where Paul lay dazed, Seth squatted on his haunches and smiled coldly. “Thought you and me could have a little chat. Bring me up to date on some things perchance?”

  Paul rubbed the side of his head as he pushed himself up onto his elbows and nervously eyed the dog. “What do you mean?”

  When Seth dropped forward off his haunches and slammed onto Paul’s shins, pinning him firmly to the floor, his face twisted in pain realising this had been the entirely wrong answer.

  Grabbing both of Pauls’ hands, Seth bound his wrists together in one fast motion with a large roll of duct tape pulled from his coat pocket.

  Paul watched him rip the tape with his teeth and a horrible sinking feeling spread down to the centre of his stomach. Unless there was some type of miracle, he was well and truly fucked.

  Flipping him face down, Seth bound Paul’s ankles then placed his size twelve boots inches from his face. “Now,” he said quietly, “I suggest you tell me what’s been going on. By that, I mean as to what you know about Debbie and her little plan.”

  Dragging Paul by his hair, Seth lifted him to a standing position and then launched him backwards - his fall broken by his head smashing against the wall. “I mean, like telling me now!”

  Sitting casually on the end of the bed, Seth looked down. “You see, although I knew about the stunt that slag was trying to pull, I’m still not sure how you fitted into all of it.”

  Paul swallowed. How was he going to work his way out of this one? He’d had nothing to do with what Debbie had done, but he had been the one that spilt all to Jane.
Shit.

  Aware that Paul was trying to think of something to say, Seth decided it was time to help him along. He pulled a pair of long-nose pliers from his pocket.

  Paul’s eyes widened in fear as his boots and socks were yanked off. “NO! Don’t do anything stupid! I’ll tell you what I know!”

  Seth glanced up. “First things first. I never do anything ‘stupid.’ Just helping you out because you seem a bit stuck for words. This should make it easier for you to tell me everything shouldn’t it?”

  Smiling brightly, Seth moved to a small stereo and slowly flicked through a pile of LPs and picked one to play on the turntable. As Paul’s first toenail was ripped from its root, his screams were drowned out by the sound of Pearl Jam.

  Spilling his guts like verbal diarrhoea, Paul explained how he’d talked to Debbie in the Black Eagle and how she’d told him what she’d done at the party.

  “And what did she do?” Seth growled, removing the second and third toenails. “What exactly was she trying to achieve?”

  “S-She thought you were doped up enough to sleep with her.”

  “Yes, and....?”

  As the remaining toenails on his left foot were deftly pulled from their beds, sweat poured from Paul’s face. Shaking uncontrollably, he embellished further. “When you didn’t sleep with her, she had to rely you wouldn’t remember and believe it was your baby. Then Jane would dump you.”

  Seth rolled his eyes, his anger increasing. “I suppose she’s told everyone this version of events?”

  Paul nodded and looked at the blood pooling on the floor around the mess of his feet. He felt like he was going to be sick.

  Wracking his brains, Seth frowned. Did this cunt just mention something about doping up? Getting down closer, he stared darkly into Paul’s watering eyes. “What did you mean when you said ‘doped up enough’?”

  Paul panicked further. Dropping that silly cow in it was one thing, but he really didn’t want to involve anyone else. For fuck’s sake, at this rate he was going to be a dead man walking.

  He smiled wryly. He pretty much was anyway, given his current situation.

  “What the fuck are you smiling at, you greasy bastard?” Seth roared, grabbing Paul’s wrists and pulling off the thumbnail on his right hand.

  Paul howled in pain and promptly vomited all over himself.

  “YOU DISGUSTING PRICK!” Seth roared and removed the nail off Paul’s index finger. “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU MEAN? TALK!”

  Panting and sweating, Paul spilt the rest out. “Ned. It was NED! Debbie bought the stuff off him.”

  Seth sat back, genuinely shocked. The memory of Debbie handing the small bottle to him at the party flooded back. Oh Jesus. Now it all made sense. No wonder he’d been so messed up, the dirty bitch. And Ned? That dim-witted gyppo? He’d fucking kill him!

  “Ned didn’t know it was for you,” Paul gibbered.

  “I don’t give a flying fuck if he knew who it was for!” Seth screamed. “That cunt still gave her the ability to mess my life up!” Seth was furious and wanted to take his rage out on Paul, but reined himself in. He still needed him for a while longer at least.

  Grabbing Paul around the throat once more, Seth pulled him to his feet and crushed him against the wall. “But none of this answers your part in it though does it?”

  This was the bit Paul had been dreading. He’d hoped Seth had forgotten about it, but should have known better. His eyes darted frantically from side to side and with final humiliation, wet himself.

  “I suggest you fucking well tell me, you bastard,” Seth snarled, looking at him in disgust as the stain seeped through his jeans. “Well?”

  Taking a deep breath, Paul knew he was pretty much finished. He may as well just get it over with. “I had a deal with Debbie to make sure Jane found out.” Closing his eyes, he waited for the inevitable. “So, I told her.....”

  Paul expected to see stars, blackness or both, but didn’t expect nothing. He waited, but still nothing was forthcoming. Taking the risk, he slowly opened one eye to find Seth quietly scrutinising him.

  “You do realise between the two of you, you’ve fucked my life up, but I’m sure that was exactly your intention wasn’t it?” Seth muttered.

  Paul was unnerved. He’d expected Seth to go mental, not come out with something meaningful. “I-I’m sorry,” he garbled. “I-I still love Jane and I thought if you weren’t on the scene, she’d come back to me.”

  Seth stared at Paul. “By rights I should kill you stone dead for what you’ve done,” he whispered. “But I’m not going to.”

  Paul’s body visibly sagged with relief.

  “But,” Seth continued and tightened his grip. “There’s something you’re going to do for me to put this right.”

  “Anything. I’ll do anything. I’m really sorry. I’ll do anything.”

  Seth dragged him towards the door. “You’re coming with me.”

  Paul nodded. The prospect of spending one more second with this nutter was not high on his agenda, but figured he’d got off pretty lightly considering.

  “First, one last thing before we go.” Seth raised his fist. “This,” he smiled, “is from Jane....”

  As the punch shattered Paul’s cheekbone, stars of pain shot through his body. He was dragged through the door and shoved fully-clothed into the shower down the corridor. Feeling even sicker as vomit and blood sluiced down the plughole, he hoped the duct tape would come loose in the water, but he wasn’t that lucky.

  Minutes later, Paul was unceremoniously bundled, soaked through and in agony into the boot of Seth’s car. The last thing he heard before he finally passed out was the engine start.

  TEN

  AT THE GREEN DRAGON Seth sat uncomfortably, unsure of how he felt. He’d heard Jane was in the Ten Barrels, but despite the need to see her, he’d refrained. He was nervous. What if she rejected him?

  His scouts had finally come up with the goods and unbeknownst to Jane, Seth had watched her go into Mudflap’s place with that Owen bloke. His blood had run cold watching her kiss someone else. It had taken all his power not to launch himself out of the shadows, punch the wanker’s teeth out and pull her towards him, wrapping her back in his life. Instead he’d stood silently torturing himself, his heart splitting in two.

  He’d needed the last piece of the jigsaw in place before presenting Jane with the evidence, but now he’d got it, he would deliver. It would have to be tonight. Time was of the essence.

  JANE WATCHED THE DOUBLE doors of the Barrels, both hoping and dreading Seth would walk in, but she needn’t have bothered because he didn’t. It had been over a week since she’d seen him and the fact he hadn’t even come to look for her spoke volumes.

  Debbie hadn’t been seen either, so he was probably with that fat bitch. That was ok. She’d bide her time and do it properly.

  Wiping her hand over her forehead, Jane felt sick. She’d no idea how to get over Seth. Finding some uppers in her bag, she quickly swilled them down with a swig of vodka and tried to pull herself together.

  As Owen handed her yet another drink she forced a smile. She needed to get on with her life. What there was of one without Seth.

  OWEN WAS UNABLE TO wipe the wide grin off his face as he walked hand in hand with Jane out of the Barrels. He couldn’t believe his luck. He hoped a repeat performance of last night would be on the cards because the sex had been mind-blowing! He just wanted Jane to be his girl now, but had to contain his eagerness and settle with whatever she was willing to give until she was ready. He’d put her off otherwise and he didn’t want that.

  As they walked with Eliza down the High Street, Jane attempted to shake off Owen’s hand and hid her irritation with a forced smile. She knew full well she’d accepted the inevitable when he’d pulled his hard, muscular body over hers last night. Although he was a nice guy, she just didn’t want him. He wasn’t Seth - but then nor was anyone else.

  Eyeing the queue snaking out of the chip shop, she groaned, not relishi
ng waiting ages only to find there was only half a steak and kidney pie left by the time they got served. “Shall we bother?”

  Owen tugged her arm. “C’mon babe, let’s just get in there. I’m starving!”

  Jane protested as she was swung around and pushed through the doorway, but stopped dead in her tracks seeing Seth leaning against the counter. She watched a soft smile twitch in the corner of his mouth as he regarded her with amused eyes. His stare blazed into her as she concentrated on the lips she’d dreamt of kissing every night in his absence.

  “Jane,” Seth murmured softly before turning his gaze to Owen, who’d frozen in his tracks. The tension was tangible in the crowded space whilst everyone waited to witness the kick-off.

  “Alright Seth. How you doing?” Owen uttered, his voice sounding like someone had crushed his balls.

  Seth stared straight into Owen’s eyes. “Oh I’m fine,” he drawled, smiling coldly. “Apart from that you seem to have run off with my wife.”

  Jane stepped forward, her dark eyes spitting venom. “I’m not your wife.”

  People shuffled uncomfortably in the queue behind, whilst Eliza sighed and waited for the inevitable.

  “Oh, but you will be Jane,” Seth whispered, bringing his face closer.

  Feeling the pull, Jane wanted to melt into his arms and bury her face in his soul, but she wasn’t going to let him do this to her. Not going to let him do this at all. Except she was and she knew it.

  As Seth placed his fingers around her wrist, Jane’s heart raced.

  “Jane,” Seth whispered. “I didn’t do it and I’ll prove that to you. Tonight. Please?”

  Go on... Beg you bastard. Fucking BEG me, Jane thought, but finding an inner resolve, turned to Owen. “Right, come on! Let’s forget the food. I’m not hungry.”

  Owen faltered, not sure what to do. He’d seen the way they’d looked at each other and his heart sank. He knew he’d lost.