The Downfall Series Box Set

by Edie Baylis

  “JUST POPPING TO THE offy to get some fags before it closes babe,” Maggie shouted.

  “Wait for me. I’ll come with you.” Jane replied.

  Unable to hear over the music, Maggie stumbled unsteadily up the sticky steps towards the front door. Cheekily pinching Davis’ backside, she skipped down the stairs towards the off-licence.

  From his position in the alleyway, Ian watched as Maggie stumbled past. He smiled. He’d known if he bided his time he’d catch her, but this was better than he’d imagined. He’d presumed he’d have to wait at least another hour down this stinking alley until kick-out before getting his chance.

  Maggie was rummaging for her purse when she was dragged backwards into the dark by her waist. She didn’t have time to react or even scream when Ian clamped his mouth down over hers and pushed her against the cold, slimy brick wall.

  Through her drunken haze she looked into Ian’s bloodshot eyes and saw the twisted sneer on his lips. A tight knot of terror formed in the pit of her stomach as she realised with dread her paranoia had been well-founded all along.

  Trying not to gag from the strong smell of fags and piss emanating from him, her eyes darted from left to right. Not another soul had passed the alley, let alone looked down it and the town would be empty until kick-out time, which was far too long.

  WITH A BOLT OF UNEASE, Debbie clocked Jane moving across the room towards the stairwell. If she went outside, that would fuck things up for Ian. She wasn’t sure where he was, but knew he wouldn’t want to be interrupted.

  Hastily placing her cider on the bar, she hurried through the crowd.

  “Missed me?” Ian growled, a trail of saliva hanging between his lips.

  Frozen with shock and fear as he pressed his hand tight over her mouth, Maggie was unable to do anything apart from stare into his eyes and listen. She felt like she was going to pass out.

  “I’m going to make you wish you’d never left me,” Ian sneered, his free hand sliding inside the waistband of Maggie’s leggings and down her knickers.

  Feeling his cock throbbing painfully, he could hardly contain himself as he rubbed her clit hard. He’d have to show her what to do and lead her like a horse. As usual.

  Rounding the corner, Jane walked unsteadily towards the off licence and was surprised when Debbie suddenly ran down the steps from the Barrels.

  “IAN!” Debbie screamed into the night. “IAN!”

  Immediately sobering up, Jane rushed over. Grabbing Debbie’s wrist she pulled her backwards. “What the fuck are you doing?” she yelled, slamming Debbie’s head into the wall.

  Blood streamed from a gash on Debbie’s head as Jane dragged her around and pushed her back against the wall by her throat. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

  Debbie stared petrified as Jane’s eyes burnt into hers. She couldn’t go through this again. She was supposed to be keeping it non-personal and didn’t want to make her suspicious. Shit. SHIT.

  Suddenly Davis appeared and grabbed Jane with both arms.

  “What the hell are you doing Davis? Fuck off!” Jane screamed angrily.

  “Calm down!” Davis cried, struggling to hold her whilst Debbie took the opportunity to run off down the road sobbing.

  “I’ll fucking find you!” Jane shouted at the retreating figure with venom dripping from her voice, not noticing Ian running out of the alley.

  “Will you get the hell off me?” Jane yelled as Davis pinned her arms down by her side. As he pulled her backwards tightly against him she tried to ignore the erection she felt against the small of her back.

  Turning her around, Davis tried to keep the want out of his voice. He’d no idea how he was going to wait until later until he could take her. He gripped the top of her arms with his fingers and wished she’d just put her hands on his throbbing cock. “You don’t need to overplay this Jane. Later will be good, yeah?”

  Wrenching her arms free, Jane stared at him, confused. “What are you talking about?”

  “Jane! JANE!” Maggie squeaked, running out of the alley with tears rolling down her face.

  Forgetting about Davis’ strange comments, Jane stared at her friend in shock. “What’s happened?”

  “It was him! He pulled me down the alley!”

  “Who?”

  “Ian...” Breaking down in a fresh bout of sobs, Maggie’s eyes were wild with fright. “His hands were down my leggings.” She leant against Davis for protection, but instead he moved away and placed his hands on Jane’s shoulders.

  “Let’s get you two back inside for another drink,” he smiled.

  Maggie scowled as she walked up the steps. It was her that had got attacked, not Jane.

  In the top bar, she glared at Davis back on the door before turning to Jane. “I told you Ian was following me and I could have sworn I heard his sister calling for him.”

  Jane gulped down one of several vodkas and scowled. “Nah, that was that fat fucking stalker Debbie showing her ugly face again. God knows what she wanted.”

  Maggie raised her eyebrows. “What, the one you told me about? That shit with Seth? That was Debbie?”

  Jane stopped mid-drink. “Yeah, that’s the one. Why?”

  “But babe, Debbie’s Ian’s sister.”

  AS THE LIGHTS CAME up at the end of the night, Seth eyed the pools of beer and smashed glass on the floor and frowned when Jane fell against Jake.

  He admitted he’d launched into her when she’d shown her face back downstairs. As it was he’d been going off his nut worrying where she was and when he’d heard she was up the top bar with Maggie it had wound him up. Especially when he’d heard about the shit which had kicked off outside. Why did she get involved?

  Seth sighed. All he cared about now was getting out of here and taking her home. As Jane unsteadily made her way towards the doors, he angrily slammed the drip tray down on the bar. For God’s sake, she was so drunk she could hardly stand.

  Grabbing Jane’s arm just as she reached the doors, Seth swung her around, pulling her off balance and looked into her glazed eyes. “Where you going?”

  “Away from you!” Jane snapped, trying to focus.

  Looking at her, Seth dreaded to think how much she’d put away. “I don’t want you going anywhere like this.”

  “You don’t. You don’t!” Jane slurred. “That’s all I ever hear from you? What you want. What you don’t want!” Pulling her arm away, she overbalanced.

  “You can hardly walk. Just wait!”

  “I’m with my mates. You know... mates. Now fuck off Seth and leave me be!”

  “Fuck you then!” Seth screamed, walking back towards the bar. Angrily picking up the broom, he began brushing the smashed glass into one big pile.

  TWENTY SIX

  STANDING AT THE BARRELS door Davis fidgeted and self-consciously straightened his bow-tie. Ok, it hadn’t quite gone to plan last night, but he’d got what he’d wanted in the end. Plus he’s got one over on that wanker Seth.

  What that fat Debbie bird had told him had been kosher alright. Jane and Seth had definitely not been getting on and when his mate San had turned up to give him a lift home at closing that dippy Maggie had asked if they’d wanted to join them for a smoke over the park.

  Davis had grinned. So that had been Jane’s plan? A bit of al fresco? Perfect.

  He’d planned to offload Maggie onto San as soon as he could so the stupid tart would stop trying to cling on to his fucking arm and had hardly been able to contain his enthusiasm as he and San had followed them over town. Luckily his double-breasted suit jacket hid the arousal which had plagued him all night.

  Once they’d had a smoke at the park Davis had wondered when Jane would give him the nod, but she’d soon got up saying she was going to the toilet. He’d given it five minutes so not to make it obvious, but when he’d walked around the side of the park’s toilet block he’d been surprised to find her crashed out on the floor. It hadn’t been a problem. He’d woken her up alright!

 
Unzipping his flies, he’d freed his rock-solid cock and wasted no time in pulling Jane’s knickers to the side, quickly pushing himself into her. God she’d felt good.

  Thrusting harder and harder Davis had fast felt himself start to build, but had seen shock flash through Jane’s eyes as she’d returned to consciousness.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Jane had screamed, clawing at his face until he’d silenced her with his mouth.

  She’d been a fiery one alright, but her game had only heightened his arousal. Ripping her top open, he’d bit down hard on her breasts.

  “DAVIS!” she’d screamed. “Stop this!”

  It was only then he’d realised Jane was being serious. He’d felt a bit bad, but by that point was too turned on to care whether she’d been up for it or not. Besides, she’d get over it.

  The only trouble was, her shouting and screaming had been getting on his tits, as had the clawing at his face. Holding her down by her arms, Davis had forced his tongue back into Jane’s mouth to shut her up, but then he’d come so hard, he’d been unable to stop crying out with one of the most intense orgasms he’d ever had and she’d started shouting again.

  His cock had barely stopped unloading, when out of nowhere San had grabbed Jane’s hair. Swiftly smacking her head down hard on the pavement several times, he’d knocked her out cold.

  “What’s her problem?” San had muttered. “Come on Davis, shift over. My turn.”

  ELIZA GLANCED AT JANE and smiled sadly before returning her eyes to the television screen. She felt like shit for two reasons: one - she was completely hungover and two - because she couldn’t remember why she’d got so drunk she’d been unable to see what had being going on. Jane was her best mate after all and she should have been there for her.

  Eliza had desperately tried to find an excuse for her lack of ability. She just hadn’t been thinking straight. Surely that counted for something?

  Jane ignored Eliza’s sympathetic expression, not wanting it and certainly not needing it. It would have been more helpful for her to have been there when it had mattered. But she hadn’t had she? Nor had any of the others.

  Swallowing down the bile rising uncomfortably in her throat, Jane took another swig out of the bottle of homemade wine. It was disgusting, but she was past caring.

  She hadn’t wanted to stay at Eliza’s last night, neither had she wanted to stay at Maggie’s, but she’d had to stay somewhere. There had been no way she could have gone back to the flat to deal with Seth. She didn’t know when she’d be able to deal with him, but knew she’d have to eventually.

  SETH SAT AMONGST A pile of empty beer cans. He hadn’t even got any whisky left because he’d finished the entire bottle waiting for Jane to return last night. He’d waited all night and had she shown? Had she fuck.

  Grating his teeth, the vein in his temple throbbed painfully. Where the fuck was she? He’d kill her when she showed up. If she showed up.

  A wave of panic flooded through his system. She couldn’t leave him. She was his fucking wife for God’s sake. She couldn’t just disappear. He could also definitely have done without Stuart inviting himself round last night for a smoke.

  The prick had seemed almost pleased Jane had gone AWOL and banged on how he was better off without her. She’d probably gone off with someone else again, he’d said.

  Hadn’t Seth seen Jane flirting with that bloke with the long brown hair, Stuart had asked.

  What bloke?

  In the end, Seth had told Stuart to get out. He wasn’t helping by making stupid fucking comments.

  Staring at the ceiling he rolled his eyes. Jane was probably right about Stuart. Not that he’d any intention of telling her that. He cracked his knuckles and wished he hadn’t punched the wall.

  Draining the dregs of another can, he threw it angrily across the room and grimly surveyed the damage he’d done. He’d ripped the lounge door clean off its hinges and the bedroom door was in the same state. The bathroom and kitchen doors were also unusable as he’d kicked them to smithereens and a big chunk of plaster was missing out of the wall where he’d hurled the television, which was now lying on its back in the corner of the room.

  It was a bloody good job Jane hadn’t shown up. He’d probably have throttled her if she had.

  Feeling the rage ramping up again, Seth reached for another beer. So help him, when he found out who she’d felt the need to spend all night with, he’d kill him and then after that, he’d kill her. He’d had enough of her games and all this shit. It was going to stop.

  ELIZA LOOKED UP AGAIN. ‘Are you going to call the police?’

  Jane almost laughed, but found clenching her teeth helped her maintain a blank expression. Call the Police? Looking the way she looked and the state she’d been in last night? With her past, the record she had and with the people she knew? No, she’d sort it out herself and face it alone - like she always did.

  Jane’s head pounded, but she refused to think about this anymore. Couldn’t think about it. She needed to hold it together.

  She took a deep breath to try and quell the speeding in her head which threatened to rush over and send her gibbering in panic out of the room. The longer she allowed herself to think, the more the panic rose and spread through her mind like a virus.

  Jane felt guilty. Firstly because she felt nothing about what had happened. Not angry or surprised, not even upset.

  Just nothing.

  Secondly, if she hadn’t been so mashed it wouldn’t have happened. Or maybe she could have stopped it before it had gone that far?

  Shakily lighting up a fag, Jane felt sick to the stomach. She’d never have got so paralytic if she’d realised her ‘friends’ would have stood around doing nothing whilst she’d been raped. She shuddered, finding it difficult to swallow that none of the people she’d classed as friends seemed to be and wondered again how on earth she was going to tell Seth. If she told him, that was...

  “Is it ok if I go for a bath?” Jane asked Eliza. She desperately needed to wash the filth from those bastards off her. She wanted to scrub herself with bleach. Anything to remove the memory and any trace whatsoever.

  Finishing the rest of the wine, Jane climbed the stairs towards the bathroom and gagged as the sediment flowed down her throat. She smiled slightly. A couple more bottles of this and she’d be drunk enough to go out.

  TWENTY SEVEN

  MAGGIE WAS GLAD JANE was too busy putting together the third joint since arriving to notice her staring. When she’d heard a car pull up outside the caravan at midnight, she’d initially thought it was Ian again, but was relieved to see Jane fall up the steps, drunk.

  As she’d ushered Jane onto the bench seat, Maggie wondered how on earth she drove in that state and forced herself to ask how she was, even though she didn’t want to hear the answer.

  She watched as Jane lit the joint, her glazed eyes focusing on somewhere that didn’t exist and exhaled a thick stream of blue smoke that drifted up to form a heavy cloud near the roof.

  Biting her bottom lip to postpone the tears pricking at her eyes, Maggie studied the fresh red welts around Jane’s throat and wrestled with the feelings of guilt and anger she’d had all day.

  Last night she’d been over the moon when Davis had agreed to come to the park. As they’d made their way across town she’d been glad of his support and swayed against him laughing, watching Jane weave along the road with her shoes in her hand and Eliza staggering behind.

  She hadn’t liked the fact Davis didn’t take his eyes off Jane though. Maggie tried not to cry. She’d been supposed to be the one getting Davis’ attention, not Jane.

  Once they’d reached the park and had a smoke, Maggie had forgotten what she’d been sulking about. Realising she hadn’t seen Jane since she’d staggered off to the toilet block she decided to hide and jump out at her.

  Giggling with the prospect of giving Jane a fright, she’d tiptoed around the corner, but her smile had immediately vanished seeing Jane on the floor w
ith Davis on top of her, rutting like an animal.

  Overcome with jealously and humiliation, Maggie had stared uncomprehendingly at Davis’ mate who’d also been watching, then flounced back to join the others.

  Always Jane. Jane, Jane, Jane!

  Shifting her weight on the seat, Jane waved the joint in Maggie’s direction. Mechanically leaning over and forcing a small smile she took the joint, noting half of Jane’s long red nails had snapped and a fresh wave of guilt rushed over her.

  She’d heard Jane scream and seen her claw Davis, who’d had his hands around her throat. She’d then seen his mate knock her unconscious and take over.

  Fuck! She’d watched them do this and hadn’t done a thing.

  GINGERLY TOUCHING THE red welts on her throat, Jane swallowed. Getting very drunk to block out all thoughts hadn’t worked. She didn’t know exactly how she felt about Maggie or any of her friends yet, but that was the least of her problems right now.

  As for Seth, well, she couldn’t make up her mind whether he’d reacted worse, better or exactly like she’d expected. She shivered. All she wanted to do was switch her fucking head off.

  After suffering the indignity of seeing Davis acting normally on the Barrel’s door earlier, for once in her life she’d been unsure how to deal with the situation. When she’d blanked him, he’d just grinned and shrugged his shoulders, as if last night had been a standard occurrence.

  Surrounded by the people she’d once trusted, Jane had somehow got through the evening, but by 10 had been relieved to see Seth’s familiar silhouette enter the bar, his eyes scanning the room for her. Her heart had been in her throat. She’d been dreading this moment, but knew it had to be done.

  Agreeing they needed to talk, they’d left the Barrels and driven to a car park. Seth had scrutinised her silently with a murderous expression on his face the whole of the journey. He knew he was waiting to hear something he didn’t want to, but it was only when she’d killed the engine did he turn the car stereo down.