The Downfall Series Box Set

by Edie Baylis

  Seth had turned in the seat to face her. “So..... Where have you been?”

  Jane had sat a further minute in silence, unable to start the conversation she didn’t want to have. Knowing there’d been little option, she’d falteringly begun to tell him what had gone down. She’d glanced at him as he sat immobile, his steely eyes fixed on her.

  “For fuck’s sake,” He’d finally muttered through his clenched jaw, the anger rising off him in waves. “I said you were too pissed to leave without me,” he’d snarled, a dull tone in his voice. “Why the fuck didn’t you come back?”

  Jane hadn’t been able to answer that and continued staring out of the windscreen into the dark night, wishing she could be enveloped in its blackness.

  Rubbing her hand over the painful lump on the back of her head, she’d explained she’d come round on the floor to find Davis on top of her with his hands around her throat. The next thing she recalled, after a searing flash of pain was the other guy on her. For a split second she’d also seen Maggie out of the corner of her eye.

  Lurching towards her, Seth’s hands had tightened around her throat as he’d pulled her over the gear stick. The green of his eyes were ringed by a thick outline of deep burning black anger. “You stupid, stupid bitch!” He’d shaken her hard. “I told you I didn’t want you to go!”

  Tightening his grip further, he brought his face an inch away. “You were too pissed. What the fuck did you expect?” Seth shook Jane again. “You did this to yourself!”

  Jane didn’t attempt to fight back. She’d felt dead. Wiped out. Numb. Her sobs caught in her throat and she’d felt she would black out. She’d wished she had. At least she’d have had some peace. Some oblivion.

  Seth had thrown Jane back in the seat, her head hitting the glass of the driver’s door. Opening the passenger door, he’d turned to her once more. “I shouldn’t have let you fucking go!”

  JANE HAD FINALLY SUMMONED up the strength to claw at the man’s face with all her might. Her nails had gouged his flesh as he’d frantically thrust into her. Twisting her body, she’d rolled out from under him where he’d tried to grab her ankles, but she’d kicked him square in the face.

  Rolling backwards and to the side he’d screamed obscenities whilst she’d taken the opportunity to run. She’d found the others crashed out on the grass smoking and she watched silently as Davis and his mate quickly made their way back across the park into town.

  Jane turned her head slightly away so Maggie wouldn’t see the tears forming in her eyes and wished she’d stop clattering around in the cupboard. She wanted to smash Maggie’s fucking head in. Wanted to take her anger and pain out on someone. Anyone.

  She’d needed Seth to hold her, tell her he loved her. To wrap her in his heart and tell her it would be ok. It wasn’t ok though and it wasn’t going to be ok either.

  Jane had eventually got out of the car and walked towards Seth. He’d been storming around the car park, kicking the fuck out of anything in sight. He’d ended up sitting on a tree trunk with his head in his hands. Brushing the hair out of his eyes, she’d seen fat tears rolling down his cheeks. The pain in his eyes was so tangible she could taste it.

  Smacking her hand away, Seth had angrily wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand. “Get the hell away from me!” he spat. “This is all your fault. How the fuck can I screw you now?”

  Jane had stared at Seth hollowly. “Is that all you care about?”

  Seth had stood up, his voice like ice. “No. That’s not all I care about Jane. Far from it. Now leave me the fuck alone.” Turning, he’d walked towards the road and hadn’t looked back.

  Slowly walking back to her car, Jane had put her head on the steering wheel and cried.

  “Are you alright, babe?” Maggie asked in a small voice. It was obvious Jane was thinking about what had happened. What she, herself should have stopped instead of watching.

  A single tear rolled down Jane’s face. “Not really, no.”

  Maggie sat down forlornly next to Jane on the caravan’s bench seat and burst out crying. “I’m sorry babe. I’m so sorry for letting you down.”

  Jane looked at the floor. There wasn’t anything to say.

  Unscrewing the red top of the vodka, she took a swig and let the hot burn of the spirit numb her mouth.

  If only it could numb her mind.

  SETH WAS READY. ACKNOWLEDGING that although he wasn’t in the best of states physically or mentally at this precise moment, he knew if he didn’t take advantage of getting at least one of the bastards, he’d have to wait maybe another week before getting the chance again. And he couldn’t wait that long.

  The engine of the Senator ticked over quietly at the end of the road and he’d been gripping the steering wheel so hard and for so long, his knuckles were white. The bastard better hurry up as he was fast running out of time.

  Taking one hand off the wheel, Seth grabbed the whisky from the passenger seat and took a long gulp. Once this was done he’d drink the second fucking bottle as well.

  Clenching his jaw, Seth tried to steady his heart. It felt like it was going to drop out of his chest. How dare the bastard do that to Jane. His Jane.

  He wanted to torture the fuck out of Davis, but knew he hadn’t the patience to orchestrate that. This needed to be dealt with immediately and it was the only way right now.

  Seth smacked the steering wheel angrily. He knew he’d been awful to Jane when she’d needed him. He should have reacted differently, but his anger had made him completely impotent to behave any other way.

  He’d wanted to hurt her like she’d hurt him and he’d managed it because she’d looked broken. However, what he was about to do would at least go some way to make amends.

  DAVIS WAS GLAD TO GET out of the Barrels. Despite his bravado, he’d felt a tad uncomfortable after seeing Jane. He didn’t think he’d feel bad, but he did. A little.

  At least he’d finally fucked her though, plus getting one over on that wanker for making him look like a cunt was an added bonus. He hadn’t expected his mate to have a go though.

  Glancing over his shoulder, Davis stepped out onto the road, grateful he was almost home.

  He was a foot from the other side of the road when he was suddenly blinded by headlights and the roar of an engine. “What the fu....”

  As the grill slammed into Davis’ legs sending him onto the bonnet, he had no time to react. The expression of shocked terror on his face froze for ever when his head smashed against the windscreen.

  Seth slammed his foot savagely on the brake and the body fell sideways onto the road. Slamming the car into reverse he backed up, the engine screaming. Crunching the car into first gear, he focused on the immobile figure lying awkwardly before stamping his foot back on the accelerator.

  He carefully lined up the wheels to ensure a direct second hit and as the car jolted up and ran Davis over for the second time Seth laughed loudly, resisting the urge to jump out of the car and stab the fucker until every drop of blood had drained from his body. The job was done.

  Quickly speeding away, Seth sparked a fag up. One down, one to go. He didn’t know the other guy’s name, but one thing was for sure and that was he would definitely find him.

  Soon.

  TWENTY EIGHT

  “YOU OK?” SETH ASKED, squeezing Jane’s hand. He glanced towards her, watching as she unscrewed a bottle of pills and placed a couple into her mouth. “Any for me?”

  Silently handing the brown glass bottle over, Jane reached for the vodka rolling around in the foot well. Her dark eyes focused in concentration at something unknown far in the distance as they sped towards the city.

  Throwing a couple of tablets into his mouth, Seth swallowed them dry. “It will over soon, baby,” he murmured, overtaking a van creeping along at a snail’s pace in front of them.

  Jane stared ahead. Would it really be over? Sometimes she doubted that very much. She reached for her gold case, thankful that at least they didn’t have to bother finding
money for coke for a while.

  She took a pinch from the powder and when her nostrils began to burn decided maybe they should have cut it down with something like they’d done with the half they’d flogged.

  Sod it. Another nose bleed didn’t matter on top of everything else.

  Taking another swig of vodka to wash away the bitter taste making its way down the back of her throat, Jane felt the coke work its magic in her brain and she gazed back out of the window.

  “Jane?”

  Seth’s deep voice snapped her from her thoughts and she turned towards him, just able to make out his eyes in the dark.

  “It will be alright, you know.”

  “Yeah...” Sighing, Jane returned to stare back out of the window. She knew Seth was trying to gee her up, but she just wanted this over with. It was almost a week since that night at the park and she still felt raw about the whole thing.

  Well, not actually the whole thing. She’d found she’d easily switched off and bypassed the physical side of things, but it was what Seth had said which had got to her. That and what the others had done, or rather hadn’t done.

  Jane silently cursed herself for the thousandth time for being oversentimental. She was as tough as old boots after all. At least that was what everyone thought.

  Maybe, just maybe she was sick of having to be tough and pretend nothing bothered her, when everything bothered her. Sometimes she just felt like running away and screaming. Screaming, screaming, screaming and never stopping.

  The fundamental flaw was although she could easily run away from everyone else should she choose to, she couldn’t run away from herself. However she could at least drink and take enough drugs to enable her to forget what and who she was for a while. She’d been doing it for long enough after all and was exceptionally good at it.

  Seth frowned and tried to remove the lump forming in his throat. He could still picture Jane’s empty face when he’d finally located her after his outburst. He hadn’t meant what he’d said. He’d just been cross by not being in the position to protect her.

  Holding her close he stroked her hair and flicked his mind off. He was gutted about what had happened, but was damned if Jane would see him cry again. Once was more than enough.

  When Seth had informed Jane that Davis wouldn’t be returning to the Barrels and she probably wouldn’t see him again, her face had remained expressionless.

  Seth narrowed his eyes and focused on an articulated lorry ahead blocking the road. It had been a dead cert she wouldn’t be seeing that wanker again. When the news had flown round the town a day later about the ‘awful hit and run accident,’ she’d put two and two together.

  So close to where he lived as well.

  Yeah, terrible.

  Pulling off the main road onto a network of smaller side roads, they headed into a less-built up part of the city. Flicking the headlights to full beam, Seth searched for the turning he wanted and when the sign for the caravan park came into view he dipped the lights to sides.

  It had been a stroke of luck in the Black Eagle on Tuesday that Spooner had come in looking for Jane. He’d leant on their sticky table, causing Seth’s pint to slop out over the top of his glass and smiled. “San said to tell you he’s sorry.”

  “San?” Jane had been confused.

  “Davis’ mate,” Spooner had continued. “He’d obviously heard about the accident.”

  Jane had felt Seth go rigid.

  “Poor guy,” Spooner looked from Seth to Jane sadly. “He said they were mates from college and asked me to pass on a message to you. Said it was important.”

  Jane felt sick and had glanced at Seth, whose expression remained neutral.

  “What’s it about then? Didn’t realise you knew him? I’d never seen him before.”

  Jane had smiled at Spooner’s chubby face as the lies tripped off her tongue. “I don’t know him at all, he must have me mixed up with someone else.”

  “Where is he now?” Seth had asked quietly, his fist clenching underneath the table.

  “No idea, mate. He had to go because his Astra was parked on the double-yellows.”

  Bidding them goodnight, Spooner had disappeared out of the thick old wooden door on to the high street and in the space of two days Seth had located this man. He’d done well.

  SQUEEZING HER HAND, Seth looked at Jane in the half-light. “Here we are.”

  Jane felt her stomach lurch as the car slowed to a halt in front of a group of large trailers standing on concrete bases. An Astra was parked out the front of the one on the left. “Just remember I want to be the one to finish it,” she muttered quietly, a steely resolve in her eyes.

  Seth nodded as they got out of the car. Shrugging his jacket on, he banged loudly on the door with his fist. Jane stood at the base of the steps behind him, her heart beating like the clappers.

  She hadn’t wanted to see this guy again. Ever.

  As the silhouette of a figure appeared behind the frosted glass door, Jane took in a deep breath.

  Seth looked deceptively calmly at the slim woman with dark blonde hair scraped into an unflattering pony tail. She held a toddler in her arms. “San there?”

  Jane glanced at the woman. A kid? This complicated things somewhat.

  “Yeah?” San said in a gruff voice as he made his way to the door, trying to work out who the visitors were.

  Placing one steel toe cap in the doorframe, Seth turned to Jane. “Is this him?”

  When Jane stepped to the side and faced San full on, recognition flooded his face. His skin paled as the situation became clear.

  “Yep,” she said confidently, only resentment in her eyes as she stared at the guy in the door.

  “J-Jane! Er, Hi. Did you get the message? The one I sent from my mate?”

  “Your mate?” Seth sneered, grabbing San around the neck. Pushing him backwards into the trailer’s lounge area he beckoned Jane to follow with a nod of his head.

  The woman who’d been standing stock still and confused-looking suddenly came to life. “What the hell are you doing? What’s going on?”

  She looked towards her boyfriend who was wide-eyed with terror, his hand grasping at his throat. “San? SAN? What the fuck’s this about?”

  The toddler took this opportunity to scream in a loud, high-pitched wail and Jane clenched her teeth.

  “Do you want to tell your missus or shall I?” Seth snarled, “Get yourself and the kid into the bedroom, lady and stay in there until I say otherwise.”

  “What? Are you mad? I’m going to call the police. You can’t barge in here like this!”

  As the woman moved towards the door, Jane blocked her path and smiled icily. “I suggest you do as he says.”

  Looking into Jane’s cold eyes, the woman’s confidence faltered. She glanced back at her boyfriend. “San....?”

  “Do as they say Maria, for fuck’s sake. I’ll sort this out. It’s a misunderstanding.”

  “If only you were that considerate towards other women,” Seth growled.

  Jane watched the woman nervously move into the bedroom with the child and close the door behind her.

  “I guess you, rather than your mate knows my wife?” Seth muttered, before head-butting San square on the nose.

  “I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry! I don’t know what came over me.” San’s eyes watered as blood flowed onto his white Nike T-shirt. “Davis told me to do it.”

  “A coward to the end,” Seth snarled. “Don’t lie!” He tightened his vice-like grip on the man’s throat. “Easy to blame him, even though he’s equally as much of a wanker as you.”

  With his free hand, Seth reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of duct tape. Ripping off a piece with his teeth, he quickly bound San’s wrists together.

  “P-Please! Please don’t hurt me!” San gibbered, seeing Seth’s hate-filled expression and realising resistance was futile.

  Pulling the man to his knees by his slicked back hair, Seth kneed him hard in the face before throwin
g him back onto the grubby, beige blood-splattered carpet.

  Sobbing in pain, San looked pleadingly at Jane. “Please. I’m sorry. I’ll do anything. Please..... I’ve got a child.”

  Jane returned San’s gaze unfeelingly. “Maybe you should have thought about that before you raped me.”

  “I-I didn’t rape you... I didn’t....”

  Seth’s fist exploded the man’s lip, along with a couple of teeth. “You normally knock someone out and force yourself on them do you?”

  San stared up in terror.

  “DO YOU?”

  “No. No! I shouldn’t have. I shou.....”

  “You cunt!” Seth ripped another length of duct tape from the roll. “I’ve had enough of your whining.” Effortlessly gagging the man scrabbling around on the floor, he laughed. “It’s for your own benefit. You’ll wake your neighbours the rate you’re bleating. You wouldn’t want them to know what you are, now would you?”

  Weird squeaking noises came out of San’s mouth as it was forced into a hideous grimace. Swiftly undoing the black leather belt around the man’s jeans, Seth wrenched them down in one movement. The panicked sounds sounded almost cartoon-like and San’s eyes bulged with abject horror.

  Jane stifled the urge to laugh when Seth pulled a large hunting knife from his inside pocket. She smiled, knowing exactly what was coming.

  Seth winked at Jane and spun the knife around in his fingers. “Time for divine retribution.”

  Stepping forward, Jane looked San directly in the eyes. “Enjoy!”

  Choking garbled noises escaped from San’s mouth as he thrashed about pointlessly on the floor, the reality of what was about to befall him seeping into his panicked mind.

  “Don’t really want to touch it,” Seth muttered. His nose wrinkled up as he grabbed the end of San’s flaccid cock roughly. “Needs must, I suppose.”

  Holding it taut, he quickly cut it off at the base and blood sprayed everywhere. He slit the tape across the man’s mouth and animalistic howls and hyperventilating choking sobs escaped, silenced by San’s own cock being rammed deep into his mouth.