The Downfall Series Box Set

by Edie Baylis

  “What the matter? Don’t worry. If I’m not already, I’m sure it won’t take long,” Maggie reached out, bewilderment on her face.

  Bryn stared at her in disbelief. “What?” He felt like he was going to start frothing at the mouth. “Are you nuts? Did you not think to discuss this with me?”

  Her face fell slightly. “Aw, you’re not cross with me are you? Should I have waited until it’s definite before saying something?”

  “NO!” Grabbing Maggie’s arm, Bryn pulled her heavily across the bed. He felt like killing her, the stupid bitch. “You’re fucked up! I don’t want a fucking kid!”

  Maggie looked like she’d been slapped. “W-What?”

  “I said,” Bryn hissed through gritted teeth, “I don’t want a fucking kid. What’s so difficult to understand about that?”

  Shaking her with both arms, he scowled as Maggie burst into tears. “Shut up, you stupid cow!” he raged. “I don’t want a kid and I certainly don’t want one with you. Ever!”

  Throwing her roughly back onto the bed, he grabbed his jeans and quickly pulled them on. He didn’t care if he’d nowhere to go. He wasn’t staying with this nutter anymore that was for certain.

  Maggie crumpled on the bed in a heap, sobbing. “B-But, where are you going?”

  “AWAY FROM YOU!” Snarling, Bryn pulled his T-shirt over his head. “I mean it, Maggie. If you’re pregnant, I’ll kill you!”

  JANE PASSED SETH THE stake and watched as he hammered the end into the earth with a mallet.

  Tossing it to one side Seth smiled and rubbed his hands together. He stood back to admire his work. “Right. Let’s get on with the final phase.”

  Stuart lay white-faced, curled in a ball with vomit and thick blood pouring out of his mouth. “Not so cocky now are you?” Jane laughed, enjoying the shaking, shrunken body that was uttering soft whimpering noises in front of her.

  Watching impatiently as Seth rolled Stuart roughly on to his back, she helped unbuckle his belt. The quicker this was done, the quicker the fucker would be gone for good.

  Yanking Stuart’s jeans down to his ankles, Seth lifted him by his underarms and pulled him upright, but his legs folded from underneath him. “Come on, cunt!” he roared. “Wake up! COME ON!”

  It was no use. He was too far gone.

  Seth slapped Stuart around the face, his glazed eyes rolling and a trail of bloody saliva dribbled out of his mouth. “Oh for fuck’s sake!” he muttered, hearing a strange whining noise. “He’s off with the fucking fairies!”

  “Get on with it then. Don’t want him to die before the exciting bit do we?” Jane winked, unable to contain her enthusiasm. “That just wouldn’t be cricket!”

  Seth smiled savagely as he dragged Stuart over to the stake. Although the man didn’t have the energy or ability to put up any form of physical struggle, the whimpering noises increased as he was shoved onto the pole. With a couple of minor adjustments, the tip pushed slowly into him.

  Jane stood next to Seth, her heart beating fast. What a way to go, she thought smiling.

  “Anything else you want, baby?” Seth asked, smiling at the pleasure on Jane’s face and laughed. He’d much rather be sticking his cock into her than shoving this wanker onto a pole, but some things just had to be done.

  The corner of Seth’s mouth twitched into a half-smile as Stuart’s weight took the strain and a horrible guttural moan escaped as the pole made its way up inside his body. A fresh wave of vomit spewed out as the pointed end pierced Stuart’s bowel and a gush of blood and shit poured onto the grassy floor.

  Jane felt slightly queasy, but relieved. It was over, or would be very shortly. As the finale unfolded, she walked back to the car to get the vodka.

  ELIZA WAS STRESSED OUT. Not only was Jake determined to get her on her own, but Maggie was hysterical. Something to do with Bryn. She didn’t have a clue what was going on, but hoped after a few drinks Maggie would stop fucking crying.

  Where was Jane when she needed her? She was supposed to have been here nearly an hour ago.

  Hearing the back door to the bar slam, Eliza looked up to see Jane walk in the bar.

  “Eliza?” Jake slotted into a space on the bench next to her.

  “Got to go and see Jane. She’s just arrived, look.” Eliza stood up quickly. Thank fuck for that!

  Pouring a vodka and orange down her throat, Jane grinned. “Sorry I’m late. Got a bit held up.”

  “Where’s Seth?”

  Jane glanced down the corridor. “Just washing his hands.”

  “Washing his hands? What you two been doing then?” Giving Jane a wicked grin Eliza winked, then her nose wrinkled up as the strong smell assaulted her nostrils. “Christ! You fucking stink of petrol!”

  “Ah yes, the car ran out of fuel. Had to fill a jerry can up,” Jane smiled.

  Eliza raised her eyebrow. “Been doing something nice?”

  “Actually, yes. Something I’ve wanted to do for quite some time.” She’d enjoyed flicking the match, but fuck, did she stink! “Think I’d better wash my hands too.”

  Eliza grabbed Jane’s arm as she turned to walk towards the toilets. “God. I’m glad you’re here! You’ve got to do something with Maggie. She’s in a right bloody state.”

  Jane rolled her eyes. What now?

  MAGGIE SOBBED HYSTERICALLY and propped herself against the table, not caring her shaking hands were causing her lager to slosh out of the glass.

  She couldn’t cope anymore. She might as well just top herself. Taking in a big, hiccupping breath, she ignored everyone staring at her.

  “Hey,” Zed flopped down heavily on the bench next to Maggie. “What’s up?”

  Maggie slowly raised her head up and looked at Zed with teary eyes. “Oh babe, everything’s just so awful.” Sobbing loudly, she buried her head in his chest, bypassing that he hadn’t washed for at least a week.

  Placing his arm around her shoulders, Zed pulled Maggie nearer, hoping he could cadge a bit of dope. “Come on, it can’t be that bad?” He stroked her hair. “Besides, I’m here now.”

  Maggie’s sobs quietened as she leant further into him and smiled. Sod Bryn. Zed was back. There was light at the end of the tunnel. Sitting back, she wiped the tears from her face.

  JANE SCRUBBED HER HANDS as best as she could with the small, dry piece of soap, whilst Eliza sat on the toilet and filled her in as to what was going on with Jake.

  “What are you going to do?” Jane asked dislodging something unsavoury stuck behind one of her fingernails.

  “I don’t know, I really don’t. He isn’t very interesting in the sack.”

  Laughing, Jane sluiced the cold water over her hands and glanced at her reflection in the mirror, smiling seeing Seth appear through the door behind her.

  “Happy now?” he whispered, bringing his hands up to cup Jane’s face. His lips twitched into a slight smile before crushing them down onto hers.

  “Jane?” Eliza shouted from the cubicle. “Who’s that? Are you still there?”

  Jane was pushed roughly against the washbasin as she undid Seth’s belt buckle. Pulling her quickly into the next cubicle, he slammed the door behind him just as Eliza flushed the toilet.

  “Jane?” Eliza frowned, confused.

  The score became clear when the partition wall began to shake violently as Seth took Jane against it, very hard and very quickly.

  Returning to her seat, Eliza tried to pretend she hadn’t seen Jake frantically waving at her. Although hearing Jane and Seth at it in the toilets had made her hot and she wouldn’t mind a bit of action herself.

  She frowned. Maggie appeared to have recovered from her total and utter all-consuming heartbreak of ten minutes previously and was smiling intently at Zed. Eliza rolled her eyes. She gave up with that girl, she really did.

  Now. What to do about Jake? Maybe she should give him another chance in the sack before binning him off entirely?

  Eliza glanced at her watch. Still two hours of drinking time to go. She
could probably get several drinks out of Jake beforehand.

  Yeah, fuck it. Smiling, she walked towards him.

  FIFTY FIVE

  WITH ONLY A WEEK TO go until the wedding, Seth was confident he’d got everything sorted. Roaring along the road in the Senator he was unable to wipe the smile off his face.

  Now that twat Stuart was off the radar, Jane was happy, he was happy, so it was all good. Plus he was meeting Digger, Phil and Tony for a drink down the Dragon tonight.

  Jane was going up the Barrels with Maggie and Eliza and he’d go up there for last orders. That way he’d still see her.

  JANE WAS EXCITED. SHE’D spent the last hour rummaging through her clothes, picking out what she was going to wear later and she’d narrowed it down between two things. She held up the skin-tight black velvet halter dress.

  Would that go better with her stilettos, or the new one?

  Looking at the gorgeous iridescent emerald green sequinned dress, there was realistically no contest as to which one she was going to wear. It had to be that one. The green would match Seth’s eyes. A shiver of anticipation ran through her as she imagined him peeling the dress off her.

  When she heard the front door slam, Jane quickly folded up the green dress and shoved it under the bed along with the pregnancy test. She’d have one last night before accepting reality and would surprise Seth with that later.

  “Hey Princess!” Seth grinned, his eyes smiling as he walked into the bedroom. “You wearing that tonight?”

  Glancing down at the black halter neck, Jane feigned indifference. “Not sure yet. Probably. When are you meeting the others?”

  Seth’s eyes narrowed and he eyed her suspiciously. “Why? What are you planning?”

  Oh don’t spoil it Seth, Jane thought sighing. “Nothing!”

  “Make sure you’re not.” Seth stepped towards her. He didn’t want a row. He placed his hand on the small of her back and pulled her towards him, his fingers tracing up her inner thigh. “I’m not going anywhere until I’ve been in you,” he murmured and sat back on to the bed, pulling Jane with him.

  “BLOODY HELL MATE!” Digger laughed. “Slow down will you! You won’t get as far as the Barrels at this rate!”

  Seth was knocking drinks back like they were going out of fashion. He’d also dropped several pills which had given him an edge and was in an unstoppable mood. “Oh, I’ll get there alright!”

  “You must be mad going through this again, mate,” Tony laughed. “Most blokes would try to get out of marriage the first time, let alone doing it twice!”

  “I’d do it a thousand times over with Jane.” Seth smiled, his voice only slightly betraying the amount of beer he’d put away.

  “You’re too much in love with that woman for your own good,” Tony smiled. He had no intention of settling down. He returned his gaze back to the short-haired blonde his eyes had been following for the last ten minutes.

  Digger whacked Seth on the shoulder. “I wish you all the best.” He meant it. Having accepted defeat where Jane was concerned, he now hoped Seth didn’t discover hi previous indiscretions.

  Seth tipped the remains of his drink into his mouth and smiled as he looked around the table. They were good guys this lot. At least he knew where he stood with them, unlike half the fucking hangers-on and liars he seemed to attract by the bucket load.

  Tony scowled as a greasy-haired bloke staggered past the table and trod on his foot.

  “Sorry,” the man mumbled, then smiled. “Alright, Seth?”

  Seth nodded automatically. He didn’t have the first clue who this bloke was and didn’t particularly want to change that. He certainly didn’t want to enter into any form of conversation.

  “Seen your missus up the Barrels. Fuck me, she’s looking good,” the man grinned, oblivious to the expression on Seth’s face.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Seth barked, his eyes narrowing. What was this dickhead trying to say? What was Jane up to that he didn’t know about?

  As unwelcome thoughts flooded through his wired mind, Seth felt his blood pressure rising.

  Phil sighed, watching the instant mood change. He’d been hoping Seth would behave himself tonight. He’d seemed more stable lately and didn’t want anything tipping him over the edge. It had been ages since they’d all been out for a bit of a laugh and the night had been good, until now.

  “I said, what the fuck’s that supposed to mean?” Seth repeated, standing to his full height.

  The greasy-haired man visibly shrank, realising he’d said the wrong thing. He looked around the crowded bar noticing that worryingly his mates had conveniently disappeared. “N-Nothing. I-I was just saying she looked nice, mate. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “I’m not your mate! You were insinuating something weren’t you?” Seth roared, pushing the table and tipping Tony’s pint over in the process. “What’s she doing then?”

  Digger jerked his head at the greasy-haired man, signalling him to make himself scarce. He pulled Seth’s arm. “Come on man, leave it. He wasn’t suggesting anything.”

  Seth begrudgingly allowed himself to be pulled back on the bench seat and seethed as the man scuttled away whilst he still could.

  “I’ll get more drinks then shall I?” Tony moaned. Picking up his empty glass, he made his way through the heaving throng to the bar. He might have known it would kick off at some point.

  Seth gritted his teeth and fought to control his breathing. He should have just gone up the Barrels. He could have kept an eye on Jane that way. Why the fuck had he let them talk him into coming down here? He must be fucking stupid!

  “You need to calm down mate,” Phil muttered in Seth’s ear. “Don’t ruin the night.”

  “But Jane...”

  “Jane, nothing!” Phil snapped. “She’ll be doing fuck all apart from trying to enjoy herself. Stop being so fucking paranoid will you? Now calm down and have a fag.” Taking a cigarette out of his packet he passed it to Seth.

  Pushing the offered cigarette away Seth stood up, knocking the table for the second time and barged through the crowd out through the front door.

  CONDENSATION STREAMED down the walls in the Barrels as the sea of hot, sweaty bodies danced to the beat. Maggie pressed herself against someone who couldn’t quite believe their luck and Eliza was wrapped around Jake in the corner.

  Maggie was over the moon. She’d spent two idyllic days with Zed. Although they’d smoked far too much dope, they’d also gone for lovely romantic walks across the fields too. And of course plenty of sex.

  She hadn’t given Bryn a second thought. Well, she may have mentioned him once or twice, but once Zed said he was sick of hearing about the guy she’d decided to button it and forget all about him.

  Bryn wasn’t worth the bother anyhow. Besides, if he had got her pregnant, she’d just tell Zed it was his. He was too laid back to care either way and if she wasn’t, then it wouldn’t be long before she was.

  As the alcohol flowed through her veins and the beat of the music thrummed through her body, Maggie gyrated to the music and looked admiringly at Jane. She looked absolutely stunning.

  Jane’s head was rushing with alcohol, but it would be her last night of letting her hair down and she was having a very good time. As another drink was pushed into her hand, she tipped it easily down her throat without missing a beat.

  She was on a roll and couldn’t wait to see Seth’s face when he saw her in the new dress. When someone grabbed her hips she closed her eyes and let the rhythm of the music take her.

  RUNNING UP THE STEPS of the Barrels, Seth pushed past the queue. He stood out of breath at the top, thoughts rushing through his brain like a freight train and tortured himself about what Jane was doing.

  “What’s up mate?” Spooner asked, watching as Seth leant unsteadily against the bannister.

  Seth felt wasted. “Jane?”

  Spooner winked, “Yeah, she’s in there looking mighty fine. You’re a lucky man!”

&nb
sp; Seth glared. Why was everyone saying that? What the hell was going on? He knew the day had been too good to be true. Why didn’t he learn? She was probably screwing someone in the middle of the dancefloor right now. She’d done that with him more than once after all.

  Wild-eyed, he raced down the steps to the bar, slamming people out of the way. Yanking the double doors open, the ear-splitting music blasted him in the face as he swayed in the doorway. He scanned the room, hardly able to see anything it was that crowded. Where the fuck was she?

  Feeling panic rise in his chest, Seth shoved someone trying to squeeze past him into the door jamb. He needed a fucking drink, but he needed to find Jane first.

  Squinting to adjust his eyes, his heart lurched seeing her on one of the bench seats in the far corner dancing with her arms raised over her head. He ran his eyes over Jane’s body encased in an iridescent skin-tight dress which was shooting tiny rainbows off in all directions.

  Blinking, Seth cocked his head to one side. Fucking hell! The gleaming green material covered her body like liquid. It looked like she’d been poured into it. He swallowed quickly as a wave of love and lust rushed over him when Jane pulled the hem of the short dress up to reveal the tops of her stockings as she danced with abandon.

  She looked absolutely ravishing.

  Pulling his coat across himself self-consciously in case the growing swelling in his jeans became obvious, Seth stepped forward into the crowd. He needed to kiss her. In fact, he wanted to take her right now.

  Jane was well aware everyone was looking at her and she was revelling in it. A man began grinding against her as she changed position. Laughing she continued to dance, pushing herself against him and raised her arms higher.

  Feeling hands on her thighs she pushed them away, but the man quickly pushed one hand up between her legs. Eyes flashing with anger, Jane swiped his hand away. “What the fuck are you doing?”