Clifton Falls Read Free

Is everything okay? What do you see?”
    “Death everywhere, that’s what I see and it won’t go away.”
    Dave knew Blake had been at the centre of this recent disaster as he’d given him brief accounts of what’d happened, but Blake had left the uncut version on the shelf. For how long, who knew?
    “If you want to talk about it, then we’re here to listen.” “Thanks, but I don’t think you can stomach what I’ve seen.” A second later and Blake turned from looking at the screen, glaring at his friend. “Or can you?” he snarled.
Tony interrupted the conversation before Blake did something stupid, like lose control. He suggested that everyone leave the premises, as it was obvious that the distraught man wasn’t coping after witnessing a reminder of the nightmare. The four men stood up. Dave recommended that they head back to his place, that way, if Blake was ready to tell his story, then the fresher, more welcoming environment would make it easier for him. Everyone agreed to this proposal.
During the journey, the man with the demons inside his mind had gone through the process of several changes. The others watched him perform a wrestling match between telling and not saying anything. Dave could tell that Blake was struggling to continue the plan, so a few comforting words needed saying in order for Blake to feel safe again.
It wasn’t long before the men entered Dave’s premises. The atmosphere suddenly dropped as each guest entered the living room. They settled onto the three-piece-suite before staring at Blake, as if unsure of how to treat him. Were they really ready for what was about to unfold before their eyes?
“Do you want me to tell you how it all began or shall I not bother now?” Blake asked sharply.
Gary left his seat, placing a hand on top of Blake’s shoulder. “It’s your decision,” he said.
What else could he say? Blake said nothing for a minute before exploding the volume of his voice to the limit.
“If I don’t get this fucking nightmare off my chest then I’m going to detonate from too much anger. God help someone when I do.”
“Okay, mate, cool it yeah. If you’re ready to talk then we’re ready to listen. I’ll just go and make us all a coffee.”
Blake mellowed down again, feeling embarrassed by the sudden outburst. “Thanks, Gary, but it’s going to take more than one cup by the time I’m finished.”
He’d released some pressure from his system. He was still nothing like his original self, but it was however a massive improvement from how he’d been last night and first thing this morning. Dave had let into his house a clone-like figure of his friend. Blake’s hair colour had changed from the golden-red waves, to grey, and it looked like he’d wrapped a shaking, frightened casing around his body, which needed to be cracked open in order for the real Blake to return.
Gary disappeared into the kitchen while the others remained seated. Even Blake sat down now. His eyes scanned the faces of his friends as he waited for the other man to return.
After around five minutes, a tray filled with hot drinks was laid down on the small table located in the middle of the room, and everyone grabbed a cup. The men waited for Blake to begin.
He slowly took a sip from the hot, sweet coffee before glancing at each of his friends again. He desperately tried producing a positive smile, but it wasn’t to be. The exhausted man was still very fragile and on edge, but knew he had to focus on the long conversation ahead. Blake was now ready to relate his awful journey to his friends.
“Let’s go back to the beginning.”
    THREE (MONDAY)
    Blake lived in a countryside town called Clifton Falls. It was situated around ten miles north of Westbrook County. Everything that meant anything to him was in that county; his old friends, childhood, and family.
    He was the boss of an agricultural factory that supplied the nearby towns with crops. Blake’s factory was one of the leading suppliers for