The Downward Spiral

By Erik Scott De Bie

Vivienne "Girl Vengeance" Cain has almost got the hang of this heroism thing ...

At least until the doom that has chased her for years makes itself known in a way impossible to ignore.

But she’s ready. She has the power, the knowledge, and the will to fight back—to protect those she loves, and maybe even save herself.

She’s ready.

Right?

• Language: English
• Publisher: DefCon One Publishing
• Release date: Jan 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215229934

Book preview

The Downward Spiral

Girl Vengeance Volume 2

Erik Scott de Bie

Copyright 2024 Erik Scott de Bie

Wren Fulton-Gray created by Kelsey Dawn Scott. Used with permission.

Danica Hase created by Kai Ford. Used with permission.

Artemis Castellanos created by Dawn Vogel. Used with permission.

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

Other Lady Vengeance Stories

The Justice/Vengeance Series

Libations for the Dead (DefCon One Publishing, 2023)

Other Stories

Vengeance on the Layover, Cobalt City Timeslip (Timid Pirate Publishing, 2010)

Angels of Mercy, Triumph over Tragedy (Terrene Press, 2013)

The Curse of the Bambino, This Mutant Life: Bad Company (Kalamity Press, 2013)

Queen of Demons, Monster Hunter: The Good Fight (Emby Press, 2015)

Baggage, Shadowed Souls (Roc, 2016)

Mother of Harlots, Cobalt City Dragonstorm (DefCon One Publishing, 2022)

Eye for an Eye (originally published as a part of Cobalt City Double Feature, 2012, Timid Pirate Publishing; reprinted 2018, DefCon One Publishing)

Femmes Fatale, with Amanda Cherry (DefCon One Publishing, 2022)

Bad Intentions (Femmes Fatale 2), with Amanda Cherry (DefCon One Publishing, 2023)

Pretty Hate Machine (Girl Vengeance 1) (DefCon One Publishing, 2024)

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Kickstarter Backers

Content Warnings

Chapter 1: Juke Joint Jezebel

Chapter 2: Freak on a Leash

Chapter 3: Ruiner

Chapter 4: Machinehead

Chapter 5: Outshined

Chapter 6: Head Over Feet

Chapter 7: Come Undone

Chapter 8: The Unforgiven

Chapter 9: Black Hole Sun

Chapter 10: I Do Not Want This

Chapter 11: March of the Pigs

Chapter 12: Closer

Chapter 13: Heresy

Chapter 14: Eraser

Chapter 15: Hurt

About the Author

About the Cover Artist

DEDICATION

For Kels and Kai.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book and its predecessor Pretty Hate Machine were originally smushed together into one long book, unlocked during the Justice/Vengeance Kickstarter in early 2023. I wrote the first chapter of what would eventually become Pretty Hate Machine during the Kickstarter and just fell in love with this story, which is loosely inspired by a superhero campaign we ran some years ago. I wrote entirely too much and it ended up as two books. Whoops!

Much thanks to Dawn Vogel, my editor (and creator of Artie), who helped me with that issue. You're a precious colleague. So too is Jeremy Zimmerman, the other half of DefCon One Publishing.

Kai Ford created the character of Danica, who played no part in the original arc of the campaign these books are loosely based on but was a major part of the second arc. The character was so good I couldn't not include her in these books.

One of those original creators, Kelsey Dawn Scott, is also the artist on these covers, which capture the colorful charm and chaotic energy of the Agents of Awesome in a way I really like. This book is dedicated to her, with her never-ending faith in these characters, this story, and me. Thanks friend.

And a tip of the hat to my frequent collaborator, Amanda Cherry, who workshopped a lot of stuff in this book. Especially the steamy parts.

KICKSTARTER BACKERS

The following awesome individuals pledged to support this project!

Demand Vengeance!

Kelsey Dawn Scott aka Wren The Shrike Fulton-Gray

Supergroup!

Bryan Quadroman Maus, Chris Shipley, Sean Eric Fagan, The Masked Butler

Bartenders!

Lynda Shirreffs, Rynn Masterwork Idhril, Vi Mini Boss Tran

Last Call Regulars!

Austin Rainbow Mini Buelt, Ben Bone Fingers Dobyns, Carlos Ovalle, Derek Lindbloom, Dominic Franchetti, Doug the Merchant Meyer, Kai The King in Red Ford, Logan Bonner, Nancy West Johnson aka The Digital Celt, Randy Mcfadden, Scratchpad Publishing, The Year TWO THOUSAND

Patrons!

Alexandra Pitchford, Alice in Wonderland, Amanda Ratchford Cherry aka Ruby Killingsworth, Andrea Brandt, Brian Loremaster James, Bruce Rampage Cordell, Caroline Seadog Dombrowski, Chad Brown, Chris A. Jackson, Chris Tulach, Collin Shaneyfelt, Daniel Helmick, Daniel Kemler, Darren Morrissey, Derek Guder, Dwayne Farver, Eboni Obanero, Elizabeth Tereno, Eric C., Eric Slaney , Erica Vulpinfox Schmitt, Erick The Recluse Christgau, Erin M. Evans, Gabrielle Harbowy, Gerald The Corner of Story and Game Ford, Gina Catloverbooklover Costa Jones, Insane Angel Studios, J.M. Saul, James Do Hung LEE, James Baker, Jimmy Campbell, Jason Hatter, Jeff Pfaff, Jil The Goddess Scott, Joel Everett, Josh Vogt, Katherine Monasterio, Kian The Fox Grey, Lori Jadehorn Krell, Lynne The Empress de Bie, Matt Youngmark, Nick Epic Realms Sampson, Robert N. Emerson, Sara Kick Johnston, Sarah Grant, Scott James Magner, SE. Grizz, Sean K. Reynolds, Spike Murphy, Stephanie Bryant, Torrey Podmajersky, Travis Armstrong, VonEther, Will Willie G Lorenzo, Zan Christensen

CONTENT WARNINGS

Profanity, nudity, substance abuse, psychological abuse, demons, occultism, self-harm, violence, gore, sexual situations. Reader discretion is advised.

CHAPTER 1: JUKE JOINT JEZEBEL

Hey.

How exactly the goth girl with the black and purple hair just walked into the middle of their drug deal in the abandoned warehouse, the assembled drug dealers clearly don't know. But they look up from the duffel bags full of crack and various amphetamines, as well as the suitcase full of Benjamins, and instead point their MAC-10s, Glocks, and Saturday night specials at everyone else and at Vivienne.

It's not entirely unexpected--in fact, she was pretty sure this is exactly what would happen, and she said so. She puts her hands up, not because she's particularly afraid they'll fire, but because she wants to keep them calm.

Dudes, I'm here to talk, she says.

Who the fuck are you, bitch? asks the leader, clearly marked by the copious gold necklaces around his neck, the gold grill in his mouth, and his attitude. "You wanna die tonight?"

Aw shit! One of the dealers brightens. Yo, Gee--she's that superhero chick. Vengeance Girl, right?

Oh great. A fan.

They look her up and down, not that there's a lot to ogle. November's a cold month, and her outfit covers most of her skin, and her leather jacket covers most of that.

She shrugs. It's Girl Veng ... you know what, call me V.

Dope, the guy says, extending his fist for her to bump. My cousin's a big fan. I'm Darius, by the way.

Cool. She bumps his fist.

"The fuck? Big man G is not taking this challenge to his authority well at all. You a cop? That what this is?"

The question is so ridiculous Vivienne can't stop herself bursting out in laughter. "Fuck no. Fuck the police."

That draws general agreement, with several murmurs of yeah, fuck tha police, but G doesn't seem convinced.

You think you can come in here with some NWA lyrics and you won't get your white ass shot? He turns his gun sideways, keeping it trained on her head.

Not white, first of all. Vivienne's losing patience. "Second, you really shouldn't hold a MAC-10 like that. The kick will throw off your aim and you'll shoot your own guys. Third, you shoot at me, and you're only gonna hurt yourself. Plus, the cops outside will definitely hear."

What? G blinks rapidly. "You are a cop!"

That puts them back on their guard, and now all the guns are trained on her. They've mostly driven their vans and muscle cars into the warehouse, through the loading dock door, and Vivienne knows for a fact they don't have a sentry posted. Rookie mistake.

Look, she says. I came in here to resolve this all peacefully, with no one getting shot. You pull that trigger, and it gets way worse for you.

You threatening me, bitch? G bares his gold-rimmed teeth. You gonna do some magic shit on me or something?

Or something.

This whole time, she's been getting a feel for their fear. There's lots of worry and anxiety, of course--you don't walk armed into an illegal deal without a healthy degree of caution--and most of them are suitably afraid, giving her lots to work with. G, for all his bravado and hyper-masculine posturing, is shaking in his Jordans. Vivienne almost gives into the temptation to feed on him, but that fear is the only thing keeping him in check. If he suddenly becomes immune to his better impulses, well, bullets are gonna start flying, and someone will get hurt. She's handy enough with her powers to shield herself, but a room full of dudes with guns, firing wildly in all directions?

Listen, fuck the police, Vivienne says. My ideal resolution is to have all of you escape, sans drugs. A.k.a. the Man trying to poison you and keep you down. But--

Bitch, the fuck you talking about? G asks.

I think we should hear her out, Darius says.

"No one fucking asked you, D."

"But, Vivienne says, continuing her train of thought, the cops have this place surrounded. They agreed to let us make the first attempt, but if you start shooting, they're gonna come in, and they're gonna come loud. As far as I can tell, you're looking at possession with the intent to distribute, some weapons charges, but no murders ... right?"

Some of the dudes make faces that don't inspire confidence.

I'd much rather we resolve this my way, Vivienne says. If this goes south, we're gonna have to do it Artie's way, and she'll never let me hear the end of it.

Artie? Darius asks.

Vivienne looks at the leader and makes one last pitch. G--can I call you G? You got a family, right? You just want to provide. I know you want to see them again. C'mon, man.

For a second, she's sure she's got him. He's listening to her in a way most men don't to women. Which is to say, at all. He's even taking her seriously, and she can feel in his emotions a little twinge of doubt. His posturing is gonna fall apart, if she just has one more second ...

Which she doesn't get. One of the dudes she barely noticed before, probably looking to prove his manliness in front of this teenage girl and her demands, flares with overwhelming bravado. She takes the hint and is raising a fearshield even as his gun comes up. For everyone else, it must look like she's psychic, which she basically is.

The gun cracks, jarringly thunderous in the warehouse, and the bullet skips off Vivienne's shimmering hemisphere of purple energy and knocks G's leg out from under him. He goes down hard, almost as if his leg suddenly stopped existing, and then the room is a firestorm of bullets.

Guess the time for talking is done. It's superhero time. Fucking bullshit.

For her part, Girl Vengeance crouches behind her fearshield, pumping energy in to swell it to the size of a card table. Bullets reflect and shatter off the shield, many bouncing harmlessly wide or down into the floor, but not all. More drug dealers cry out in pain and shock and dive for cover behind tables, load-bearing pillars, and the collected cars. As she promised, a screaming G's sideways MAC-10 technique only hits her shield the first couple times, then the kick sweeps his aim toward the cars, which start to resemble Swiss cheese.

Behind her shield, Girl Vengeance barely even hears all the gunfire. The blasts are muted, as though through a thick layer of plastic. Glass shatters, support beams splinter, and brickwork explodes, and she's unbothered.

Mostly.

Shit, Darius says where he crouches at her side, covering his head with his hands.

"The fuck. Where did you come from?"

"Girl, I seen you on the news. I'm hiding behind you."

Well, that's flattering. She's got pretty good at this fear-crafting stuff, and she can make all sorts of weapons and shields. No guns or anything with moving parts as yet, but this usually cuts it.

You're not gonna shoot me, right? she asks. Because that would just be embarrassing.

Shit. Darius sets his own gun--a Glock nine-millimeter--on the floor at her feet. Sorry.

It's fine.

So what's the plan? We gonna get out of here or--?

Wait for it.

They don't have to wait long. All the gunfire does the trick, and the locked doors out to the streets--as well as most of the bricks around them--shatter inward as a hulking form on industrial-strength roller skates looms.

SPOOOOOOOON!

Already a tank of a fifteen-year-old roller derby blocker, Tara Bull has grown half again her normal size, and she swells even bigger as she rampages across the room, scattering drug dealers like insects. Her initial charge ends in an eighties Mustang, hurling it end over end across the warehouse floor. When she stands back up out of the dust and smoke, horns are sprouting from her forehead.

Horns?

Holy shit! Darius cringes even further behind Girl Vengeance.

Only after pizza.

Tara Bull continues busting up the drug deal--literally--while Girl Vengeance and the surprisingly talkative Darius take shelter behind her fearshield. Fewer bullets find their way toward them, as most of the gunfire is directed toward the half-derby-girl, half-fucking-minotaur, but she's not taking any chances. Besides, there's plenty of flying glass, shredded concrete, and collapsing ceiling to worry about. She extends the shield in a bubble around herself and Darius, basically completely cutting them off from the chaos.

That's pretty cool. She didn't know she could do that.

Hey, you doing okay? Darius asks. You're not gonna pass out or anything?

Nope. Just shut up and let me focus, okay?

It's partly her own fault. Maintaining the fearshield is taking so much power that she's had to draw the fear right out of Darius to keep it going, and it's made him unreasonably brave. Which apparently makes him chatty in the face of impending doom.

Darius clears his throat. So, um, it's your birthday, right?

Pretty soon. Eighteen.

Awesome. So you're, y'know, almost legal.

Eww.

"I didn't mean it like that, he says. I mean you can, y'know, vote and stuff."

Fancy that. A civic-minded drug dealer.

Sure, she says, teeth gritted to maintain the fearshield.

I hope it's a good day.

Shut up.

He does bring up a point, even if he probably didn't mean to. The Agents of Awesome is, by and large, a teen superhero team, and if she becomes a legal adult, can she really be on it? She's pretty sure there isn't a rule or anything about it, but the asymmetry sticks in her brain like a fishhook. What's the long-term plan here? Is she just on the AoA indefinitely, or is she supposed to strike out on her own? Or worse, is she going back to Supergroup? Ugh.

For the moment, she's got unfinished business here.

"SPOOON!"

Tara Bull's roar snaps her back to the moment. That, and the hatchback her rampage unintentionally hurls at the fearshield. What a surprisingly sensible choice for someone to drive to a drug deal.

Girl Vengeance can tank bullets and probably a rocket-propelled grenade or two, but she doesn't quite have the mass to deflect over a ton of late eighties crossover hurtling toward her. The car strikes the shield and bounces it back like a billiards ball. Somehow, she keeps maintaining the shield as she and Darius go tumbling back to smash against the opposite wall. Only then, well clear of the devastation, does Girl Vengeance let the fearshield drop and lie there, panting at the exertion.

SORRY! Tara Bull lifts a drug dealer who is screaming a very unmanly scream. I DIDN'T MEAN IT!

It's fine, Trouble, Vivienne says, easing up. Don't worry about it.

After all, the battering ram of a teen girl who is her erstwhile backup has all but mopped the floor with the drug dealers, destroyed their cars, and scattered their product to the Windy City's winds. Or, more accurately, down on the wet pavement floor, dirt, and cordite. Most of the dealers are groaning on the ground, some of them covered in residue of the drugs. Which has got to be hazardous for their health.

In the distance, Vivienne can hear sirens.

Yo. Darius shakes his head woozily. I thought you said the cops surrounded this place?

Did I? Vivienne shrugs. Whoops.

You came in here with nothing?

"Well, not nothing." She gestures to the destroyed warehouse and Tara Bull, who has gone full minotaur and is also covered in drug residue. Uh oh.

You really did try to talk us down, didn't you? He shakes his head. Respect.

Yeah. Sure. Hey, Trouble? Cheese it, it's the fuzz.

HUH? The minotaur looks up at her through the cloud of drug-laced smoke. WAZZUP?

The cops, kid. We gotta go. She looks to Darius. Take care of your cousin, okay? She's got terrible taste in role models, so she's gonna need help.

~

Walking rapidly through Chicago in the early hours of the morning is dicey under the best of circumstances, as in any big city. The best technique is to avoid attracting attention, but Artie--still in her monstrous supersized form--has made that basically impossible. That and crushing all the drug dealers' cars, which might have provided a useful getaway vehicle. Not that a twelve-foot minotaur could fit inside one of those eighties Mustangs or even the suspiciously white van one of them brought and Artie promptly flattened.

I'M SO SORRY, VIV, she says, tears flowing down her craggy cheeks.

It's okay, Trouble, she says. We've got powers. Things happen.

Not usually things like this, but never mind.

The L-train thunders by overhead, and they both duck, even if it's way too high up to threaten them.

Vivienne's not sure how exactly Artie's powers work--the minotaur thing is new--but the kid is in a highly agitated state, covered in drug residue, and probably tripping out of her brain. Also, the amount of fear pouring out of Artie is making Vivienne a little giddy, and if she doesn't get her calmed down soon, there are going to be two tweaking superheroes wandering the streets of Chicago. They need a safe place