The Beast Below

The Beast Below is Episode Five of Season Two, and the 12th episode overall. It featured the events of the escape from the Altofts Gang

Plot
The episode opens with Benjamin Hodson, Robin Dunne and Cole Mornington being dragged out of a white van by Dave, Adam and Kenneth, blindfolded, tied up and with bags over their heads. They are dragged inside, through several doorways and are thrown about and battered by their captors. Finally, they are stopped and shoved to their knees and their bags and blindfolds are removed.

Unmasked, the trio are brought face to face with Johnathan Hall, who introduces himself as the leader of the Altofts Gang. He interrogates them for information, with all three refusing to answer his questions. Robin asks why he is trying to kill them and their group. Johnathan tells them about how his family, including his wife, Jessie, and baby daughter, Olivia, were casualties of the massacre at the opening of the Freeston Camp. Cole attempts to reason with him, telling him their family also died that day and the people responsible met 'fitting fates'. Johnathan, taking note of this asks further questions about the weaponry possessed by Fairway, to which the three refuse to answer. Johnathan separates the trio, keeping Robin with him while Cole and Ben are taken to the prison cell, claiming that maybe some 'alone time' would get them speaking.

Dumped in the prison cell in the basement of the Altofts Gang's base, Cole and Ben discover the gang are also holding half a dozen other people captive, all young women and teenage girls, who introduce themselves as Meghan, Ellie, Jessica, Amy, Annabelle and Sophie. Cole and Ben quickly begin searching for a method of escape, before being told by Ellie that since 'the ginger one' and 'her friend' escaped, it has been impossible to escape. Ben remarks that there has to be a way out, even if the only way is back out the door. Sophie tells him that every time someone comes in, they are armed with a gun. Just then, they hear footsteps nearby and the existing prisoners quickly run to hide in the shadows again. The door opens as Linden drags Robin down the staircase, throwing them to the floor at the base of the staircase. Ben rushes to Robin's side pulling them away from Linden. Linden grabs Cole by the arm, remarking 'It's your turn now, girly' before dragging Cole up the staircase and locking the door.

As Cole is dragged down a corridor, they notice a teenage girl their own age, Isabelle. Isabelle sadistically smiles at Cole, knowing what will happen. Back in Johnathan's office, Cole is thrown to the floor. Johnathan states that maybe he can 'get you talking' before locking the door.

Ben tries to help Robin, asking them what happened. Just then, Meghan buts in, stating that 'they gave you two options'. Robin nods. Ben asks Meghan what the options were, to which she replies with 'answer the question or...', implying that the Altofts Gang used assault to obtain information. Robin then reveals they managed to discreetly steal a screwdriver to use as a weapon. Robin and Ben talk about their plan, planning to hide at the side of the door, attacking Cole's captor as they return. Unknown to them, Meghan has taken the screwdriver. At the last second, Robin attempts to stop her, unsuccessfully. Meghan uses the screwdriver to stab herself in the stomach.

Although Ben and Robin attempt to prevent it, Meghan quickly bleeds out from her injuries. Ellie warns them that she can hear footsteps approaching and Ben and Robin hurry to get in position, with Sophie and Amy dragging Meghan's body out of sight. Linden opens the door again, shoving Cole in, who falls a few steps down before being pulled out of the way by Annabelle. Ben attempts to tackle Linden, causing Linden to roll down the staircase, almost hitting Cole and Annabelle as they dive out of the way. At the bottom of the staircase, Robin leaps at Linden, stabbing him in the neck with the screwdriver. Linden drops to the floor and Robin repeatedly stabs his head, severely mutilating it. Ben and Cole drag robin away from Linden's mutilated corpse, leaving the screwdriver embedded in his head.

At the top of the staircase, the prisoners run down a corridor. They pass a stack of construction tools, arming themselves with hammers, saws, shovels and clamps. Rounding the corner, the group encounter two gang members who are brutally beat to death by Cole and Robin with shovels who approach them from behind. The group also find a door, which leads them outside. The group find they are at the backside of a warehouse. Figuring they can't escape out the front, they run for the trees, figuring they can hide in the undergrowth and climb over the fences, finding an alternate route of escape elsewhere.

However, as the group run across the tarmac, a dozen of the Altofts Gang members open fire, forcing the group to take cover behind a lorry's trailer. Kenneth approaches the group, before being killed by Benjamin with a saw. The group escape over the fence, Sophie being shot in the ankle as she climbs over. Climbing out of the brush, Benjamin recognises where they are; saying they're not far from his Nana and Grandad's old house. He quickly leads them to a Canal House where, working in the field beside with some horses is a woman in her mid-50s, who introduces herself as Deborah.

Back at the Altofts Gang's base, Johnathan walks down the stairs into the basement, finding Linden's mutilated corpse and Meghan's body. Outside he looks at Kenneth's body, angrily lashing out at Maks, punching him for his failure.

Back at The Canal House, Cole and Benjamin explain the problem with the Altofts Gang. Deborah leads them to her husband, Michael and son Nathan. She figures that Nathan can drive the group back to their camp. Michael helps treat Sophie's injury, while Cole says that back home the bullet can be removed. The group, minus Deborah and Michael; who stayed behind to pack supplies and tend to the horses, begin driving away in Nathan's car when they are chased by a car from the Altofts Gang. Their pursuers crash into the canal, allowing the group time to escape

Main Characters

 * Benjamin Hodson
 * Robin Dunne
 * Cole Mornington
 * Johnathan Hall

Episodic

 * Ellie
 * Deborah
 * Nathan
 * Maks
 * Sophie
 * Meghan

Minor Characters

 * Kenneth
 * Adam
 * Linden
 * Isabelle
 * Dave
 * Amy
 * Jessica
 * Annabelle
 * Michael

Trivia

 * This is the first episode to not have more than half of the corresponding season's main characters.
 * This is the only episode to not feature any of the season's supporting characters