Death Takes a Corpse: 5 Victorian Horror Stories: Death Takes a Corpse

By Wilson E. Clark

A widowed woman is befriended by an unkindness of ravens offering unnatural help, a wealthy aristocrat encounters a terrifying presence in the midnight hallways of a manor house, a grieving mother finds a measure of madness by piercing the veil between life and death.

Death Takes a Corpse is a collection of five sinister and spooky Victorian tales that will leave you wanting to keep the lights on long after bedtime.

Ravens in the Park: Recently widowed and on the edge of poverty, a young woman receives an intriguing invitation from a complete stranger and discovers that blood may not always be thicker than water.

 

A Terrible Truth: William is ready for a bit of rest and relaxation at a friend's countryside estate.  Pleasure turns to terror though as William comes face to face with a fearsome creature roaming the dark hallways of the manor house.

 

The Bolted Boy: Adelia faces a lifetime of grief and loss.  However, an impossible offer from an unlikely savior may provide the chance to resurrect that which she cherishes most.

 

Foggy Night in London Town: Richard has never worked a day in his life, but a chance encounter in the midnight fog of London will turn a life of luxury and privilege into an all-out struggle for survival.

The Salted Earth: Upon the disappearance of his father, Brandon returns to the place of his youth to discover a dark force at work, driving the village inhabitants to desperation and raising doubts about his own mortality.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Griffington House
• Release date: Oct 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215155974

Wilson E. Clark

Wilson E. Clark lives in the Pacific Northwest and enjoys writing fiction and collecting vintage movie posters. If you finish one of his stories with a smile on your face, then he has done his job.

Book preview

RAVENS IN THE PARK

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1

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The pounding on the apartment door shook Angela awake, and her heart skipped a beat as she sat upwards in the day bed.

What time was it?

Angela glanced across the parlor at the grandfather clock; she had slept for nearly forty minutes, and it was almost four in the afternoon.

Angela yawned and stretched her arms as the pounding resumed on the door in the next room. The sound was fast, heavy-handed, and filled Angela with foreboding. She thought about pretending not to be home, staying on the day bed, and waiting to return to the safety of sleep, but knew better. Whoever was on the other side of the apartment door would leave her alone for now, but would return sooner or later, just like the rest.

The pounding on the door commenced a third time as Angela stood up and left the parlor. She used both hands to smooth out her dress as she went into the front hallway and unlatched the door that served as the entrance to the apartment.

The large, brutish man standing in the hallway outside the apartment towered over her. A worn, black bowler hat at least one size too small sat atop his head, and he wore a brown tweed coat with a dark red vest and white button-up shirt beneath. Several days stubble covered his lower face, and his nose had an unnatural curve which suggested it had been broken more than once.

The man’s eyes moved up and down Angela’s figure several times.

I was looking for a Mr. Randall Smith, the man said, but you’re much better looking for sure.

What do you want? Angela said abruptly, not bothering with any pretense of formality.

The man gazed at her for a moment with a lopsided grin before responding.

Randall Smith...he your husband?

Who wants to know?

Someone who’s come to collect the bundle owed him.

Angela’s shoulders sunk slightly at hearing the words.

Gambling? she asked.

The man nodded as he pulled a folded piece of paper from his coat pocket and handed it to her.

Thank you, Angela said and began to close the door. As she did, the man used his shoe to block its path.

When can I collect? the man said, eyeing her.

Come back next week, Angela said, glaring back at him.

The man’s eyes moved across her figure once more as he pulled his shoe out of the pathway for the door.

You know, sweetheart, if you have trouble coming up with the cash, we could...uh...come to another sort of arrangement...

The door slammed shut in his face and Angela quickly put the latch back into place.

Angela turned around and placed her back against the door. She did not have the courage to open the folded piece of paper in her hands. Debt...more and more debt that her husband had racked up by drinking, gambling, and who knows what else?

Angela glanced around the front hallway, once ornately decorated to welcome visitors to the apartment. Now, the walls were bare, the photographs and paintings gone. The pair of intricately carved wooden chairs and table that had once stood against the nearby wall had vanished as well. And finally, the patterned, dark red rug that had covered the wooden floorboards had been taken away.

Oh, Randy...Randy...  Angela murmured her husband’s name as she pushed away from the door and began to walk. What have you done to us?

Angela entered the parlor once more. The room had once been the height of Victorian luxury but was now as equally bare as the front hallway, save the day bed by the window against the far wall.

Randy...Randy...Randy, Angela continued as she sat down again on the day bed. She let the piece of paper fall from her hands to the floor. And the knocking...the never-ending knocking on the door from debt collectors and less than reputable agents.

How could Randall have done this to them? Why had he never...

Mama! Mama! Are you there? Mama!

Angela looked up as she heard Julia’s words coming from the nearby bedroom. Her four-year-old daughter had been napping for the past hour and was now awake.

Mama! Mama! Was that Papa knocking on the door? Was that Papa?

Angela stood up and walked towards her daughter’s bedroom.

It’s only me, sweetheart, Angela whispered to herself. Papa is dead.

2

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The birds! Julia exclaimed. Look at the pretty birds, Mama!

Angela smiled down at Julia as they held hands and walked together through the city park. A flock of pigeons were near the edge of the brick pathway. They moved back and forth as several children nearby tossed breadcrumbs towards them. Angela eyed the birds and fought the urge to frown at the incessant pecking as they gobbled up the bread.

Mama, can I feed the birds?

I’m sorry, sweetheart, Angela responded, but we didn’t bring any food for them.

Julia’s face curled into a pout. Please, Mama, please!

What we can do is sit on a bench and watch the pretty birds instead.  How about that?

Julia’s expression remained unchanged, but she allowed Angela to lead her to a nearby bench. Angela took a seat and Julia walked towards the other children who were feeding the pigeons.

Julia don’t stray too far, Angela called after her.

Without turning back towards her mother, Julia nodded.

And don’t take the food away from the other children, Angela continued. It doesn’t belong to us.

This time, Julia did glance back at her mother, her face pouting once more. Angela shook her head to emphasize her previous statement. Julia wrinkled her nose to express dissatisfaction then continued towards the other children and the pigeons.

Angela leaned back against the bench and let out a sigh as she glanced around. The summer weather had given way to autumn, soon to be followed by the beginnings of winter. The leaves had mostly fallen from the nearby trees and there was a nip of coldness in the air that snuck up on those without a jacket or shawl.

Angela returned her focus to Julia and was pleased to see her daughter had politely asked if she could join the other children in feeding the birds. They had obliged and the lot of them laughed in delight as they scattered breadcrumbs and watched as the pigeons ate all of it in a matter of moments. Angela then turned her thoughts to domestics matters.

The money was almost gone.

Another week or so and the meager savings her husband, Randall, had left behind would vanish, providing Angela with no way to pay off her late husband’s mounting debts and obligations.

Everything was fun while it lasted, Angela thought. She really would miss the park, miss being able to visit nearly every day together with Julia. They had not been wealthy by any measure, but also had never wanted for anything. Now, in short order, the apartment rent would come due followed by eviction and then a few short steps to poverty and possible destitution.

What will we do? Angela wondered as a knot of fear began to tighten in her stomach. How will we survive?

AAWWGGGG!!!  AAAAWWWGG!!  AAAWWWWWGGG!!!

Angela jumped at the loud noise and turned to find a large, black-feathered raven perched several feet from her on top of the bench.

AAWWWGGG!!  AWWWGG!!!

The raven moved its head around, looking several degrees leftward then rightward, before its attention came back to Angela.

Shooo!!!  Shoo!! Angela said politely, waving a hand towards the raven. I don’t have anything for you to eat.

The raven stared at her for a moment then took several steps forward.

Angela was about to stand up to leave when she noticed at least a dozen more ravens on the ground nearby. They had formed a semi-circle around the front half of her bench and were each looking leftward and rightward as their heads turned back and forth repeatedly.

Angela turned once more to find that the raven on the bench was now perched next to her shoulder. The two of them were almost at eye level with each other. Angela stared into the black eyes of the bird, and it stared back at her.

Have you come to help me? Angela said playfully.

The raven’s head was now completely still as it stared at her, giving the appearance of a lifeless bird that had been stuffed by a taxidermist.

My husband is dead, Angela continued, not sure why she suddenly felt the need to speak to the bird, and we’re drowning in the debt he left behind. If you and your feathered friends could help us, I’m sure you would.

Angela glanced down to find that the ravens on the ground had moved closer to her as well, tightening the semi-circle around the bench.

But who am I kidding? Angela continued, growing uneasy at the closeness of the ravens. You’re just a bunch of birds in search of something to eat.

AAWWWGGG!!  AWWWGG!!!

Angela jumped as the raven perched next to her suddenly turned around, spread its wings, and took flight. The ravens on the ground responded in kind.

AAWWWGGG!!  AWWWGG!!!  AAWWGGG!!  AWWWGG!!!

Without warning, the ravens on the ground spread their wings and took flight as well. Angela put an arm up to cover her face as the ravens’ trajectory took them just over her before disappearing up into the sky above. Angela then found herself alone once more, wondering what had just happened.

3

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The pounding on the apartment door shook Angela awake. She sat upright and rubbed her eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, Angela glanced down at Julia who was still fast asleep. Angela then pushed herself off her daughter’s bed and stood up. The pounding resumed once more, and she made her way through the empty apartment and into the front hallway. The day bed in the parlor had been taken away several days ago. Angela had resorted to taking an afternoon nap with Julia since her daughter’s bed was one of the few articles of furniture remaining in the entire residence.

Angela entered the front hallway and stopped several feet from the door.

Who is it this time, Angela