The Salted Earth (A Victorian Horror Story): Death Takes a Corpse

By Wilson E. Clark

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.

 

This story is also available in Death Takes a Corpse: 5 Victorian Horror Stories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Griffington House
• Release date: Oct 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223714620

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

1

Well, well, well, Mr. Fancy Pants is going to big city London, is he?

Brandon Tillman could smell the whiskey in the room as he glanced down at the opened envelope on the kitchen table. He then looked up at the letter clenched in his father’s hand.

That was a private letter meant for me, Brandon said.

Might’ve been YOUR letter, Fancy Pants, but it came first to MY post box. Gregor Tillman grinned at his son and winked before continuing. And seeing how this is also MY house, I don’t recall granting my son permission to leave it.

Funny that, Brandon shot back, I don’t recall needing YOUR permission.

Gregor set the letter down next to a half-empty bottle and pushed back from the table, the legs of his chair scraping loudly against the wood-paneled floor. Brandon stood still as an oak whilst his father approached. Gregor Tillman wiped a hand along his nose and across the dark-brown stubble of his lower face before issuing a loud snort.

Leave it be, Gregor, Brandon’s mother, Sarah, called from across the kitchen. She had turned away from the stove where a frying pan filled with eggs sat atop the heated metal surface.

Gregor raised a hand towards his wife without looking in her direction.

Be still, Sarah! Gregor commanded. Let the boy fend for...

I’m going to London, Brandon interrupted. And there’s nothing you can bloody do about it!

Leaving your home, eh boy? We aren’t enough for you?!

Pratter’s Bottom can kiss MY bottom, and so can you!

Gregor struck Brandon across the face. Brandon stumbled backwards and quickly raised a hand to his left cheek. He felt the sting of a fresh cut and observed blood on the palm of his hand.

Want to repeat that to me, boy? Gregor taunted.

Brandon stared long and hard at his father before a twisted smile formed on his face...

2

Your father has disappeared. I need you home. Please return home immediately.

Even without seeing the address on the envelope, Brandon recognized his mother’s scrawl. He put the piece of paper on the desk next to the accompanying envelope and leaned backwards in his chair.

The son of a bitch has up and disappeared, Brandon muttered.

Reflexively, Brandon reached up with a hand and winced as fingers touched the scar across his left cheek. He then sat