FOREWORD
This is the first in an ongoing series of stories based on the old horror movies produced by Universal Studios in the Nineteen Thirties and Forties. These stories are set in the Present and will mostly feature second generation monsters and creatures. In this story, for example, the Frankenstein Monster is the only character from the old films to appear in the present day. A few others - such as the Wolf Man, Lawrence Talbot – appear in flashback sequences.
This first story draws on a series of eight films for its background history. Those films are, in order, Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Son of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Ghost of Frankenstein, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, House of Frankenstein, and House of Dracula. The assorted screenwriters involved with those films tried to keep a certain continuity from one film to the next, but were not as concerned with details as sequel-conscious writers are today. As a result the continuity between films is often very fluid. In order to maintain a more coherent storyline I have revised some of the original films with an eye to tightening up the continuity. Any changes I have made to the original films are mentioned in the story as they become relevant.
As an example, some endings were rewritten so that the Wolf Man does not actually die in every film. The Frankenstein Monster's medical history also required some revision. If you follow the films he goes from being mute to learning to talk and back to being mute. He then gets a new brain and becomes able to speak, but goes blind. In the next film he is mute and able to see, as if the operation in the previous film never occurred. It took a fair amount of mental maneuvering to reconcile all of that, but I think the end result makes sense and stays true to the spirit of the films.
For the physical appearances of the Monster and the Wolf Man, I have stayed fairly true to the films, with a couple of modifications. For the Monster I have stated his size as being closer to that specified by Mary Shelley in her novel. The Wolf Man, being a descendant of the original, would not be identical to the Lon Chaney Jr. portrayal. I imagine him to be somewhere between the classic Jack Pierce makeup and that created by Rick Baker for the recent remake of the film.
As I wrote the story I would visualize certain actors portraying some of the various characters that I created. If this story were to be filmed my dream cast list would look like this:
Eve Carlton – Summer Glau
Marcus Talbot – I kept hearing Russell Crowe's voice in my head as I wrote him, but he would have to be about half his current age.
Katerina – Kate Jackson
Bette Parker – Alexis Bledel
Dr. Richard Carlton – John Savage
Konrad Frankenstein – Alan Rickman
One last note. My portrayal of the Romany people is pure fiction. The Gypsies, as they appear in this story, are based largely on their appearances in the old movies, in particular The Wolf Man and the Charles Laughton version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Other details and characteristics come from my own knowledge of neo-paganism and my imagination.
So sit back, relax, maybe turn the lights down and light some candles, and enjoy.
Disclaimer
This story is a work of fan fiction and utilizes characters and situations copyrighted by numerous people and corporations. I do not own any of the copyrights involved and have written this story strictly for entertainment purposes. The town of Seacrest and any characters created specifically for this story are my property and may not be used without my express permission. Any persons wishing to distribute this story to other fan fiction sites may only do so with my permission.
...
The Legacy of Frankenstein
Prologue
Vasaria, Switzerland
1949
Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Two axioms that had been proven true time and again throughout human history. But the greatest horrors were spawned when the two came to pass at the same time. Peter Gillespie knew this to be true. After all, he held the proof in his hands.
Gillespie had come to Vasaria in search of a myth. He sought to prove or disprove the existence of the legendary Frankenstein Monster. All he'd been able to collect so far was anecdotal evidence, tales and stories, and an interview with one old woman who claimed to have been kidnapped by the Monster when she was a little girl. Then he hit the mother lode in a burnt-out ruin of an old mansion that had once belonged to a Doctor Gustav Niemann.
According to the local legends Niemann had been obsessed with Frankenstein's work, even going so far as to perform his own twisted experiments. His mad career came to an end when he discovered and revived the Monster itself. The villagers stormed the manor in an angry mob, setting fire to the building and injuring Niemann. The Monster escaped, carrying Niemann with him, and was chased into the nearby forest, where he and the madman sank from sight into a quicksand bog.
Over the decades since the locals had avoided the remains of Niemann's mansion as being haunted, but that reputation didn't deter Gillespie. On the contrary, it was in the hope of finding some solid proof of the events leading to Dr. Niemann's death that he began searching through the ruins. And among the burnt remains of a desk in what was probably the study he found a metal strongbox containing all the proof he could ask for.
Breaking the lock he discovered several handwritten books inside. The first was a journal written by Doctor Baron Heinrich Frankenstein. The others were notebooks detailing medical experiments and procedures performed by his sons Wolf and Ludwig. The books described in exacting detail how the Frankenstein Monster was created. After reading the volumes it became clear to Gillespie that any sufficiently skilled surgeon could use these books to recreate Frankenstein's experiment, a thought that filled him with horror. If he, a librarian with no medical knowledge, could feel the temptation to try just that, then what would someone who actually understood the science involved feel?
Going over his research notes Gillespie realized that Dr. Niemann was not the first to find and use the Frankenstein journals. There had been others over the decades since the Monster was first brought to life. All had succumbed to temptation and become obsessed with the monster and its power. All had brought nothing but death and suffering to themselves and those around them. He could not, in good conscience, allow that curse to continue.
And yet there was much in the journals that could prove beneficial if the knowledge were to be applied carefully and conscientiously. He did not have the right to deny the world that possibility. And so Peter Gillespie purchased a small, iron-bound, oak chest, locked the curse of the Frankensteins inside it, and sailed home to Boston. Under the light of a full moon he swore an oath to never reveal the contents of that chest so long as he lived. And to seal his vow he cast the only key to the chest into the moonlit waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
...
A Forest Near Vasaria
4 Years Ago
"This looks like as good a campsite as any," Kate Willingham called over her shoulder to her fiance. "Your turn to set up the tent. I'll get a fire going."
"Sounds good to me," Marcus replied, dropping his pack and looking around the area while stretching out some kinked muscles.
Fifteen minutes later the tent was up and secure and he was watching with an amused grin as Kate grumbled and cursed at the fire pit. "Problem?" he asked.
"The wood around here is damp. I can't get it to burn at all," Kate grumped.
Marcus knelt beside his pack and came up with a collapsible shovel. "Looks like an old peat bog over that way. There will be plenty of good fuel there."
A short while later a stack of dry peat moss lay beside a roaring fire. Kate prepared some vegetables for roasting on the coals while Marcus studied a map of the region. "So, man of mine, how far is it to Goldstadt?"
"Depends. If we can get to the main road and hitch a ride right away, we can be in Goldstadt by tomorrow evening. If we go overland we're looking at a three day hike through some very picturesque countryside. Hmm, that's interesting."
"What is?"
"That farmer we got the vegetables from made a few notations on the map. This valley is marked as being haunted."
"Well then," Kate replied, picking up the shovel, "I guess I'd better get some more fuel for the fire to keep the ghosts and goblins away".
Marcus looked up from the map and smiled in admiration of the view as Kate walked to the peat bog. After three years he still couldn't believe how she could take his breath away. Offering up a playful wolf whistle he watched her for a few more moments before turning his attention back to the map.
Kneeling down, Kate started cutting some more peat for the fire. As she lifted the the dry moss out she felt some resistance. Must be a tree root in there. Working with the shovel she got the moss turf loose and fell back in open mouthed shock at what she saw under it. "M-m-Marcus? I think I know why this valley is supposed to be haunted."
Quickly moving to Kate's side, Marcus made sure that she was alright before following her gaze. He felt a fist of ice clench around his heart at the sight before him.
...
Twigs and branches tore at his hair and clothes, scratched his face as he ran blindly through the woods, terror and blind panic driving him on. Was it following him? Don't stop, don't look back, it might be there. Kate! Where was Kate? Its hands on her, the light fading from her beautiful eyes, Oh God,Kate!
...
Life was good, Karel reflected, and yet... and yet the entire clan had been on edge for the last day or so, for no discernible reason. The wise woman had been having strange dreams for a week now, dreams that had led them to camp in this forsaken place. As he knelt to tend the fire, the sound of something moving in the brush caught his attention.
Picking up the rifle he carried in case of wild animals he moved warily in the direction of the sound only to collide with something that came charging out of the woods, knocking both of them to the ground. Quickly untangling himself from his assailant and getting to his feet, Karel brought the gun to bear on the creature that had hit him. On seeing the dishevelled figure of a barely conscious man lying there he called out for help.
"What's going on Karel? What are you shouting for?" a woman's voice answered.
"A stranger came running out of the woods Katerina. He looks like he's hurt," he responded.
The wise woman knelt beside the stranger, examining him. "I don't see any serious injuries, but he is feverish. Help me get him to my trailer Karel. And then tell the others that we are to break camp immediately".