Under the Tower that Fell
This story was published in the newish journal Dark Lane Digest 2 in July 2024. It is another story that involves the paranormal investigators, Henry and Rowena. Their investigation here precedes those in Vacancy and The Hinwick Effigy, and comes at a moment when their relationship is beginning to fray.
When a video purportedly of a legendary ghost appears on r/eerie_england, Henry and Rowena head for where the video was allegedly made, the remote LANTA, a top secret military area containing villages abandoned in the 17th century. Deep in the forest, Rowena starts to sense things that Henry does not, her dread amping up as they approach the weird Wallend Spur, with its ruined church, tunnels, tombs and malicious Chalk Ghost.
Origin Story
Under the Story the Fell was written specifically after a call-for-submissions for a folk horror anthology. The story was prompted by one of the items of past investigations Henry lists in The Hinwick Effigy, The Chalk Ghost of Wallend Spur.
The story was not accepted for the folk horror anthology, quite possibly because it’s a cosmic horror story. It did find a good home in the beautiful Dark Lane very quickly.
Extract
We headed off into the woods, in the direction of the Spur. You said, ‘look, no soldiers,’ but there were more soldiers, more of them coming up behind. The ground became boggy, the pine forest denser, the day more overcast. Light that glinted between the trees had a violet spangle to it. There was an odd tint to the sky. We must have walked ten miles. I could sense them in the underbrush. I told you. You repeated one of your theories. Black Parka, Target Practice and Zamoyski were soldiers themselves. The Zamoyski clips were either straightforward hoaxes or warnings to keep out of LANTA. Obviously such a warning would not scare people like us. You did not mention the other theory. Squaddies only faked the footage at the church ruins on Wallened Spur in Clip 3 and the sighting of the Chalk Ghost in Clip 4. These they mocked up to conceal that they had either accidentally or sadistically shot Black Parka and co and needed a cover story. You did not mention this version when we were so close to the Spur, I suspect in case it freaked me out. There were soldiers following us, all the way, of course. I didn’t freak out. I could sense their fear, too, and it was not fear of us. It was fear of something else.
Reviews
Dark Lane Digest 2 has no reviews. To my knowledge, no one has read Under the Tower that Fell, but this might not be true.
Eeriepedia
Under the Tower that Fell has a few references to other stories. A few recurring things also have their first appearance here, The Anglian Book of Judgements and The Milkcurdler but you’ll have to read the story to find out about them.
Henry and Rowena: Paranormal investigators, at this point still romantically involved, he deeply skeptical of the supernatural, and she very psychic. They first appear in The Hinwick Effigy. Rowena also appears in Vacancy.
r/eerie_england: Subreddit where various skeptics, believers, lunatics and hoaxers congregate to discuss reports of hauntings, apparitions, cryptids, aliens, cults etc. First appeared in The Hinwick Effigy. Also appears in Vacancy. Adam Pasmore from The Crumbling Edifice is banned.
Astraea Themis: Legendary horror writer and author of the cursed collection The Underkin and Other Stories that can contain a story called Under the Tower that Fell. Either meeting her or reading her book by mistake signals your worst fears will consume you. First appears in The Validations.
Dark Lane Digest 2 also includes recommendable stories by Jacqueline Chau, Grace, Wanebo, Chris Lyon, James Pate and Michael W Thomas. It’s available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon.
I also gave an interview for the Dark Lane website.