Bram Stoker

In “The Squaw”, a short story by Bram Stoker published in 1893, a young American couple is enjoying their honeymoon in Germany, where they meet an eccentric traveler from Nebraska, Elias P. Hutcheson. Together, they head to Nurnberg, where they hope to visit the ancient castle, particularly the torture tower where the famous “Iron Virgin” is kept. During a walk around the castle, Hutcheson, in an attempt to play with a stray kitten, accidentally kills it with a stone. This unleashes the wrath of the mother cat, which becomes an embodiment of hatred and revenge, which will have severe consequences for the travelers.

In the short story “The Judge’s House” by Bram Stoker, a college student named Malcolm Malcolmson is looking for a quiet place to study, so he decides to settle in an old, uninhabited house in the village of Benchurch, known as The Judge’s House. The house has imposing Jacobean architecture and a sinister reputation, making it seem perfect for his purposes. Despite the locals’ warnings, Malcolmson begins his routine study but is soon disrupted by strange noises and the appearance of a sinister-looking rat. As unsettling events unfold, Malcolmson realizes that the house conceals dark secrets that threaten his safety.