'Death Without Ghosts' Series 1 Episode 5

Deep within the Pacific lies the Republic of Fiji. In its eastern province, scattered throughout the Koro Sea, are the islands of Lomaiviti. Among them is an 8 km² island known as Korouni, an unpopulated, abandoned, and deserted landmass.

Its isolation provided the perfect conditions for research into one of nature’s darkest sciences: Taphonomy, the study of organic remains after death. Under natural conditions, human decomposition follows a series of processes, with the body progressing through five recognised stages.

Understanding how insects, environmental conditions, and other external factors influence decomposition can assist forensic scientists and police in homicide investigations.

On the island of Korouni, there were generally fifteen bodies under examination at any given time, along with several pigs, whose chemical breakdown closely resembles that of humans aside from a number of differing gas reactions.

Once the research process had been completed, the skeletal remains were released into the Koro Sea. There were no burial ceremonies, no prayers, and no families left to mourn. These were no longer regarded as people; they had surrendered their bodies for scientific study and had simply become specimens for education.

Ocean waves crashed against the fractured rocks and jagged mineral cliffs with the force of a sledgehammer. Rumbling booms and hollow whooshes echoed through the lower mountainous reaches of Korouni Island.

Upon the highest of the jagged cliffs stood a figure, a woman dressed entirely in a lightweight white jacket and pants, her face concealed behind a woven paper mask. In her outstretched hands she carried a cloth bundle, often referred to by the scientists as a ‘bundle burial’.

An elongated cylindrical shaped package with soft edges. Its contents placed parallel to each other.

Voices drifted upon the breeze around her, disembodied whispers with no visible source. She frowned, then released the bundle into the ocean far below. As it fell, the cloth partially opened, and several charred bones slipped free before vanishing into the surging waters beneath.

The female figure turned and walked along the narrow dirt path leading toward the island’s lower interior. Hidden from the ocean view lay the Korouni Research Laboratory, a hardened concrete facility devoted to research, testing, and observational practices within the unique field of Taphonomy.

Stones and grit crunched beneath her feet as she moved along the pathway, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding area. An opening in the rockface revealed the laboratory building ahead. The route appeared clear of anything living… or dead. She wiped her hands against the fabric of her white jacket as she continued down the narrow artery-like path. A warm breeze swept through the opening, carrying with it the sharp scent of hexanal and paint thinners.

The woman quickened her pace, eager to return to safety without any unnecessary encounters.

The building sat low beneath the shelter of the montane rainforest. She scanned her access card through a slot beside the entrance; beneath the gold chip was the name Professor Bolodawa. A brief electronic bleep sounded from the controller before the double doors slid open. She gave one rapid glance toward the treeline as she disappeared inside. Her footsteps faded into a long concrete corridor as the doors sealed shut behind her.

Beyond the treetops and past the jagged breccia cliffs stretched the Koro Sea, its waves diminished by the immense height of the rock face. Cutting hard across the water was a trawler closing in toward the island. Smoke billowed from the single stack of the dirty-white fishing vessel.

Inland, a heavy white door slid open as the professor entered the sterile, isolated laboratory. She glanced up at the clock hanging from the centre of the ceiling; its large black digits displayed 4 p.m.

Removing her face mask, she released a quiet sigh of relief. Her footsteps echoed through the lonely room as she crossed toward a computer desk.

Opening an email, she typed only a single sentence.

‘Specimen 126 has been appropriately disposed of… May he rest at sea.’

Within seconds, a cold reply appeared on the screen.

‘You’re becoming sentimental. They’ve already had their mourning. They are of no further use to people.’

Her head lowered after reading the response. The reality of it all was becoming unbearable. It felt too much like killing a living person.

Only hours earlier, the man had been dead. There had been no sign of life, yet his body still had motor functions. It still possessed movement. How could a corpse continue to function hours after death? And what or who were the ghostly voices whispering around the body?

This was something far beyond science, a phenomenon none of the researchers within the vast scientific network could logically explain.

Waves pounded and slapped against the steel bow of an ageing fishing trawler as its engine sputtered and knocked beneath the strain. The Phoenix Rising rode low in the water, leaving a trail of white froth churning in its wake.

The captain studied the coastline with intense focus. White waves crashing against the rocky shoreline were now clearly visible. He turned sharply to starboard, steering toward the beachfront as the engine revolutions began to slow.

Lorna Parker sat in the fighting chair normally used by the fishermen, enduring the heavy 27°C heat of the October Pacific air. She watched the wash trailing behind the propeller as they approached the island of Korouni. Glancing upward, her eyes followed the ropes and pulleys overhead before drifting back down toward the shallow waters.

The water was a brilliant pale blue, clear enough for Lorna to make out the hazy outline of the sandy seabed below. Giant trevally moved through the shallows, large marine fish native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific.

David Quinn emerged from the crew quarters, adjusting the brim of his Stetson hat in his usual deliberate manner as he looked out across the open sea. Turning toward the island, he spotted the beach ahead. Bright yellow sands glistened toward an overhanging wall of dense green trees. The shoreline extended no more than forty feet inland before meeting the vegetation, untouched and deserted due to the complete absence of local residents on the otherwise beautiful island.

David came into view standing head of Lorna as the vessel rocked side to side.

“Catch anything yet, Fisherman Parker?” he asked jokingly.

“If I had, I’d be slapping you in the face with it, Mr. Quinn!” she replied. “Are we there yet? I’m kind of facing the wrong way!”

“Almost,” David answered as he glanced past her toward the bow of the vessel and the approaching coastline.

“How’s our Trin doing?” Lorna asked, wrinkling her nose at the stale smell coming from the chair.

David looked briefly toward the smokestack. “Just fine. She says she’s seen enough water to last a lifetime, apparently,” he commented, lowering his gaze back toward Lorna.

She wore an unusual conical straw hat along with a pair of sunglasses and looked perfectly suited to the tropical surroundings. David smiled before retreating into the crew cabin to let Trinity Jenna know they were nearly there.

The constant rise and fall of the trawler forced him to steady himself against the doorway and shelving inside the cramped quarters.

“We’re almost there, Trin.”

She glanced up from her book. David caught the title: The Mindset of Modern Man.

“Learn anything interesting?” he asked.

“This book is amazing,” she replied, lifting it closer to her face. “Did you know modern men today have a life expectancy of sixty-four years? You’ve only got fourteen left, David.” She sniggered behind the pages, leaving only her dark hair and brown eyes visible above the book.

“Really?” David answered dryly. “Remind me to Google modern women sometime, will you?”

Suddenly, the engine dropped to an idle. David looked up toward the wooden ceiling before glancing through the small square windows.

“We’re here."

TO BE CONTINUED...

'Death Without Ghosts' - 133 pages for only €2.00

Writing Death Without Ghosts was one of the most intense and rewarding experiences of the ProParanormal series. I wanted to push the characters beyond haunted houses and lingering spirits, placing David Quinn, Trinity Jenna, and the team into their most horrifying and psychologically demanding case to date. The island of Korouni became the perfect setting, isolated, unforgiving, and consumed by both paranormal terror and biological horror. Blending ghosts, the undead, psychological tension, and apocalyptic destruction allowed the story to evolve into something darker and far more dangerous than anything the team had previously faced. Above all, I enjoyed exploring the strength, fear, humour, and loyalty of the characters as they fought to survive a nightmare that challenged not only their courage… but their humanity itself.

Below is a small snippet from Death Without Ghosts for your enjoyment... a glimpse into the terrifying world of the ProParanormal team as they face their darkest and most dangerous investigation yet. Please enjoy!