Paranormal House: Honiara

The Solomon Clerics

The Solomon Clerics were a group of four men who dedicated their lives to investigating the mysteries of the Solomon Islands and beyond. They were experts in the lore and legends of the Pacific, and they had a keen interest in the paranormal and supernatural phenomena that occurred in the region. They were not afraid to face danger, and they often traveled to remote and isolated places to pursue their inquiries.

One day, they received an invitation from a village chief on the Bismarck Archipelago, a group of islands north of Papua New Guinea. The chief claimed that something evil was plaguing his people, and he begged the clerics to come and help. He said that strange noises, lights, and shadows were seen at night, and that some of his villagers had gone missing or were found dead with horrific injuries. He suspected that a powerful spirit or a mythical creature was behind the attacks, and he hoped that the clerics could identify and banish it.

The clerics accepted the invitation, and they boarded a small boat that took them to the Bismarck Archipelago. They arrived at the village after a few days of sailing, and they were greeted by the chief and his people. The chief told them that the evil was coming from a nearby island, where an old temple was located. He said that the temple was once a sacred place, but it had been abandoned and forgotten for many years. He believed that something had awakened or disturbed the ancient forces that dwelled there, and that they were now unleashing their wrath on the living.

The clerics decided to visit the island and the temple, and they asked the chief to provide them with a guide and a boat. The chief agreed, but he warned them to be careful and to return before nightfall. He said that no one dared to stay on the island after dark, and that the evil was stronger and more active then.

The clerics thanked the chief, and they set off with their guide and their boat. They reached the island after an hour of rowing, and they saw the temple from a distance. It was a large and imposing structure, made of stone and wood, and covered with vines and moss. It had a pyramidal shape, with a staircase leading to the top, where a statue of a winged creature stood. The clerics felt a chill as they approached the temple, and they sensed a dark and malevolent presence.

They disembarked from their boat, and they followed their guide to the temple. The guide told them that the statue was a representation of a garuda, a mythical bird-like creature that was revered by the ancient people of the island. He said that the garuda was a protector and a guardian, but also a fierce and fearsome warrior. He said that the temple was built to honor and worship the garuda, and that it contained many secrets and treasures. He said that he had never entered the temple himself, and that he would wait for them outside.

The clerics nodded, and they proceeded to the temple. They climbed the staircase, and they reached the statue of the garuda. They examined it closely, and they noticed that it had a human-like face, with sharp teeth and piercing eyes. It had a pair of wings, a pair of arms, and a pair of legs, and it held a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. It was made of bronze, and it had a greenish patina. It looked ancient and majestic, but also menacing and ominous.

The clerics felt a surge of curiosity, and they decided to enter the temple. They found a door behind the statue, and they opened it. They entered a dark and narrow corridor, and they lit a torch to see their way. They walked along the corridor, and they saw many paintings and carvings on the walls. They depicted scenes of battles, rituals, sacrifices, and ceremonies, all involving the garuda and its followers. The clerics were fascinated by the images, and they tried to decipher their meanings.

They reached the end of the corridor, and they found another door. They opened it, and they entered a large and circular chamber. They saw a dome-shaped ceiling, with a hole in the center, where a beam of sunlight shone through. They saw a circular altar in the middle of the chamber, and they saw a skeleton lying on the altar. The skeleton was wearing a crown, a necklace, and a ring, and it held a staff in its hand. The clerics recognized the skeleton as the remains of a king, and they guessed that he was the ruler of the island and the temple.

They approached the altar, and they inspected the skeleton and its belongings. They saw that the crown, the necklace, the ring, and the staff were all made of gold, and that they were adorned with jewels and symbols. They saw that the staff had a carving of a garuda on its top, and that it had a hollow tube in its middle. They wondered what the purpose of the staff was, and they decided to take it with them.

They lifted the staff from the skeleton's hand, and they heard a loud and angry roar. They turned around, and they saw the statue of the garuda come to life. It moved its wings, its arms, and its legs, and it glared at them with its eyes. It spoke in a deep and raspy voice, and it said:

"Who dares to disturb my slumber? Who dares to steal my scepter? Who dares to defile my temple?"

The clerics were shocked and terrified, and they realized that they had awakened the spirit of the garuda. They dropped the staff, and they tried to apologize and explain their intentions. They said that they were not thieves or intruders, but investigators and explorers. They said that they were looking for the source of the evil that was haunting the village, and that they thought that the temple might hold some clues. They said that they meant no harm or disrespect, and that they only wanted to help.

The garuda did not listen to their words, and it did not accept their excuses. It said:

"You are liars and fools. You are unworthy and impure. You are enemies and invaders. You have violated my sanctuary, and you have incurred my wrath. You shall pay for your crimes, and you shall suffer my vengeance."

The garuda raised its sword, and it charged at the clerics. The clerics ran for their lives, and they tried to escape from the temple. They ran back to the corridor, and they ran back to the door. They reached the door, and they tried to open it. They found that the door was locked, and that they were trapped inside.

They panicked, and they looked for another way out. They saw a window on the wall, and they decided to break it and jump out. They grabbed a stone, and they smashed the window. They saw the ground below, and they prepared to jump.

They jumped, and they fell. They fell, and they screamed. They screamed, and they died.

The garuda reached the window, and it saw the bodies of the clerics on the ground. It smiled, and it said:

"That is the fate of those who dare to challenge me. That is the fate of those who dare to enter my temple. That is the fate of those who dare to face the Solomon Clerics."