Silent Scream: The Ghost's Last Word

The old, creaky clock tower at PolyU stood as a sentinel over the bustling campus. It had been there for decades, its face etched with the stories of countless students and professors who had passed beneath its shadow. But today, its ancient hands stopped moving, and the campus was plunged into a silence that seemed to echo the stillness of death.

It all began with a scream, a silent scream that echoed through the empty corridors of the old library. No one heard it, not with the hubbub of final exams and the constant chatter of students. But the scream was there, a chilling reminder that some secrets should remain untold.

Dr. Lin, a history professor known for his eccentricities, was the first to notice. He had been researching the library’s mysterious past, a topic that had become a obsession to him. The scream, or rather, the absence of it, stopped him in his tracks.

"I need to find out what that scream meant," he muttered to himself, pacing the floor. His mind raced through the library's history, searching for any clue that might lead him to the source of the scream.

That night, as Dr. Lin returned to his office, he found a note waiting for him. It was a single word scrawled in blood-red ink: "Revelation." The word was followed by a set of coordinates written in a cryptic code that only Dr. Lin could decipher.

The coordinates led to an old, forgotten crypt beneath the university grounds. Dr. Lin, determined to uncover the truth, descended into the darkness. The air was thick with dampness and the scent of earth, but the most overpowering smell was that of decay. His flashlight flickered, casting eerie shadows that seemed to dance with the whispers of the past.

The crypt was filled with the remains of old students, their bones cradled in ancient sarcophagi. Dr. Lin's heart pounded as he moved deeper into the crypt, the silence of the place making his every step sound like a drumroll to an inevitable fate.

Suddenly, the air grew colder. Dr. Lin shivered, feeling a presence that seemed to be watching him. He turned to see a ghostly figure standing in the distance, a young woman with long, flowing hair that seemed to move independently of her body.

"Who are you?" Dr. Lin demanded, his voice barely a whisper.

The ghost turned, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I am Li Hua, a student who was falsely accused of murder many years ago. I was locked away here, and now I am free. But I have a message to deliver."

Dr. Lin's eyes widened as he realized the significance of the ghost's presence. "What is your message?"

Li Hua's voice was a mere whisper, but it carried the weight of centuries. "The truth is hidden in the old library, but it will not be found by those who seek power. It must be found by one who is pure of heart and has the courage to face the truth."

Before Dr. Lin could respond, Li Hua vanished, leaving behind a trail of icy breath in her wake. The crypt grew warmer as Dr. Lin hurried back to the surface, the truth she had spoken echoing in his mind.

Back in his office, Dr. Lin found a book hidden in a stack of old tomes. The book was a journal, filled with the thoughts and discoveries of a previous librarian who had also sought the truth about Li Hua. It spoke of a hidden room within the library, a room that held the key to the university's darkest secret.

With the journal in hand, Dr. Lin raced to the library. He found the hidden room behind a series of ancient books, each one marked with a cryptic symbol. The room was filled with old documents and artifacts, but the most striking was a painting of a woman with a look of fear and desperation.

Dr. Lin's eyes scanned the room until he found what he was looking for: a small, ornate box. He opened it to find a set of keys, each one inscribed with a symbol that matched the ones on the books. With a trembling hand, he used the keys to unlock a series of drawers, each revealing more pieces of the puzzle.

The final key unlocked a drawer that contained a diary. The diary belonged to the librarian who had discovered Li Hua's story and had tried to save her. In it, she revealed that the university had covered up the truth to protect its own reputation, a truth that could destroy the university's legacy.

As Dr. Lin read the diary, he realized the gravity of what he had uncovered. He knew that the diary and the evidence in the room had to be made public. But he also knew that those who had kept the secret would stop at nothing to protect it.

Dr. Lin left the library, the diary tucked safely in his coat. He made his way to the administration building, where he was met by the university's president and the head of the history department. Dr. Lin knew what he had to do.

"I have discovered the truth," Dr. Lin announced, handing over the diary. "It is time for the university to face its past and make amends."

The president and the head of the history department exchanged nervous glances. They knew the truth was out, and they knew that it would be difficult to contain.

As the story of Li Hua and the university's dark secret spread, the campus was filled with whispers and murmurs. Students and professors alike debated the implications of the revelations, and the university was forced to confront the consequences of its actions.

In the end, the truth was too powerful to be hidden. The university acknowledged its mistakes, and a new chapter was written in its history. The old library, once a place of silence and secrets, became a symbol of truth and justice.

And Dr. Lin, the man who had uncovered the truth, stood in the library, looking at the painting of Li Hua. He knew that he had done the right thing, even if it had cost him his job and his reputation. But he also knew that he had given Li Hua a voice, and for that, he was grateful.

The silent scream had been answered, and the ghost's last word had been heard. The truth had set them free.