The Circular Ruins' Ghostly Gathering

In the heart of the ancient forest, where the trees whispered secrets of bygone eras, lay the Circular Ruins. The ruins were a local legend, a place where the veil between the living and the dead was said to be thin. It was here, on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, that a group of friends decided to venture into the ruins, driven by a mix of curiosity and daredevilry.

The group, consisting of Xiao Mei, a curious and adventurous girl; her brother, Liang, a thrill-seeker with a penchant for the supernatural; and their friends, Feng and Yu, met at the entrance of the ruins. The moon was full, casting an eerie glow on the moss-covered stones and the overgrown vines that cradled the ruins. They all shared a look of excitement, a cocktail of fear and thrill that was the hallmark of such escapades.

"Remember, if you hear any strange noises, run for your life," Xiao Mei warned, her voice tinged with the fear that was already beginning to creep in.

They entered the ruins, their footsteps echoing through the silence. The air was thick with the scent of decay and the sound of rustling leaves. They wandered through the ruins, their torches flickering in the dark, casting long shadows on the walls. The ruins seemed to have no end, and the more they ventured in, the more they felt like they were being watched.

"Did you hear that?" Yu whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling of the leaves.

They all fell silent, straining to hear. Then, a sudden breeze swept through the ruins, and a cold chill ran down Xiao Mei's spine. The wind seemed to come from nowhere, and it carried with it a faint whisper that echoed through the ruins.

"Follow me," Liang said, breaking the silence. He led them deeper into the ruins, his footsteps firm and confident.

They reached a large, circular chamber. The walls were adorned with faded frescoes, depicting scenes of a bygone era. At the center of the chamber stood an ancient stone table, covered in dust and cobwebs. The air was thick with a sense of foreboding.

"Let's look around," Xiao Mei suggested, her curiosity getting the better of her fear.

As they approached the table, Xiao Mei noticed something odd. The dust on the table seemed to be moving, as if something were beneath it. She reached out to touch it, and suddenly, the table began to shake, as if it were being pushed from beneath.

"Get back!" Liang shouted, but it was too late. The table shot forward, and Xiao Mei was knocked to the ground. She rolled out of the way just as the table hit the wall, shattering into pieces.

A sudden chill enveloped them, and the air seemed to grow thick and heavy. Xiao Mei looked up, and her eyes widened in horror. The walls of the chamber were now adorned with ghostly figures, their eyes hollow and sockets sunken. They were the spirits of those who had perished in the ruins, bound to this place by an ancient curse.

"Run!" Liang shouted, but it was too late. The spirits began to move, their hands reaching out, grasping at them. Xiao Mei felt a cold hand grip her shoulder, and she screamed, her voice echoing through the chamber.

Liang pulled her back, and they ran for their lives. The spirits pursued them, their whispers growing louder and more insistent. They reached the entrance of the ruins, but it was too late. The spirits had blocked the way, their hands reaching out, trying to pull them back.

Xiao Mei and Liang turned and fought back, their torches burning brightly in the darkness. They fought with all their might, their hearts pounding in their chests. Finally, with a desperate lunge, Xiao Mei managed to push the spirits away, and they ran out of the ruins, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.

Once outside, they collapsed on the ground, their bodies shaking with exhaustion. They looked at each other, their eyes wide with fear and relief.

"Are you okay?" Xiao Mei asked, her voice trembling.

Liang nodded, his eyes still wide with shock. "I thought we were going to die in there."

Xiao Mei nodded, her eyes welling with tears. "Me too. But we made it out."

As they sat there, catching their breath, they realized that they had been through something unimaginable. The Circular Ruins were no longer just a legend; they were a place of terror, a place where the spirits of the dead sought to claim their souls.

From that night on, the Circular Ruins were left untouched, a warning to all who dared to venture into its haunted halls. Xiao Mei and Liang, along with their friends, never spoke of the incident, their experiences etched into their memories, a haunting reminder of the supernatural forces that lurked just beyond the veil of the living world.