The Cursed Classroom

The sun set behind the old schoolhouse, casting an eerie glow over the overgrown playground. The air was cool, with the faint scent of autumn leaves mingling with the musty scent of the building. It was the first day of school for 17-year-old Li Wei, a student from a distant city. He had heard the rumors about this school, but nothing could have prepared him for what awaited him in Room 312.

As he stepped inside, the heavy door creaked ominously. The classroom was dimly lit by flickering lights, and dust motes danced in the beams. At the front, there was a chalkboard with the date scrawled in large, spidery handwriting: 10/31/2002. A chill ran down Li Wei’s spine as he realized it was Halloween night, the day that Room 312 had become cursed.

Li Wei's new teacher, Mr. Li, was an elderly man with a kind smile. He introduced the class and then began to lecture. As he spoke, Li Wei felt an odd sensation. It was as if the walls of the classroom were breathing, a slow, heavy breath that seemed to come from everywhere at once.

After class, Li Wei was approached by a shy girl named Mei. "Are you the new student?" she asked. "I heard about the rumors, but I didn't believe them until I saw the chalkboard."

Li Wei nodded. "I've heard about the curse, too. But I don't believe in ghosts."

Mei’s eyes widened. "You don't?"

Li Wei shook his head. "No, I don't. I think it's just some old superstition."

The next day, Li Wei began to notice strange things. His textbooks were missing pages, and his notebook would sometimes write on its own. He started to have dreams, vivid nightmares of students being chased through the classroom by a figure cloaked in darkness.

One night, Li Wei couldn't sleep. He got up to get a glass of water from the kitchen. The hallway was pitch black, and the only light came from the flickering bulbs. As he walked, he heard soft whispers, like the rustle of leaves in the wind. The whispers grew louder as he approached the classroom door.

Taking a deep breath, Li Wei pushed open the door. The classroom was empty, except for the figure standing at the front. It was a teacher, but he had no face. Only two glowing eyes looked at Li Wei, filled with hate and sorrow.

"Who are you?" Li Wei demanded, his voice trembling.

The figure turned to face him, and Li Wei's breath caught in his throat. The teacher's eyes were filled with the souls of the students who had died in Room 312. They were trapped, forever haunting the classroom.

"I am the ghost of Mr. Zhang," the figure said. "I was a teacher here. But on this day, I made a grave mistake. I believed in the superstitions and cursed this classroom. Now, my soul is trapped, and I must haunt this place until my curse is lifted."

Li Wei felt a chill run down his spine. "How can I help you?"

"Only you can lift this curse," Mr. Zhang replied. "You must find the students who are still alive and bring them to this classroom. Only their presence can free my soul."

Li Wei knew it was a dangerous task. He would have to confront the ghosts of the students who had died, and possibly face the same fate. But he also knew he couldn't turn his back on Mr. Zhang.

Over the next few days, Li Wei searched for the students. He discovered that some had left the school, and others had been too scared to return. But he found a few, and together, they returned to Room 312.

As they entered, the ghost of Mr. Zhang appeared once more. "Thank you," he said. "Now, my curse is lifted."

Li Wei and the students watched as Mr. Zhang's spirit faded, leaving only the peaceful silence of the classroom. They left the school, and from that day on, Room 312 was known as a place of tranquility.

But Li Wei knew that the curse had taken its toll. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen something truly terrifying, and he was forever changed by the experience. The classroom had been cursed, but so was he.