The Echoes of the Forgotten

The rain was relentless, hammering against the old dormitory's windows like a relentless drumbeat. Inside, the air was thick with anticipation and unease. Four students, each with their own reasons for seeking refuge in the dormitory, found themselves trapped together by the storm. Their names were Alex, a curious freshman; Tom, a jaded senior; Jack, a quiet transfer student; and Leo, a local boy who knew the dormitory's secrets better than anyone.

The dormitory, once a bustling hub of youthful energy, had been abandoned years ago, its reputation for being haunted having spread far and wide. The students had all heard the tales of ghostly apparitions, cold drafts, and unexplained noises, but they had dismissed them as mere legends. That was until the first night.

As the storm raged on, the power went out, plunging the dormitory into darkness. A sudden chill swept through the room, causing the students to huddle together, their eyes wide with fear. The door creaked open, and a cold breeze whispered through the room, carrying with it the scent of decay.

Tom, the most skeptical of the group, stood up, determined to find the source of the cold. "It's just the wind," he muttered, but his voice trembled with fear. He moved towards the door, his footsteps echoing in the silence, when suddenly, a faint whisper echoed through the room, "Leave me alone."

The students exchanged nervous glances, their hearts pounding in their chests. The whisper grew louder, more insistent, as if a presence was drawing closer. Jack, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. "I think we should leave," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

But it was too late. The presence was now visible, a ghostly figure shrouded in white, its eyes hollow and soulless. The students backed away, their faces pale, as the ghost moved towards them, its form becoming more solid with each step.

"Who are you?" Leo asked, his voice trembling. The ghost paused, its eyes locking onto Leo's. "You should have never come here," it hissed, before turning and disappearing through the wall.

The students ran to the door, but it was locked from the outside. They pounded on it, their panic rising, but no one came to answer. The ghost returned, this time with a group of its companions, all of them haunting the dormitory's dark corners.

The students were trapped, their fear turning to despair. The ghostly figures surrounded them, whispering their names, their voices echoing through the empty hallways. Alex, the most courageous of the group, tried to fight back, but the spirits were overwhelming, their presence seeping into his mind, making him question his own sanity.

Tom, who had been the most skeptical, now believed the legends. "We need to find a way out," he said, his voice breaking. Jack, the quiet transfer student, suddenly remembered a hidden passage he had discovered during his first night in the dormitory. "I know a way out," he said, leading the others through the labyrinthine corridors.

As they emerged from the passage, they found themselves outside, the storm still raging. They ran towards the campus, their hearts pounding with relief. But as they reached the main building, they realized they were no longer alone. The ghostly figures followed them, their whispers growing louder, more insistent.

The students turned back, their eyes wide with terror. The ghostly figures surrounded them once more, their whispers becoming louder, more desperate. "Leave me alone," the ghostly figure from before hissed, its form becoming more solid with each word.

Alex, the most courageous of the group, stepped forward. "We're not going to hurt you," he said, his voice steady. The ghostly figure paused, its eyes locking onto Alex's. "You should have never come here," it hissed, before turning and disappearing into the dormitory.

The students ran back towards the dormitory, their hearts pounding with fear. As they reached the door, it opened, revealing the ghostly figure from before, its eyes hollow and soulless. "You should have never come here," it hissed, before vanishing into the darkness.

The students collapsed to the ground, their bodies shaking with relief. They had escaped, but the dormitory's dark secret remained, waiting for the next brave—or foolish—soul to uncover it.