The Haunting of the Abandoned Dormitory

The moon hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the dilapidated campus of Shangcai Middle School. The air was thick with the scent of decay, a testament to the years of neglect that had befallen the once vibrant institution. The students of the school had long whispered tales of the abandoned dormitory, a place where the line between the living and the dead seemed to blur.

Among these students was Xiao Mei, a quiet girl with a penchant for the supernatural. She had heard the stories, but it wasn't until her best friend, Liang Li, mentioned the dormitory in passing that Xiao Mei's curiosity was piqued. "They say the dormitory is haunted," Liang Li had said, her voice tinged with fear. "But I think it's just an old wives' tale."

Ignoring the superstitions, Xiao Mei decided to visit the dormitory with a group of friends: the bold and fearless Zhang Wei, the skeptical but curious Wang Feng, and the timid yet brave Chen Hua. They had all heard the rumors, but none had ever dared to venture inside.

The four friends stood at the entrance of the abandoned dormitory, their hearts pounding with a mix of fear and excitement. The door creaked open with a sound that seemed to echo through the halls, and they stepped inside, their flashlights cutting through the darkness.

The dormitory was a labyrinth of empty rooms, each one more decrepit than the last. The walls were covered in peeling paint and the floors were littered with broken furniture. They moved cautiously, their flashlights flickering against the walls, casting eerie shadows.

Suddenly, Wang Feng's flashlight flickered out. "What the hell?" he exclaimed, reaching for his phone to turn on the camera's flashlight. The moment he did, the phone's screen went black. "This place is giving me the creeps," he muttered, his voice trembling.

The group continued forward, their footsteps echoing in the silence. They reached the end of the hallway and turned a corner, only to find themselves in a room that seemed untouched by time. The bed was still made, the desk still cluttered with papers, and the window still slightly ajar.

Xiao Mei's eyes widened as she noticed a figure standing in the corner of the room. It was a girl, her hair a mess, her eyes wide with terror. She was wearing an old-fashioned dress, and her hands were outstretched as if reaching for something.

"Who are you?" Xiao Mei called out, her voice trembling.

The girl turned, her eyes locking onto Xiao Mei. "You shouldn't be here," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Before Xiao Mei could respond, the girl's form began to fade, leaving behind a trail of cold air. The group exchanged nervous glances, their fear intensifying.

Chen Hua, the bravest of the group, stepped forward. "Who are you?" he repeated, his voice steady despite the fear that gripped him.

The girl reappeared, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I was a student here," she said. "I died here. They... they didn't believe me."

Xiao Mei's heart ached for the girl. "Why didn't they believe you?"

The girl's eyes filled with tears. "They thought I was crazy. But I wasn't. I saw... I saw things. Things that no one else could see."

The group exchanged glances, understanding that the girl was a ghost, a spirit trapped between worlds. They had to help her.

Zhang Wei stepped forward, his voice firm. "We believe you. We want to help you."

The girl's eyes lit up with hope. "Thank you. I need to get out of here. I need to be free."

Liang Li, the most skeptical of the group, stepped forward. "How can we help you?"

The girl pointed to the window. "Go out that window. It leads to the roof. From there, you can find a way out."

The group nodded and approached the window. They climbed out, their hearts pounding with fear. They found themselves on the roof, looking down at the dilapidated dormitory.

Xiao Mei turned to the girl. "We'll help you. We'll make sure you're free."

The girl smiled, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you. I'll never forget you."

As the group left the roof, they felt a sense of relief wash over them. They had helped a spirit find peace, but they had also uncovered a dark secret about the dormitory.

Back in the dormitory, they found the girl's body, lying on the floor. They knew that she had been there all along, waiting for someone to believe her. They had given her that belief, and for that, they were grateful.

The group left the dormitory, their hearts heavy but their spirits lifted. They had faced the supernatural, they had helped a spirit find peace, and they had uncovered a dark secret. They had become part of the legend of the Shangcai Middle School dormitory, a legend that would be told for generations to come.