The Haunting of the Forgotten Corpse

The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the old mortuary that stood at the edge of town. The building was a relic from a bygone era, its walls covered in layers of dust and cobwebs. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of embalming fluid and the faintest hint of decay. It was a place where life and death danced in a delicate balance, a place where the living and the dead occasionally crossed paths.

Liu Wei, a young and ambitious mortician, had recently taken over the abandoned mortuary. He was determined to restore it to its former glory, to bring it back to life, both literally and figuratively. He worked tirelessly, cleaning, organizing, and preparing for the first funeral he would conduct in the new year.

One cold winter evening, as Liu Wei was sorting through a stack of old files, he stumbled upon a folder marked "Unclaimed." Curiosity piqued, he opened it to find a photograph of a young woman with a hauntingly beautiful face. Below the photograph was a note that read, "Corpse 234, Unidentified, Date of Death: March 5, 1945."

Liu Wei's heart raced as he realized that the body he had prepared for the morning's funeral was the one in the photograph. It was Corpse 234, the forgotten one. He had been so absorbed in his work that he had failed to notice the discrepancy.

As the sun rose, Liu Wei began the process of preparing Corpse 234 for the funeral. He carefully cleaned the body, applying the final touches of makeup and dressing it in a simple, respectful shroud. The body was young, the skin still retaining a faint blush of color, and the woman's eyes seemed to follow Liu Wei's every move.

During the preparation, Liu Wei felt a strange sense of familiarity with the woman. It was as if he had known her in a past life. The feeling was unsettling, but he pushed it aside, attributing it to the peculiar nature of his work.

The funeral was a somber affair, attended by only a few family members. Liu Wei stood by the casket, his hands trembling slightly as he delivered the eulogy. He spoke of the woman's life, her dreams, and her untimely death. As he finished, he felt a chill run down his spine, but he dismissed it as a result of the cold weather.

That night, Liu Wei returned to the mortuary to check on the bodies. As he walked through the cold halls, he heard a faint whisper. It was soft, almost inaudible, but it seemed to call his name. Liu Wei followed the sound, his heart pounding in his chest. He found himself standing in front of Corpse 234, and the whisper grew louder.

"Liu Wei... Liu Wei..."

He turned to see the woman's eyes staring back at him, filled with a mix of sorrow and anger. The whisper grew into a scream, and the woman's body began to stir. Liu Wei stepped back, his eyes wide with fear. The woman's hand reached out, and she grabbed his arm, pulling him closer.

"No... please, no..." Liu Wei whispered, but it was too late. The spirit was pulling him into the past, into the life of Corpse 234.

Liu Wei found himself in a small, dimly lit room. The woman, now a young girl, was sitting at a table, her face etched with despair. She looked up at Liu Wei, her eyes filled with tears.

"Why did you do this?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Liu Wei looked around, realizing that he was trapped in time. The girl's story unfolded before him. She had been a victim of a cruel and ruthless man, a man who had taken everything from her. Her spirit had been bound to the mortuary, seeking justice for her untimely death.

Liu Wei tried to reach out to the girl, to comfort her, but his touch passed through her like a ghost. He realized that he was the only one who could free her spirit. He had to find the man who had wronged her and bring him to justice.

Liu Wei's journey took him through the dark streets of the past, where he encountered the man who had caused the girl's death. The man was a powerful and feared figure, but Liu Wei was determined to bring him down. He followed the man into his lair, a place of darkness and despair.

In the lair, Liu Wei confronted the man, who was surrounded by his henchmen. The man laughed, a sound that chilled Liu Wei to the bone.

"You think you can stop me?" he sneered.

Liu Wei knew that he had to act quickly. He drew his makeshift weapon—a piece of wood from the lair—and charged at the man. The fight was fierce, but Liu Wei's determination was unwavering. He managed to wound the man, causing him to flee in terror.

With the man defeated, Liu Wei returned to the girl's time. He reached out to her, and this time, his touch was real. The girl's eyes widened in surprise, and then she smiled.

"Thank you," she whispered.

With a final, loving glance, Liu Wei watched as the girl's spirit left the room and faded into the night. He returned to his own time, the spirit of Corpse 234 now at peace.

Liu Wei returned to the mortuary, the cold halls now filled with a sense of calm. He knew that he had done the right thing, that he had freed the girl's spirit and brought justice to her untimely death.

As he walked out of the mortuary, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the town. Liu Wei looked back at the old building, its windows now filled with the warm glow of life. He had brought the mortuary back to life, not just physically, but spiritually as well.