The Haunting of the Forgotten Dormitory

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a melancholic glow over the dilapidated dormitory that stood at the edge of the university campus. The building, once a beacon of student life, had long been abandoned, its windows shattered, and its doors hanging loosely on their hinges. It was a place whispered about in hushed tones, a place where the past seemed to linger, untouched by time.

Among the students who dared to explore the dormitory was Li Wei, a curious and somewhat fearless freshman. He had heard the tales of the dormitory's haunting, but he was determined to uncover the truth behind the eerie legends. Accompanying him were his friends, Xiao Mei, a psychology major who was fascinated by the supernatural, and Zhang Li, a history buff who believed the dormitory held secrets from the past.

As they stepped inside, the air was thick with dust and the scent of decay. The once vibrant halls were now a labyrinth of shadows, and the silence was oppressive. They moved cautiously, their flashlights cutting through the darkness, illuminating the faded posters of past student events and the peeling paint on the walls.

Li Wei led the way, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and excitement. "This place is eerie," Xiao Mei whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Let's find the room," Zhang Li said, his eyes scanning the corridor. "The stories say it's room 312."

They reached the door, its handle turning with a creak. The door opened to reveal a room filled with old furniture, dust-covered, and a single, flickering light bulb hanging from the ceiling. The bed was unmade, and a sense of unease washed over them.

"Who lived here?" Xiao Mei asked, her voice trembling.

Li Wei's eyes scanned the room, noticing a small, framed photograph on the dresser. It was a picture of a young woman, smiling brightly, surrounded by friends. "This must be her," he said, pointing to the photo. "Her name was Jing. She was a student here in the '90s."

"Jing?" Zhang Li repeated, his voice filled with awe. "The girl who supposedly died here?"

Li Wei nodded. "According to the stories, she was found dead in this room, but no one knows how or why."

Xiao Mei's eyes widened. "Do you think she's still here?"

Li Wei hesitated, then nodded. "I think we should find out."

As they began to search the room, they discovered a hidden drawer in the dresser. Inside, they found a journal, its pages yellowed with age. They opened it and began to read, the words jumping out at them like ghosts from the past.

"I can't believe this," Xiao Mei said, her voice shaking. "She was writing about the same things we're experiencing now."

The journal detailed Jing's struggles with her studies, her loneliness, and her fear of the dormitory. It spoke of strange noises, cold drafts, and the feeling of being watched. The last entry was particularly chilling, as Jing wrote about a figure she saw in the mirror, a figure that seemed to be following her.

Li Wei's eyes widened. "This is it," he said, his voice filled with determination. "We have to find out what happened to her."

As they continued to read, they heard a faint whisper. It was soft, almost inaudible, but it was there, clear as day. "Help me," the whisper said.

Xiao Mei's eyes widened. "Did you hear that?"

Li Wei nodded, his heart pounding. "We have to follow it."

They followed the whisper to the mirror, and as they approached, the image of Jing appeared, her face twisted in fear. The room seemed to grow colder, and the air grew thick with tension.

"Jing, can you tell us what happened?" Xiao Mei asked, her voice trembling.

The figure in the mirror did not respond, but the whisper grew louder. "Help me... Help me..."

Li Wei stepped forward, his hand outstretched. "We're here to help you, Jing. What do you need us to do?"

The figure in the mirror seemed to relax, and the whisper faded. The room grew warmer, and the tension dissipated. Jing's face softened, and she seemed to smile.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for listening."

As the figure in the mirror faded away, the students felt a sense of relief. They knew they had helped Jing, but they also knew that the dormitory's secrets were far from over.

As they left the room, they couldn't shake the feeling that they had only just begun to uncover the truth. The dormitory was a place of mystery, a place where the past and the present intertwined, and a place where the supernatural was very much alive.

The Haunting of the Forgotten Dormitory was a chilling reminder that some secrets are best left buried, and that sometimes, the past is not as dead as it seems.