The Haunting of the Lavatory's Echo

The soft hum of the wedding march faded into the distance as the last of the guests made their way out of the grand hall, leaving behind a silence that seemed to hang heavy in the air. The newlyweds, Li Wei and Jingping, were surrounded by their closest friends and family, all gathered to witness their union. They were young and in love, ready to start their new life together. But little did they know that their wedding night was about to become one of the most haunting experiences of their lives.

The night had been beautiful, with laughter and joy echoing through the halls of the luxurious hotel where the wedding was held. As the evening waned, the couple had decided to retire to the honeymoon suite for their first night as husband and wife. The suite was plush and elegant, with a king-sized bed and a large bathroom that seemed to have been designed for the purpose of relaxation.

Jingping was the first to step into the bathroom, her eyes scanning the room as she adjusted to the dim lighting. Li Wei followed closely behind, his heart pounding with excitement and nerves. As they settled into the comfortable surroundings, the sound of water trickling from the shower seemed almost soothing, a gentle lullaby to the end of their first day together.

Li Wei turned to Jingping, his eyes full of affection, "How do you feel? I'm so glad this day has come."

Jingping smiled, "I feel like we're on the brink of a new beginning. It's both exciting and a bit terrifying."

The bathroom was large, with a window that was frosted to prevent prying eyes, and a large, claw-footed bathtub. As they began to undress, Li Wei noticed a peculiar mark on the wall next to the shower, a faint, almost imperceptible glow in the corner of the room. It was as if someone had drawn a simple circle with a line running through the center, but there was no visible hand in the corner of the room.

"What's that?" Jingping asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Li Wei stepped closer, running a hand along the line, feeling the smoothness of the ceramic as if it were cold to the touch. "I don't know," he replied, "but it doesn't feel right."

The water began to run in the shower, and they stepped inside, the warm spray enveloping them in a misty cocoon. Li Wei reached for Jingping, and they kissed, the first of many to come. But as they embraced, the water seemed to grow colder, and a shiver ran down Jingping's spine.

"Li Wei, what's happening?" she whispered, pulling away to look at him.

Li Wei's eyes were wide with shock. "I think I hear something."

The sound was faint at first, a distant whisper that seemed to echo from the corners of the room. But it grew louder, more insistent, and Li Wei and Jingping exchanged worried glances. They had heard nothing like this before, nothing so eerie and unsettling.

"Did you hear that?" Jingping asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Li Wei nodded, his heart racing. "It sounds like someone's crying."

The whisper grew louder, a wail that seemed to pierce the air. Li Wei and Jingping stepped closer to the mark on the wall, the line that seemed to draw them in. The whisper became a sob, and then a scream, and they turned to see the source of the sound.

In the corner of the bathroom, standing where no one should have been, was a young girl. Her eyes were wide with terror, and she was pointing at the mark on the wall. But as they watched, the girl began to fade, her form dissolving into the air until she was nothing but a specter, a ghostly figure that vanished into the steam that rose from the shower.

"Who are you?" Li Wei called out, his voice trembling with fear.

The ghost did not respond, but the sound of the crying grew louder, as if it were drawing closer. Li Wei and Jingping stepped back, their eyes wide with horror, as the ghost approached the line on the wall. She reached out with a hand that was as translucent as air, and the line seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

The ghost's voice was a whisper now, but it was filled with such despair that it sent a chill through the couple's bones. "Help me," it seemed to say. "Help me..."

Li Wei and Jingping turned to each other, their eyes wide with terror and disbelief. "What do we do?" Jingping asked, her voice barely audible.

Li Wei did not hesitate. He stepped forward and reached out, touching the line with his hand. The ghost seemed to take heart from his touch, and she stepped closer, her form growing more solid with each passing moment.

"Thank you," the ghost whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.

But as the ghost approached, Li Wei and Jingping saw something that made their hearts sink. The ghost was not young, as they had first thought. She was an old woman, her face lined with pain and sorrow. Her eyes were filled with memories, and as she looked at Li Wei, it was as if she were looking into his soul.

"Who are you?" Jingping asked, her voice filled with urgency.

The old woman looked at her, her eyes filled with tears. "I was once a woman like you, but I was cursed. I am trapped in this bathroom, and I cannot escape."

Li Wei stepped closer, his heart aching for the old woman. "What happened to you?"

The old woman took a deep breath, and the story began to unfold. "A long time ago, a young woman was murdered in this very bathroom. Her body was found, but her spirit remained trapped, unable to rest. She is here, trapped in the walls, waiting for someone to help her."

Li Wei and Jingping listened, their hearts heavy with the weight of the old woman's story. When she finished, Li Wei knew what he had to do. He stepped forward and touched the line one more time, and the old woman's form seemed to vibrate with a life of its own.

"I will help you," he said, his voice filled with determination.

The old woman's eyes filled with relief. "Thank you. I have been waiting for someone like you for so long."

As the old woman began to fade, Li Wei reached out, touching her hand one last time. And then, just as quickly as she had appeared, she vanished, leaving behind nothing but a lingering sadness.

Li Wei and Jingping stepped back, their hearts heavy with the weight of the experience. They had helped a spirit find peace, but the night was far from over. The line on the wall remained, a haunting reminder of the past.

Li Wei turned to Jingping, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and determination. "We have to leave this room. Now."

Jingping nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "We have to go, now."

Together, they stepped out of the bathroom, leaving the ghost behind. But the line on the wall remained, a ghostly reminder of the night that had changed their lives forever. And as they settled into the bed, the sound of water trickling from the shower seemed to echo through their minds, a chilling reminder of the ghost that had visited them in the bathroom.

As they fell into sleep, they couldn't shake the feeling that the old woman was still with them, her presence a ghostly companion as they began their journey together. And though they had helped her find peace, they knew that the bathroom's secrets were far from over.