The Laundry Room's Lament

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale, ghostly glow over the old, dilapidated dormitory. The students of the University of Darkwood were just settling into their rooms when whispers of the haunted laundry room began to circulate. It was said that the room was cursed, and those who entered would never leave the same way they came.

Evelyn, a freshman, had heard the tales but dismissed them as mere superstition. She was determined to prove that the laundry room was just a figment of the students' overactive imaginations. Her roommate, Sarah, however, was skeptical but curious. Together, they decided to investigate the mysterious room.

The laundry room was tucked away at the end of a long, dark corridor. The door creaked ominously as they pushed it open, revealing a small, dimly lit space filled with old washing machines and dryers. The air was thick with the scent of mildew and the faint sound of distant laughter echoed through the room.

"Come on, Evelyn, let's get this over with," Sarah whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Evelyn nodded, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of life. The machines hummed softly, and the only other sound was the distant clinking of dishes from the dormitory kitchen. She felt a shiver run down her spine, but she pushed it away.

"Alright, let's find a machine," she said, her voice steady despite the unease.

They each selected a machine, and Evelyn began to load her laundry. Sarah, however, seemed to be distracted. She kept glancing around the room, her eyes wide with fear.

"Evelyn, what if the stories are true?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Evelyn laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "They're just stories, Sarah. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Sarah sighed, but she nodded in agreement. They continued to wash their clothes, the machines churning away.

As they finished, Evelyn noticed a peculiar pattern on the wall. It was a series of strange symbols, almost like a map. She called Sarah over, and they leaned in to examine it.

"What do you think this is?" Evelyn asked, her voice tinged with excitement.

Sarah studied the symbols for a moment before speaking. "I don't know, but it looks like it leads somewhere."

They followed the pattern, their footsteps echoing in the silent room. The symbols led them to a hidden door, partially concealed behind a stack of old washing machines. Evelyn pushed it open, revealing a dark, narrow passageway.

"Let's go," she said, her voice determined.

Sarah hesitated but followed, her heart pounding in her chest. They moved cautiously down the passageway, the air growing colder with each step. The symbols continued to guide them, leading them deeper into the heart of the dormitory.

Finally, they reached a small, dimly lit room. The walls were lined with old photographs and faded portraits. In the center of the room stood a large, ornate mirror.

Evelyn approached the mirror, her eyes reflecting the strange, haunting beauty of the room. She reached out to touch it, but before she could make contact, the room began to tremble.

"Sarah, what's happening?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Sarah turned, her eyes wide with terror. "I don't know, but we need to get out of here!"

They turned to leave, but the door was gone. The room was shrinking, the walls closing in around them. Evelyn and Sarah ran, their footsteps echoing in the confined space.

"Over here!" Sarah shouted, pointing to a small opening in the wall.

They pushed through, the air growing colder as they emerged into the corridor. The door to the laundry room was now sealed shut, and they were trapped.

"Sarah, we need to find another way out!" Evelyn shouted, her voice filled with panic.

Sarah nodded, her eyes darting around the corridor. She spotted a small, narrow window high up on the wall. "There! We can climb out that window!"

They scrambled up the wall, their hands and knees scraping against the rough brick. Finally, they reached the window, and they pushed their way through, landing on the ground with a thud.

They were free, but the dormitory was dark and empty. They ran towards the dormitory entrance, their hearts pounding in their chests. As they reached the door, it opened, revealing a figure standing in the doorway.

It was a woman, her face pale and her eyes hollow. She wore an old-fashioned dress, and her hair was pulled back tightly in a bun. Evelyn and Sarah recognized her immediately.

"It's the woman in the portrait!" Sarah gasped.

The woman stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Evelyn. "You have disturbed my rest," she said, her voice cold and distant.

Evelyn took a step back, her heart racing. "Who are you?"

The woman smiled, a chilling smile that seemed to stretch across her face. "I am the guardian of the laundry room," she said. "And now, you must pay the price for your intrusion."

Before they could react, the woman reached out and touched Evelyn's cheek. Evelyn felt a sharp pain, and her vision blurred. She fell to the ground, her eyes rolling back in her head.

Sarah watched in horror as her friend collapsed. She turned to run, but the woman was already at her side, her hand gripping Sarah's arm.

"Run, and I will let you go," the woman said, her voice soft but menacing.

Sarah nodded, her eyes filled with fear. She turned and ran, the woman close behind her. They raced through the corridors of the dormitory, the woman's laughter echoing behind them.

Finally, they reached the entrance, and Sarah pushed the door open. She stumbled out into the night, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked back, but the woman was nowhere to be seen.

Sarah ran down the street, her breath coming in gasps. She reached the campus and collapsed onto the ground, her body shaking with exhaustion and fear.

As she lay there, she looked up at the stars and whispered, "Thank you, God."

She had escaped the laundry room, but the haunting presence of the guardian remained with her. She knew that the dormitory was cursed, and that the laundry room was a place of danger and death.

From that night on, Evelyn and Sarah never spoke of the laundry room again. They moved on with their lives, but the shadow of the haunted dormitory and the sinister guardian of the laundry room remained with them, a chilling reminder of the darkness that lay just beneath the surface of their college life.