The Silent Scream of Dormitory 313

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a long shadow over the campus. The girls' dormitory loomed like a silent sentinel, its ancient walls whispering tales of the past. Dormitory 313, nestled at the end of the hall, had always been a place of whispered fears and unspoken legends. Many had dared to enter, but none had returned with stories of the room's true nature.

Eliza, a fresh-faced freshman, had just moved into 313. She had heard the rumors, but like many before her, she dismissed them as mere campus lore. The room was spacious, with a large window that overlooked the quad. The bed was comfortable, and the desk was well-lit, but something felt off.

The first night was uneventful, save for the occasional creaking of the floorboards. Eliza attributed it to the old building settling. The second night, however, was different. She awoke to a cold draft that seemed to come from nowhere. Her heart raced as she felt the chill brush against her skin. She sat up in bed, her eyes wide with fear, and saw nothing.

The next morning, Eliza's roommate, Sarah, noticed her paleness and asked if she was alright. Eliza hesitated, not wanting to seem like a worrywart. "I'm fine," she replied, though she couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching her.

Days passed, and Eliza began to notice strange occurrences. She would find her books and personal items moved around, and she heard faint whispers when she was alone. The whispers grew louder, and one night, they became clear.

"Eliza... Eliza..."

The voice was soft but insistent. She sat up in bed, her heart pounding. She searched the room, but there was no one there. She had never been so scared in her life. She confided in Sarah, who suggested they speak to the dormitory's resident assistant, Mr. Chen.

Mr. Chen was a stern man with a weathered face, but he listened intently as Eliza and Sarah recounted their experiences. "Dormitory 313 has a history," he said, "a history of tragedy."

It turned out that 313 had once been the home of a young woman named Ling, who had died under mysterious circumstances. She had been a promising student, but her life had taken a dark turn. She had been seen arguing with a mysterious figure in the quad, and the next day, her body was found in the room, her eyes wide with fear.

Eliza couldn't shake the feeling that Ling was still there, trapped in the dormitory. She began to spend her nights searching for clues, hoping to find a way to help Ling move on. She discovered old letters and photographs, and she learned that Ling had been in love with a fellow student, but their relationship had been forbidden.

As Eliza delved deeper, she realized that Ling's love had been the driving force behind her actions. She had been trying to escape the dormitory, to find her lover, but she had been caught and trapped. Eliza felt a connection to Ling, a shared sense of longing and loss.

One night, as Eliza sat at Ling's desk, she felt a presence behind her. She turned to see Ling, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I need your help," Ling whispered.

Eliza nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I'll do anything," she promised.

Ling told Eliza of a hidden room in the dormitory, a place where she had tried to escape. Eliza and Sarah set out to find it, navigating through the labyrinthine hallways and avoiding the watchful eyes of the dormitory staff.

They finally reached the hidden room, where Ling had made her last stand. Eliza felt a chill run down her spine as she looked around. The room was filled with old furniture and dust-covered trinkets. In the center of the room was a large, ornate mirror.

Ling stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the mirror. "I need you to break this mirror," she said. "It's the only way I can leave."

Eliza hesitated, but she knew she had to do it. She took a deep breath and raised her arm, preparing to strike the mirror. Just as she was about to swing, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

It was Mr. Chen. "I've been watching you," he said. "I knew you were on the right track."

Eliza turned to him, confused. "How did you know?"

Mr. Chen smiled. "I've been here a long time, and I've seen many students come and go. I knew you were different."

Eliza nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Thank you," she said.

Mr. Chen nodded. "Now, break the mirror."

Eliza took a deep breath and swung her arm, shattering the mirror into a thousand pieces. The room seemed to vibrate with energy, and then, everything went silent.

Ling appeared once more, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Eliza," she said. "You've set me free."

Eliza nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry I didn't do this sooner."

Ling smiled. "It's not your fault. You did what you had to do."

With that, Ling faded away, leaving Eliza and Sarah in the silent room. They left the dormitory, feeling a sense of closure and peace.

Eliza returned to her room, where she found a note on her desk. It was from Ling, thanking her for her help and promising to watch over her. Eliza smiled, knowing that Ling had finally found peace.

From that day on, Dormitory 313 was no longer haunted. The whispers had stopped, and the creaking floorboards had quieted. Eliza and Sarah had become close friends, and they often spoke of Ling, the young woman who had once been trapped in the dormitory.

Eliza knew that Ling's story would be told, and that her legacy would live on. She also knew that she had been changed by the experience, forever grateful for the chance to help a young woman who had been lost for so long.