The Sinister Symphony of 314: A Dormitory's Unseen Harmony

The old dormitory, 314, stood like a silent sentinel on the campus, its windows often reflecting the moonlit sky. The students whispered about the stories that lingered within its walls, tales of a haunting that had never truly ceased. But it was the arrival of the new student, Xiao Mei, that would unravel the dormitory's deepest secrets.

Xiao Mei was an introverted young woman with a penchant for the arts. She had been drawn to the dormitory by its unique charm, a charm that seemed to resonate with her soul. The moment she stepped through the door, she felt a strange energy, a palpable presence that seemed to whisper secrets in her ear.

Her roommate, Liang, was a jock with a seemingly indifferent attitude towards the supernatural. He had lived in the dormitory for years and had grown accustomed to the peculiar occurrences that seemed to follow the building. He dismissed Xiao Mei's initial unease as nothing more than the usual superstitions.

One night, as Xiao Mei lay in bed, unable to sleep, she heard a faint melody filtering through the walls. It was haunting, almost melodic, yet completely out of place. She tried to ignore it, but it grew louder, more insistent, until she could no longer resist the urge to investigate its source.

She tiptoed out of her room, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and curiosity. The melody grew louder as she ventured deeper into the dormitory. She found herself in a small, dimly lit room, the walls adorned with old, faded portraits. The melody was coming from behind one of the portraits, a grand piano sitting silently in the corner.

Xiao Mei approached the piano, her fingers trembling as she reached out to touch the keys. The melody burst forth, a haunting symphony that seemed to echo the dormitory's own curse. She looked up at the portrait, and for a moment, she thought she saw a faint smile playing across the subject's lips.

Suddenly, the room went dark, and Xiao Mei found herself in a state of panic. She stumbled through the darkness, her footsteps echoing in the empty space. The piano was gone, and the portrait was now a mere frame. She ran, her heart pounding, until she reached the dormitory's main hall.

Liang, who had been searching for her, found her there, breathless and shaken. "What happened?" he asked, his voice barely audible in the silence.

"I... I think I saw something," Xiao Mei stammered. "The portrait... the piano... it was all there, and then it wasn't."

Liang's expression darkened. "It's the curse," he said, his voice tinged with fear. "The dormitory has a history of hauntings. They say the spirits that haunt it are bound to the music of the piano."

Xiao Mei's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

Liang explained that the dormitory had once been a music hall, a place where a famous composer had lived and worked. He had died in the dormitory, and his spirit was said to be bound to the music he had created. The students who had dared to play the piano were met with tragic fates, and the curse had since grown stronger.

As Xiao Mei listened, a chill ran down her spine. She knew that she had to uncover the truth about the dormitory's past. She began to research the composer, his music, and the events that had led to his death. She discovered that the composer had been a genius, but also a tormented soul. He had been obsessed with capturing the perfect melody, and in his pursuit, he had lost touch with reality.

Xiao Mei realized that the melody she had heard was not just a haunting; it was a call for help. The composer's spirit was trapped in the dormitory, unable to find peace. She decided to play the piano, to try to communicate with the composer's spirit and help him find release.

The night she played, the room was filled with a strange, ethereal light. The piano keys seemed to move of their own accord, and the melody that flowed from them was unlike anything Xiao Mei had ever heard. She felt a connection with the composer, a connection that transcended time and space.

The composer's spirit spoke to her, a voice that seemed to resonate within her own soul. "I have been trapped for so long," he said. "I have seen so much pain and suffering. But now, I see hope. You have the power to free me."

Xiao Mei played on, her fingers dancing across the keys with a newfound purpose. The room grew brighter, and the spirit of the composer seemed to lift from the piano, his form dissipating into the air.

As the final note echoed through the dormitory, Xiao Mei felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The haunting had ended, and the dormitory had returned to its former tranquility.

Liang embraced her, his voice trembling with emotion. "You did it," he said. "You freed him."

Xiao Mei smiled, tears streaming down her face. "I just did what I had to do."

The dormitory of 314 was no longer haunted, but the memory of Xiao Mei's bravery would forever be etched into its walls. And the composer's music, now free, would continue to resonate with those who dared to listen, a haunting symphony that was finally at peace.