Whispers in the Attic: The Haunting of Room 314

The creak of the old wooden floorboards echoed through the dimly lit hallway of the decrepit dormitory. The air was thick with dust and the scent of forgotten times. At the end of the corridor, Room 314 stood ominously, its door slightly ajar, revealing the faintest of light spilling out from within.

Mia had been accepted into the prestigious college with a scholarship, and this was her first taste of independence. The dormitory, a relic from a bygone era, had been assigned to her by default, with the other students preferring the newer, cleaner buildings. Little did she know, her new room held a secret that would shatter her world.

The first night in her new abode, Mia couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The room was filled with old furniture, each piece with its own history. The bed, a four-poster with intricate carvings, seemed to be beckoning her to climb in. She hesitated, her mind racing with thoughts of the old stories she had heard about the dormitory's haunted past.

As she lay in bed, the sound of footsteps outside her door grew louder, then stopped abruptly. Mia's heart raced. She got out of bed, her footsteps echoing in the silent room. The door creaked open, and a cold draft swept through the room, sending shivers down her spine. The shadowy outline of a figure stood at the threshold, staring intently at her.

Mia's scream echoed through the empty hallway, and she stumbled backward, falling into the waiting arms of her new roommate, Alex. Alex, a senior and a self-proclaimed skeptic, chuckled nervously, pulling Mia to her feet. "Relax, Mia. It's just an old legend. There's no such thing as ghosts."

But Mia's experience wasn't over. Over the next few weeks, strange occurrences began to happen. Objects moved on their own, cold drafts seemed to come from nowhere, and the faint sound of laughter echoed through the empty rooms. Alex, initially dismissive, began to feel the unease seeping into the dormitory.

One night, as Mia was studying, the light flickered, and a sudden chill washed over her. She turned to see the shadowy figure standing in the corner of the room. The figure moved closer, and Mia's heart pounded in her chest. She looked down at the pages in her hands, hoping for a distraction. But the figure was real, and it was moving towards her.

"Who are you?" Mia demanded, her voice trembling.

The figure turned, revealing a face etched with sorrow and pain. "I am...I was...Room 314," the voice was faint, almost inaudible. "I was a student once, just like you. I died here, and I can't leave."

Mia's eyes widened in horror. "What happened to you?"

The figure sighed, a sound that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. "I was...in love. But I was forbidden to see her. One night, I tried to escape the dormitory, but I never made it. I was...killed."

Mia's heart ached for the lost soul before her. "How can I help you?"

The figure looked at Mia, tears welling up in its eyes. "I need someone to remember me. I need someone to speak for me."

From that night on, Mia became the voice of Room 314. She spoke of the lost student, of the love that had driven him to his demise. She told the story to anyone who would listen, and soon, the dormitory began to change. The occurrences lessened, and the air in Room 314 grew warmer.

Mia's actions were not without consequence. The college administrators were skeptical, but they couldn't deny the change in the atmosphere of the dormitory. They agreed to allow Mia to investigate the room's history, hoping to find a way to honor the lost student.

Through her research, Mia discovered that the lost student had been a promising young writer, his life cut short by a tragic accident. He had been forbidden to see the woman he loved because of their differing social classes. His last words had been a plea for someone to remember him.

With the help of the college, Mia arranged a memorial service for the student. She read his poetry, shared his stories, and spoke of his love. The service was a success, and the spirit of Room 314 seemed to find peace.

As the years passed, Room 314 remained a part of the dormitory, a reminder of the past and the lessons it held. Mia continued to visit the room, ensuring that the story of Room 314 would never be forgotten.

In the end, Mia's journey through the haunted dormitory had taught her more than she had ever imagined. She learned about love, loss, and the power of memory. And as she sat in the quiet room, surrounded by the echoes of the past, she knew that the spirit of Room 314 would always be with her, a silent guardian of the dormitory's secrets.