Whispers of the Haunted: The Ert Ghost's Silent Screams

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a ghostly glow over the dilapidated house at the end of the quiet lane. The wind howled through the broken windows, and the branches of the surrounding trees twisted and danced as if possessed. The house, known locally as the Ert House, had stood abandoned for decades, a testament to a tragic story that no one dared to speak aloud.

Among the group of friends was Xiao Mei, a curious and adventurous soul who had always been fascinated by the supernatural. Today, she had convinced her friends to embark on a daring night of exploration. They stood at the entrance, a mix of excitement and trepidation filling the air.

"Are you sure about this?" Liang asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Xiao Mei rolled her eyes. "Of course, Liang. It's just a house, right? There's nothing to be scared of."

As they stepped inside, the air grew colder. The floorboards creaked under their feet, and shadows danced on the walls. The group moved cautiously, their flashlights casting flickering beams across the decayed interior.

They reached the grand staircase, its balusters missing, and the banister rotting. Xiao Mei took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "Let's go up," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The second floor was eerie, with peeling wallpaper and broken windows. The scent of mildew filled the air, and a chill ran down Xiao Mei's spine. She noticed a peculiar door in the corner, adorned with an old, faded portrait of a man with piercing eyes.

"Who was Ert?" Liang asked, his voice barely audible.

No one knew the answer, but the name Ert seemed to echo through the house. Xiao Mei pushed the door open and stepped into a dark room. The light from their flashlights revealed a bed frame, a rocking chair, and a single, empty rocking chair opposite it.

Xiao Mei's eyes widened as she noticed a handprint on the window sill. "Did someone touch me?" she whispered, turning around.

The group exchanged worried glances. They decided to split up, with Xiao Mei and Liang going to the other end of the room, while the others explored the rest of the second floor.

Xiao Mei sat down in the rocking chair, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. She began to rock back and forth, her eyes fixed on the portrait of the man with piercing eyes. Suddenly, she heard a whisper, soft and clear as a bell. "Xiao Mei, help me."

The voice was familiar, yet Xiao Mei couldn't place it. She turned to Liang, who had just entered the room. "Did you hear that?"

Liang shook his head, but the whisper returned. "Xiao Mei, help me. Please."

Xiao Mei's heart raced as she realized the voice was coming from the portrait. She approached it, her fingers trembling as she touched the frame. The portrait began to rock gently, and the voice grew louder.

"Xiao Mei, you must find the key. The key to set me free."

A key? Xiao Mei's mind raced. She searched the room, finding nothing but dust and broken furniture. She remembered the handprint on the window sill. Could the key be there?

As she reached the window, she noticed a faint outline of a keyhole. She took a deep breath and pushed the window open. The key was there, hidden in the sill. She inserted it into the lock, and the portrait stopped rocking.

The voice grew even louder, clearer now. "Xiao Mei, you must take me to the attic. The attic, where the truth lies."

The group met in the attic, a room filled with cobwebs and old, dusty trunks. Xiao Mei led them to a corner, where she found an old, dusty trunk. She opened it, revealing a series of letters. The letters were written by the man in the portrait, detailing the tragedy that had befallen him and his family.

The letters revealed that Ert was a man who had been betrayed by his closest friend. The friend, in a fit of jealousy, had framed Ert for a crime he didn't commit, leading to his death. His spirit was trapped in the portrait, forever seeking redemption.

As Xiao Mei read the letters, she realized that the key had been in her hands all along. The key to setting Ert free was her willingness to listen to his story and spread the truth.

The group decided to leave the Ert House, knowing that they had released the spirit of Ert. They stood outside, watching the house as it faded into the night.

Xiao Mei felt a strange sense of peace as she realized that she had made a difference. The Ert Ghost had found the justice he had sought for so many years, and she had been part of that journey.

As they walked away, the wind howled once more, but this time, it seemed to carry a different tone. The Ert House had been haunted by silent screams for decades, but now, those screams were finally silent.

The group parted ways, their hearts heavy but filled with a sense of fulfillment. Xiao Mei had uncovered a truth that had been hidden for years, and she knew that she would never forget the night she had set Ert free.