Beijing Bus 313: The Ectoplasm Encounter

The neon lights of Beijing flickered in the night as the city buzzed with the usual hustle and bustle. Among the throngs of people, a group of young friends stood at the bus stop, their faces illuminated by the glow of their smartphones. They were about to embark on a routine trip to the city’s outskirts, but little did they know, their lives were about to change forever.

Chapter 1: The Odd Bus Number

“Who wants to take Bus 313 tonight?” asked Li Wei, the group’s ringleader. His friends exchanged curious glances, for in Beijing, the number 13 was often considered an unlucky one. But Li, with a mischievous grin, pushed them to take the risk.

“Alright, let’s do it,” said Xiao Mei, the most adventurous of the lot. They boarded the bus, which was surprisingly empty, save for the driver and a lone passenger seated at the back.

Chapter 2: The Unseen Presence

As the bus glided through the empty streets, the passengers exchanged small talk, their voices barely reaching the driver’s ear. Xiao Mei felt a strange chill run down her spine, but she couldn’t quite place it. She glanced at the back seat, where the lone passenger was engrossed in a book, his back to them.

“Do you feel that?” whispered Li Wei, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and excitement.

“I don’t know,” Xiao Mei replied, trying to ignore the growing unease.

Chapter 3: The Ectoplasmic Vision

Suddenly, Xiao Mei felt a cold breeze brush against her face. She turned to see the lone passenger’s eyes staring straight into hers, but when she looked back, he was gone. The driver, catching her glance, nodded slowly, his eyes filled with a knowing fear.

“I’ve seen him before,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “He’s been here before, every time the bus is empty.”

Xiao Mei’s heart raced as she felt a strange, swirling mist form around the passenger seat. The mist was translucent, yet it seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

Chapter 4: The Ghostly Rider

Li Wei, sensing the supernatural energy, pushed his friends to investigate. They approached the seat, where the mist continued to swirl. Xiao Mei reached out, her fingers brushing against the cool, tangible substance.

“I think it’s ectoplasm,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Li Wei nodded, his eyes fixed on the swirling mist. Suddenly, the ectoplasm seemed to coalesce into the shape of a young woman, her eyes hollow and her hair flowing like a waterfall of black silk.

“Who are you?” Li Wei demanded, his voice steady despite the fear.

The woman’s eyes met his, and in that instant, Xiao Mei felt a chill so intense that she thought she might freeze. The woman’s voice was a whisper, yet it seemed to echo through the bus.

“I am the soul of the lost, the forgotten,” she said. “I seek peace, but I cannot find it.”

Chapter 5: The Frightening Ride

The bus continued to glide through the night, the driver’s eyes never leaving the rearview mirror. The ectoplasmic figure of the woman remained in the seat, her eyes fixed on the passengers.

“Why are you here?” Xiao Mei asked, her voice barely a whisper.

The woman’s eyes met hers again, and Xiao Mei felt a strange connection. “I need help,” the woman whispered. “I need you to release me.”

Li Wei, realizing the gravity of the situation, decided to help. He reached out to the ectoplasm, and as his fingers brushed against it, the mist seemed to dissolve, leaving the woman’s form behind.

Chapter 6: The Aftermath

The bus arrived at its destination, and the passengers disembarked, their minds reeling from the supernatural encounter. Xiao Mei and Li Wei stayed behind, their eyes wide with wonder and fear.

“What just happened?” Xiao Mei asked, her voice trembling.

Li Wei looked at her, his eyes filled with a newfound respect. “I think we just helped a soul find peace,” he said.

As they walked away from the bus, they couldn’t shake the feeling that they had seen something beyond the veil of the ordinary world. They had been part of a journey that had changed them forever, and they knew that the memory of Bus 313 would stay with them for the rest of their lives.