The Haunting Echoes of the Jiyuan Expressway

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the Jiyuan Expressway. The road, a ribbon of concrete stretching into the distance, was bathed in the soft light, offering a stark contrast to the darkness that lay ahead. Four friends, Xiao Li, Wei Wei, Zhang San, and Li Si, sat in the car, the engine purring softly as they prepared for the night's journey.

Xiao Li, the driver, turned to the others, his voice tinged with a hint of excitement. "You guys ready for this? The stories about the Jiyuan Expressway are legendary."

Wei Wei, a seasoned traveler, chuckled. "Legendary or not, we're here to see it for ourselves. Let's hope it's just a good story."

The car rolled forward, the tires whispering against the asphalt. The expressway was quiet, save for the occasional honk of a passing truck. Xiao Li's fingers tightened around the steering wheel as they approached the first of the many stretches of road that locals claimed were haunted.

As the hours passed, the stories grew more bizarre. According to legend, the expressway was built over an ancient burial ground, and the spirits of the deceased still roamed the road, seeking to reclaim their resting place. Xiao Li's voice grew hushed as he shared the tales. "They say if you stop your car, the spirits will appear and take you with them."

Li Si, who had been silent until now, leaned forward. "That's just a story. We're not stopping."

But as the night deepened, the air grew colder, and the silence was punctuated by strange, echoing sounds. Zhang San, who had been trying to keep the mood light, now shivered. "Did you hear that?"

The others nodded, their faces pale. The sound was like the rustling of leaves, but it seemed to come from everywhere at once. Wei Wei's voice was barely above a whisper. "It's like they're watching us."

The car continued on, the tension in the air palpable. Suddenly, the headlights flickered, and a shadowy figure appeared in the road ahead. Xiao Li's heart raced as he slammed on the brakes. The car skidded to a halt, and the figure vanished into the darkness.

"Who was that?" Zhang San's voice was trembling.

"No one," Xiao Li replied, though he wasn't entirely sure it was the truth. He turned on the radio, hoping the sound of music would drive away the fear. But the music was staticky, and the silence returned, more oppressive than ever.

The friends decided to press on, but the supernatural occurrences only grew more frequent. They saw shadows in the rearview mirror, heard whispers through the car speakers, and felt a cold breeze brush against their skin. Li Si, who had been the most skeptical, now clutched the door handle as if for dear life.

Then, out of the darkness, a car appeared, its headlights blindingly bright. It swerved into their lane, and Xiao Li had no choice but to steer sharply to avoid a collision. The car disappeared into the night, leaving behind a trail of tire marks that seemed to lead straight into the abyss.

The friends were exhausted, but they knew they couldn't give up. They needed to reach their destination, whatever the cost. As they drove on, the supernatural occurrences grew more intense. They saw figures in the rearview mirror, felt hands on the car, and heard the sound of footsteps behind them.

Finally, they reached a stretch of road where the expressway was under construction. The road was narrow, and the headlights struggled to pierce the darkness. Xiao Li's heart pounded as he drove through the construction zone, the ground shaking beneath the car.

Suddenly, the car's lights flickered, and a figure appeared in the road ahead. It was a woman, her face twisted in terror. Xiao Li slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. The car skidded into the woman, and she vanished into the darkness.

The car came to a halt, and the friends were silent, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Xiao Li's voice was a mere whisper. "We have to go back."

But as they turned the car around, they saw the woman standing in the road, her eyes wide with fear. She raised her arms, and the ground beneath them began to tremble. The car was pulled forward, and the friends were trapped, helplessly watching as the road crumbled beneath them.

In the final moments, Xiao Li's mind raced. He remembered the stories, the legends, the spirits of the deceased. He realized that they had been foolish to ignore the warnings. But it was too late now. The road was collapsing, and they were about to be swallowed by the abyss.

The car plunged into the darkness, and the friends were lost to the world. The Jiyuan Expressway had claimed another victim, and the spirits of the deceased had taken their revenge.