The Haunting of the Abandoned Mortuary

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a deep shadow over Heyuan. The town, once bustling with life, now lay in a state of quiet decay. Among its forgotten buildings, there stood an old mortuary, a place of solemnity and sorrow. It was said that the mortuary had seen better days, but now it was abandoned, shrouded in mystery and rumored to be haunted.

Four friends, Xiao, Li, Wei, and Mei, were locals who had grown up hearing tales of the mortuary's eerie past. They were the kind of friends who thrived on thrill-seeking adventures, and the abandoned mortuary was their latest target. Their plan was simple: explore the old building, uncover its secrets, and then share the spooky stories with their friends over a campfire.

As they approached the mortuary, the air grew colder. The heavy iron gates creaked open, and the scent of decay filled their nostrils. They stepped inside, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. The walls were peeling, and cobwebs clung to the corners. The air was thick with dust, and the silence was oppressive.

They moved cautiously through the main hall, their footsteps echoing in the empty space. Xiao, the most adventurous of the group, led the way. "This place is even creepier than I thought," he whispered, his voice tinged with excitement.

As they ventured deeper into the mortuary, they stumbled upon a small, dimly lit room. The walls were lined with shelves filled with old photographs and medical equipment. Mei, the most curious, approached the shelf and began to examine the items. "Look at this," she said, picking up a faded photograph. "It's a picture of the mortuary staff from the 1950s."

Li, the most skeptical, rolled his eyes. "Big deal. It's just a photo."

Xiao, however, was intrigued. "Let's keep looking. Maybe there's more to this place than we think."

They continued their exploration, eventually coming across a small, locked room. The door was slightly ajar, and they could hear faint whispers inside. Wei, the most brave, pushed the door open and stepped inside. The whispers grew louder, and the room seemed to pulse with an unsettling energy.

Xiao, Li, and Mei followed Wei into the room. The walls were adorned with black and white portraits of the deceased, their expressions serene yet eerie. In the center of the room was a large, ornate mirror. As they approached the mirror, they noticed that their reflections were distorted, twisted into monstrous shapes.

Suddenly, the whispers grew louder, and a cold breeze swept through the room. The mirror shattered, sending shards flying into the air. A figure emerged from the darkness, its appearance twisted and grotesque. It was a ghost, a spirit trapped within the mortuary for eternity.

The ghost lunged at the group, its fingers reaching out to grab them. Xiao, Li, and Mei tried to run, but the ghost was too fast. Wei, caught off guard, was pulled into the darkness. The other three friends, in a panic, tried to reach Wei, but their efforts were in vain.

The ghost then turned its attention to Xiao, Li, and Mei. They could feel the cold touch of the ghost's hands on their skin, and they knew they were next. In that moment, they realized that the mortuary was not just a place of rest for the dead; it was a place of eternal punishment for those who dared to disturb its peace.

As the ghost closed in, Xiao, Li, and Mei found the strength to fight back. They pushed the ghost away, and it stumbled back into the darkness. They ran out of the mortuary, the iron gates clanging shut behind them. They collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, their hearts pounding in their chests.

In the days that followed, the friends shared their terrifying experience with others. The story of the haunted mortuary spread like wildfire, and soon, the town was abuzz with talk of the supernatural. The mortuary, once a place of quiet solitude, had become a symbol of fear and mystery.

And so, the legend of the Haunting of the Abandoned Mortuary lived on, a chilling reminder of the dark secrets that lie hidden in the shadows.