The Nanjing Intersection: A Haunting Reunion

The city of Nanjing, with its storied past and modern skyline, had always been a place of contrasts. It was in one such contrasting corner, where the old and the new met, that the eerie tale of the Nanjing Intersection would unfold.

It was a rainy evening, and the streets were quiet. The rain was a steady drizzle, a somber backdrop to the city's hustle and bustle. The intersection at the heart of the city was a busy hub, where the old Nanjing Road met the new. It was here that Li, a young man in his late twenties, had planned to meet his childhood friend, Wei.

Li had known Wei since they were children. They grew up in the same neighborhood, shared the same dreams, and faced the same challenges. But as they grew older, life had taken them in different directions. Li had moved to the city to work, while Wei remained in their hometown, living a quiet life.

The rain had not deterred Li. He arrived at the intersection early, taking a moment to soak in the atmosphere. The neon lights of the nearby restaurants flickered in the wet air, casting a kaleidoscope of colors on the wet pavement. It was a familiar sight, but tonight, it felt different.

Li's phone buzzed with a text message. It was from Wei, asking him to wait a little longer. Li smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest. It was rare for them to meet these days, and he was looking forward to the reunion.

As Li stood there, a cold breeze swept through the intersection. He shivered, but the warmth of anticipation kept him from paying much attention to it. Suddenly, the wind seemed to pick up, and a chill ran down his spine. He turned to see a shadowy figure standing at the edge of the intersection, watching him intently.

Li's heart raced. He recognized the figure immediately—it was an old man he had seen around the neighborhood, always alone, always watching. The man was wearing a tattered raincoat, his face obscured by a hood. Li felt a shiver of fear, but he pushed it away, convincing himself that it was just his imagination.

The old man took a step closer, and Li felt the chill deepen. "Are you Wei?" the old man's voice was hoarse, tinged with a hint of urgency.

Li hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, that's right. I'm waiting for him."

The old man's eyes seemed to bore into Li's soul. "He won't be coming," he said, his voice barely audible above the rain.

Li's heart sank. "What do you mean? Where is he?"

The old man turned and began to walk away, his back to Li. "It's not your place to know," he called over his shoulder.

Li chased after him, calling out, "Please, tell me! What happened to Wei?"

The old man stopped and turned back, his eyes filled with a strange, haunting light. "He's waiting for you," he said, and then he vanished into the mist.

Li stood there, bewildered. The old man's words echoed in his mind, and he felt a strange sense of urgency. He looked around, but the intersection was empty, save for the neon lights and the rain.

Li decided to wait no longer. He dialed Wei's number, but it went straight to voicemail. He tried again, and again, but the line remained silent.

As he stood there, the intersection began to change. The neon lights flickered and dimmed, and the rain began to fall harder. Li felt a sense of dread, and he knew he had to leave.

He turned to leave the intersection, but something stopped him. He turned back, and there, in the middle of the road, was a figure standing still. It was Wei, his face pale and his eyes wide with terror.

Li's heart raced as he ran towards him. "Wei! Are you okay? What happened?"

Wei turned, and Li saw the expression on his face. It was a look of pure terror, and Li realized that Wei was not alone. Beside him stood the old man, his eyes filled with a malevolent light.

"Li," Wei gasped, "this is my past. It's waiting for me."

The old man stepped forward, and Li saw that he was not alone. There were others with him, people from Wei's past, all frozen in time, all waiting for him.

Li felt a sense of dread, but he knew he had to do something. He turned to Wei, who was now being pulled towards the old man. "No!" Li shouted, and he ran towards them.

As he reached Wei, he felt a hand grab his arm. It was the old man, pulling him back. "You can't help him," he hissed.

Li looked at Wei, who was now being pulled away by the others. "No, I won't let you take him!" Li shouted, and he pulled back, struggling against the old man's grip.

The old man's eyes widened in anger, and he let go of Li. "You think you can fight us? You're just a man!"

Li looked around, and he saw the others, their faces twisted with anger and desperation. He knew he couldn't defeat them all, but he also knew that he couldn't let Wei be taken.

Li's mind raced as he thought of a way to save Wei. He looked at the old man, who was now stepping forward, and he knew he had to act quickly.

"Wait!" Li shouted, and he pulled out a small, ornate box from his pocket. It was a locket, a gift from his mother, a keepsake from his childhood.

Li opened the locket, revealing a photo of his mother. He held it up, and the old man and the others stopped, their eyes wide with shock.

"This is my mother," Li said, his voice trembling. "She loved me, and I love her. You can't take Wei or anyone else from me."

The old man's eyes softened for a moment, and then he looked at the others. "This is it," he said, and he began to walk away.

Li looked at Wei, who was now standing still, free from the others' grasp. He took a deep breath and ran towards him, wrapping his arms around his friend.

"Are you okay?" Li asked, his voice filled with relief.

Wei nodded, tears streaming down his face. "I was so scared," he whispered.

Li looked around, and he saw that the others had vanished. The intersection was once again just an intersection, a place where people crossed paths.

Li and Wei stood there, holding each other, the rain still falling around them. They knew that their lives had been touched by something supernatural, but they also knew that they had survived it.

As they walked away from the intersection, Li looked back one last time. The neon lights were still flickering, but the chill was gone. He knew that he had faced his fear, and that he had come out stronger for it.

And so, the story of the Nanjing Intersection, a place where the past and the present collided, would be told for generations to come.