The Whispers of the Forgotten Dormitory

The golden anniversary of Anhui WenDa University was a day of reminiscing and celebration, as former students from all corners of the country gathered in the lush, green campus. The air was filled with laughter and nostalgia as they walked through the familiar alleys and buildings that once shaped their lives. Among them was a small group of friends who had shared many secrets and experiences within the walls of Dormitory 7, affectionately known as "The Forgotten Dormitory."

The dormitory, now a shadow of its former glory, had seen better days. Its creaky wooden floors and peeling walls were a stark reminder of the years it had witnessed. As the night fell, the group decided to spend the evening in the dormitory, rekindling the memories that had long faded.

The leader of the group, Xiao Li, pushed open the heavy metal door with a smile, "Remember the first time we moved in? It felt like stepping into another world."

The others nodded, their faces glowing with warmth and a touch of trepidation. "You were the one who convinced us to sign up for this place," said Mei Mei, her eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight that illuminated the room.

As they settled down, Xiao Li's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered, "Hey, Zhi Yang, what's up?"

The call was brief, and Xiao Li ended it with a frown. "He's not feeling well," he said, turning back to his friends. "But we'll be back, right?"

The group nodded, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. But the mood was somber, as the hours passed and the night grew darker. They noticed the temperature dropping rapidly, despite the warm summer evening.

Mei Mei's eyes widened as she pointed to the corner of the room, "Did you feel that?"

The others followed her gaze, but saw nothing unusual. "It's just the wind," Xiao Li said, trying to brush off the strange sensation.

Suddenly, the room was filled with a chill that cut through their clothes. They turned to each other, eyes wide with fear. "What's happening?" asked Li, his voice trembling.

Before anyone could respond, a faint whisper echoed through the room, "Help me."

The group exchanged startled glances. "Did you hear that?" Mei Mei asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

They all nodded, their fear intensifying with each passing moment. "Who's there?" Xiao Li called out, his voice steady despite the trembling in his hands.

The whispers grew louder, more insistent. "Help me, please," they echoed, as if a thousand voices were speaking at once.

Li's heart raced as he realized that the whispers were coming from the corner of the room. He stood up, his courage bolstered by the need to protect his friends. "Stay here," he said, reaching for the door.

But as he turned to open it, he was stopped by an unseen force. He felt a cold hand press against his chest, pushing him back into the room. The whispers grew louder, more desperate. "Help me," they pleaded.

Mei Mei's eyes were wide with terror as she watched Li struggle against the unseen force. "No," she cried out, and with a surge of bravery, she pushed herself to her feet. "We can't leave him alone!"

With the others' support, Mei Mei confronted the force, her eyes locked on Xiao Li. The whispers grew even louder, filling the room with a haunting melody that seemed to pull at their very souls. The group felt a strange connection to the dormitory, as if it were holding them captive.

Mei Mei's courage faded as the force became stronger, her friends' faces distorted with fear. Xiao Li's struggle grew weaker, his eyes glazed over as the whispers consumed him.

It was then that they noticed the shadows in the room. They moved with a life of their own, creeping closer and closer to them. Mei Mei's heart sank as she realized the gravity of their situation.

"Xiao Li, we need to get out of here!" she screamed, her voice echoing in the room.

Li's eyes flickered open, the whispers fading for a moment. "I can't move," he gasped. "They're... holding me back."

The shadows lunged towards them, their cold touch sending chills down their spines. Mei Mei's mind raced as she sought a way to break the hold the shadows had on them.

It was then that she remembered a legend she had heard as a child, a tale of an ancient spirit bound to the dormitory. She knew that she needed to free it in order to escape.

"Xiao Li, we have to free the spirit!" she shouted, her voice filled with urgency.

Li nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "Mei Mei, we need to break the chains!"

Together, they reached out to the shadows, their hands trembling as they felt the chains of the spirit within. The whispers grew even louder, as if the spirit were fighting against their release.

But as the chains began to unravel, the whispers faded, replaced by a strange, melodic tune. The shadows recoiled, and the group felt the oppressive weight lift from their bodies.

With renewed strength, they pushed the door open, the cold air rushing in as they fled the dormitory. They collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, their hearts pounding in their chests.

Mei Mei looked at Xiao Li, tears streaming down her face. "We did it," she said, her voice trembling.

Xiao Li nodded, his eyes reflecting the relief that had finally set in. "We freed the spirit," he whispered.

As they gathered their strength and stood up, they looked back at the dormitory, now bathed in the warm light of the morning sun. The shadows had retreated, the whispers gone.

But the memory of the night would stay with them forever, a chilling reminder of the spirits that had once been bound to the walls of Dormitory 7.