"Finally, freedom!" BingXue screamed, facing the lake. A new chapter of her life had begun. Escaping an abusive household had not been easy. Tears welled up as she thought back to the days when she had been tortured by her stepmother. But now, she was free from them.
She turned her back to the lake and walked toward the dormitory, carrying her belongings. The dorm stood like a forgotten relic at the edge of campus,covered with vines, its brick walls weathered by time and neglect. Inside, the air was thick with the faint, musty scent of old wood and damp history. Flickering fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as she passes the hallway, the shadows danced along the peeling wallpaper and stained ceilings.
Each step across the decaying wooden floorboards echoed with a creak.The narrow hallways stretched endlessly, cloaked in dim light, and the silence was broken only by her footsteps on the way to her room.
She opened the door to her room, which was covered in dust and the scent of age. Cobwebs hung from the corners, and the air was thick with an earthy, ancient smell. Her roommate, lying on her bed with headphones on, glanced at her before forcing a wide smile to welcome her.
BingXue nodded politely as her roommate began explaining the rules and regulations. Most were typical, but a few stood out as odd.
"Why can't we use the locker room?" BingXue asked her roommate, NuanNuan.
NuanNuan frowned and shrugged. "I don't know either. It's just been that way since I moved in last week."
BingXue nodded again and continued organizing her space.
Time passed.Night fell.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting pale light over the campus. Dogs howled in the distance as the clock passed midnight. BingXue was still awake, working on her unfinished novel. Suddenly, a strange sound drifted from the music room.
"Why is someone playing the piano at this hour?" she muttered.
It's probably nothing... Whatever, I have to finish this chapter tonight, she thought, brushing it off. She put on her headphones and continued writing.
The next morning, BingXue grabbed her essentials and walked toward the bathroom near the locker room. As she passed the locker room, curiosity filled in her mind. She looked around to make sure no one was nearby before quietly slipping inside.
Dust coated everything. An eerie chill filled the air, sending shivers down her spine as she walked further in. Then, she felt something or someone pass behind her.
"Huh? Who is it?" she asked, spinning around. But no one was there. The room was empty, except for her.
She moved deeper into the space and noticed a door with a nameplate: "ChengRen." As she approached, a cold chill swept over her.
BingXue unlocked the door and stepped inside. The furniture was draped in white cloths. She looked around and spotted an old cassette player on a table. Curiosity consumed her. She brushed the dust off and pressed play.
To her surprise, the cassette player worked.
A voice crackled through the static: "You're not supposed to be here."
BingXue's eyes widened. Her blood ran cold. Her lips trembled as she scrambled to stop the cassette. Without hesitation, she turned and ran, slamming the door shut behind her.
"What was that?" she whispered, covering her mouth with her hand, still shaking from the experience.
"Who was that? Whose voice was it? Who is ChengRen?" Questions flooded her mind. She tried to shake it off and focused on getting ready for school, but it was hard to concentrate. The mystery lingered, clouding her thoughts during class.
That night, just like the night before, the strange sound returned. But this time, BingXue decided to investigate.
"Who's there?" she called out as she walked toward the empty music room. It was quiet. No one was there.
The cold air brushed against her skin as she stepped inside. A strange sensation washed over her she could feel someone watching her. It wasn't just her imagination.
It was real.
The eerie, unshakable feeling of being watched.