The Shadow's Lament

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over the tranquil campus of Qing Yuan University. It was the last week of summer, and the students were preparing to bid farewell to the academic year. Amidst the buzz of last-minute study sessions and the packing of suitcases, there was an eerie calm that seemed to presage something ominous.

Late into the night, as the last students were leaving the library, a chilling scream echoed through the empty corridors. The sound was so piercing and unnatural that it stopped time itself. Students, professors, and staff alike were paralyzed with fear. The scream seemed to come from nowhere, and as quickly as it began, it ended, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.

The following morning, a group of curious students decided to investigate the source of the scream. Among them was Lin Ching-xia, a bright and determined journalism major, whose keen sense of curiosity was matched only by her fear of the unknown. The group gathered at the old administration building, which was said to be the most haunted spot on campus.

The administration building was a grand structure, built in the 1920s during the heyday of Qing Yuan University. Its grandiose halls and dimly lit corridors had long been the subject of ghost stories. Lin and her friends, aware of the legends, approached the building with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

As they stepped inside, the air grew colder, and the scent of old wood and dust filled their senses. They moved cautiously through the dimly lit halls, their footsteps echoing with an eerie echo. Suddenly, Lin's friend, Wei, let out a small gasp. At the end of the hall, they found a small, closed door that had no discernible handle or lock.

Lin approached the door, her heart pounding. "I think this is where the scream came from," she whispered. With a deep breath, she pushed the door open. Inside, the room was dark, and a chill ran down her spine. She flipped the switch, and the lights flickered on, revealing a large, dusty bookshelf.

As they approached the bookshelf, Lin noticed a single, ancient book that seemed to be glowing faintly. "Let's check it out," she said, her voice tinged with a nervous excitement. The book was heavy, and as she opened it, the pages fluttered to life, revealing cryptic symbols and faded photographs.

One of the photographs showed a young woman in a graduation cap and gown, standing with a group of students in front of the same administration building. "This must be a historical photo of the university," Lin said, her voice tinged with awe.

But as they continued to examine the book, something sinister began to unfold. The symbols seemed to move, and the photographs began to flicker with an otherworldly glow. The air grew colder, and a faint whisper filled the room. "They are calling to you," the whisper said, echoing in Lin's mind.

The group felt a strange pull towards the photographs, as if they were being drawn into a parallel world. Lin, driven by her journalist's instincts, stepped closer, her fingers tracing the edges of the photograph. Suddenly, the image blurred, and she found herself standing in a different place.

She was in the 1920s, at the same administration building. The young woman from the photograph was now standing in front of her, her eyes wide with terror. "Help me," the woman whispered, her voice trembling.

Lin turned to her friends, but they were no longer there. She was alone, in a strange time, and she had no idea how to get back. The woman led her through the halls, past students in period-appropriate clothing, and into a grand library filled with ancient books.

In the library, a man approached them, his eyes filled with a malevolent gleam. "You have disturbed my sleep," he growled, his voice echoing in the empty space. "You must pay the price."

The man lunged at Lin, and she stumbled backward, her heart pounding. The woman from the photograph caught her arm, and together, they fought back. The struggle was fierce, with Lin using all her strength to hold off the attacker.

Suddenly, the man paused, and his eyes widened in recognition. "You," he hissed. "You are the one who is to come."

Lin and the woman looked at each other, confusion etching their faces. "Who are you?" Lin asked, her voice steady despite the terror that gripped her.

The woman smiled, a ghostly image that seemed to flicker in and out of existence. "I am the spirit of Qing Yuan University," she said. "I have been waiting for you."

As the words left her lips, the woman's form grew fainter, and she seemed to fade away. Lin looked around, and the room was once again empty. She had no idea where she was or how she got there, but she knew she had to find her friends and figure out how to get back.

Her mind raced as she retraced her steps through the halls, past the students and the man. When she finally emerged into the present, she found her friends waiting for her outside the library.

"Lin, are you okay?" Wei asked, his face pale with concern.

"I think we just experienced something very real," Lin replied, her voice trembling. "There's a spirit here, and it's been waiting for us."

Her friends exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of fear and curiosity. "What do we do now?" Wei asked.

"We need to uncover the truth about this university and the spirit," Lin said. "We need to understand why it's here and what it wants."

As the group delved deeper into the mysteries of Qing Yuan University, they discovered that the scream was just the beginning. The campus was filled with hidden secrets, ancient curses, and ghostly apparitions that seemed to be tied to the university's founding.

Through their investigation, Lin and her friends uncovered the story of a tragic love affair between a university founder and his student, a romance that ended in tragedy and left a lingering curse on the campus. The spirit that had been waiting for Lin was the young woman, bound to the university by the curse and unable to move on until the truth was revealed.

With each passing day, the group grew closer to uncovering the truth and breaking the curse. They faced numerous challenges, from deciphering ancient texts to outsmarting a group of sinister figures who sought to exploit the spirit's power for their own gain.

In the end, Lin and her friends succeeded in breaking the curse, allowing the spirit to move on to the afterlife. The campus returned to its tranquil state, and the legend of the haunted administration building faded into obscurity.

The experience left a lasting impression on the group, who became inseparable friends. Lin's journey into the past had not only revealed the truth behind the scream but had also taught her the power of friendship, courage, and the indomitable spirit of humanity.

The nightfall's scream had served as a catalyst, drawing the group together and leading them on a thrilling and terrifying adventure. They had faced their fears and emerged stronger, forever changed by the mysteries of Qing Yuan University.