Squeak—

Squeak—

What's scratching at the door.

Sizzle—

Sizzle—

What's scratching at the window.

I reached under my pillow, gripping a fruit knife tightly.

I don't know if that thing is human or not.

It seems like it wants to break in.

In the pitch-black night, the sound is so piercing and unpleasant.

One of the girls in a dorm couldn't bear it anymore and shouted, "Stop scratching! Can't you let people sleep?"

Bang—

A loud noise came, as if a door panel fell and hit the ground.

Then, from that dorm, there came a hysterical and piercing scream:

"Ah! What's that? A ghost! Let go of me! Don't bite my neck! Don't pull my hair! Help—"

The wailing and howling of a ghost-like creature lasted for more than ten minutes.

Everything returned to a deathly silence.

I don't know what happened to them.

No one dares to open the door to find out.

No one dares to make any sound again.

It has come back.

Amidst the sharp sounds of scratching at the door and window, I gradually fall asleep.

In a daze, I am awakened by a nightmare.

The sky outside is already bright.

The broadcast from the ceiling blares, "Zi-la-zi-la—"

"Breakfast time, sharp at seven o'clock. Please go to the second-floor cafeteria in advance."

"Please don't be late."

"Please don't waste food."

"Before leaving, please clean up the dormitory."

I glanced at the clock on the dormitory wall.

I don't have time to wash up, so I quickly get dressed and tidy up the bedding.

Jiang Meng and Xiao Xuan swiftly sweep the floor and tidy up the room.

And at this moment, Fang Fang takes a cloth and carefully wipes the tabletop.

Her movements are precise, not missing any corners, her arms stiff, and her expression numb, like a puppet on strings.

I dare not speak to her.

I go to the corridor and discover that several classmates are behaving just as strangely as Fang Fang.

Their movements are orderly, their behavior disciplined.

Even their walking posture is perfect.

I hold the hands of Jiang Meng and Xiao Xuan, and I can even feel that their palms are sweaty.

We notice that on the door panels of every dormitory, there are scratch marks with five nail imprints.

Those are clearly the marks left by a hand with sharp nails, deeply scratched.

Except for Room 401...