Chapter Eleven: "A Terrifying Night"
The door to the mysterious hall creaked open, and a cold draft swept out—like the chilling breath of death itself.
Silence fell. Everyone's breath seemed to freeze as they stared into the darkness beyond the threshold.
Adam was the first to step forward, his slow steps heavy with a fear he couldn't hide.
He hesitated, drew in a deep breath, and exhaled forcefully before crossing into the shadows.
Haroun followed, then Ammar, Khadija, Nargis, Salma… and finally Hani.
Louay lingered at the very back, rooted to the spot, listening to the sound of his own rapid breathing—until Fatima's trembling voice broke through:
"I advise you not to go in."
Louay shot her a sharp look, his tone mocking:
"Are you crazy?"
But that phrase—Are you crazy?—
It wasn't unfamiliar to him.
It was a voice from his past, echoing from deep within his memory…
Louay's Flashback:
Back in high school, Louay was living his best days with his closest friends: Haitham, Ali, and Ibrahim.
Their friendship was like brotherhood—they stood together against bullies, unshakable.
One night, the four gathered at Louay's house.
Haitham, eyes gleaming with a reckless thrill, said:
"How about we visit that abandoned school they say is haunted?"
Louay hesitated.
"Are you sure? I've heard strange stories about it."
Haitham laughed mockingly:
"Don't tell me you're scared?"
Ali and Ibrahim burst into laughter, sparking Louay's competitive pride.
"I'm not scared… Let's go!"
At 10 p.m., they headed toward the shadow-drowned school.
The air felt suffocating, as if unseen eyes were watching from the shattered windows.
They roamed the corridors, flashlights in hand, teasing each other and daring the darkness.
But something about the place felt… wrong.
Ali whispered:
"I think it's time we head back…"
Haitham grinned.
"No. Let's up the stakes—we spend the night here."
The idea shocked them, but in the end, they agreed reluctantly.
Exploring deeper, Louay approached an old door.
Peering through the keyhole, he saw nothing—
Until, suddenly, two eyes stared right back at him.
He stumbled back, heart pounding.
"There's something behind this door! A ghost!"
They didn't believe him. They laughed and mocked him instead.
Hours passed. Each of them decided to sleep in separate rooms as a challenge.
Haitham, defiant, chose the very hall where Louay had seen the ghost.
At midnight… a horrific scream shattered the silence.
They bolted toward the sound—
Only to find the room empty.
"It's the same hall… I told you!" Louay cried.
Ibrahim brushed it off.
"Stop hallucinating. He's just messing with us."
But then…
A wardrobe in the corner began to creak open, its hinges screaming.
From within, a black arm—like a living shadow—shot out, gripping Ibrahim by the throat and yanking him inside. The doors slammed shut.
Louay and Ali froze, then rushed forward to fling the doors open—
But the wardrobe was empty.
Their faces drained of color, sweat dripping like rain.
They ran for their lives through the pitch-black halls toward the exit.
But the nightmare wasn't over…
As they neared the gate, something from beneath the ground seized Ali, dragging him down as his scream vanished into the darkness.
Louay fled alone, the sole survivor of that cursed night.
Days later, when he told people what had happened, no one believed him.
They called him insane. His friends were simply "missing," they said.
He refused to give up.
One day, he returned to the abandoned school, determined to find them.
He searched every corner—no trace.
Finally, he stood before that cursed wardrobe again.
His steps were slow, his body trembling, sweat soaking his skin.
He opened it—
Dark, heavy smoke poured out, seeping into his lungs.
He gasped, and then… collapsed unconscious.
When he woke—
He was inside this strange school.
Back to the Present:
Louay still lingered outside the mysterious hall, torn with hesitation—
Until a sudden scream tore through the silence. Nargis's scream.
"What's going on?!" Louay shouted.
From her chair, Fatima's voice quivered:
"See? I told you… There's something horrible in there!"
"Shut up!" Louay barked, before charging inside without another thought.
He sprinted toward the sound, breath ragged—
Only to find everyone standing unharmed.
"Why did you scream? What's happening?"
Adam simply pointed behind him.
"See for yourself…"
Louay turned—
And saw a body hanging from the ceiling, a noose around its neck.
It swayed gently, face hidden in the shadows.
Louay froze, his limbs cold, voice shaking:
"Wh–Who is that?
What's going on here?!"
Who was this person?
Why had they taken their own life?
Would the group uncover the truth…
Or would it remain a mystery forever?
…To be continued.