The Haunted Riverbed

The dried-up river – in Zhang Zhiyong's hometown, there is a riverbed that remains dry at all times, appearing eerie and mysterious. According to local elders, during the period of the Sino-Japanese War, the bodies of villagers killed were thrown into that riverbed. After a few days, mysteriously, the bodies disappeared. Since then, the riverbed never saw a drop of water, not even during heavy rain. Rumors of haunting began circulating, warning people not to go there at night, as they might be haunted by vengeful spirits. However, it was a necessary route to the county town, and people passed by it every day.

Zhang Zhiyong, curious and skeptical, heard this story from his grandfather when he was still a child. Despite being warned not to go near the riverbed, he expressed a desire to investigate. His grandfather scolded him fiercely, but Zhang Zhiyong remained unconvinced. The following day, he shared the story with his friend Wang Haoxuan, a daring and adventurous companion. They decided to explore the haunted riverbed at midnight.

As the clock struck twelve, Zhang Zhiyong cautiously left his house, ensuring everyone was asleep. Wang Haoxuan was already waiting at the door. The rain began unexpectedly, intensifying their eerie journey. When they reached the riverbed, a strange phenomenon occurred – rainwater seemed to part its way ten meters away from the riverbed, creating an invisible barrier.

Feeling uneasy, the two friends witnessed a woman in coarse clothes emerging from beneath the riverbed, walking towards them. Overwhelmed by fear, they cried out for Zhang Zhiyong's grandfather. As the woman approached, they screamed, drawing the attention of Zhang Zhiyong's grandfather, who rushed to their aid. The mysterious woman vanished, and the next day, Zhang Zhiyong fell seriously ill.

Suspecting the presence of vengeful spirits, Zhang Zhiyong's grandfather took him to a nearby temple, where they received protective talismans. These talismans, if not violated within a five-meter radius, were believed to shield them from the malevolent entities. They were warned never to leave this protective zone, as the spirits could claim their lives.

Nineteen years later, on the verge of turning 20, Zhang Zhiyong and Wang Haoxuan, still close friends, found themselves in a sudden downpour. Clutching their protective talismans, they sought refuge in an old, dilapidated house that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. The events that unfolded within were nightmarish – the talismans lost their efficacy, and the two friends encountered a ghostly woman and two spectral children.

Attempting to escape, they found themselves trapped in a nightmarish loop. Desperate, they resorted to a folk remedy – urinating to break the ghostly illusion. The attempt succeeded, transporting them to an open field. Yet, their relief was short-lived as they encountered the same ghostly trio, who coerced them into a horrifying fate.

The next day, two sets of skeletal remains were found in the dried riverbed, leaving the town in bafflement. The woman and the two children vanished, seemingly returning to their haunting ground, awaiting the next curious soul to enter their realm. The mystery of the haunted riverbed persisted, leaving the town in fear and awe, questioning when the spirits would feast again.

Four kilometers away from my home, on the mountain, there is a well-known cave. It is unclear whether the cave is a natural formation or artificially excavated, and its history remains a mystery. According to local tales, the cave is said to contain treasures left behind by ancient people. Some, out of curiosity, entered the cave in search of these treasures but never returned. Those who did return brought back valuable items and wealth, but soon succumbed to madness. Since then, the cave has become a forbidden place, with villagers claiming that unclean entities reside inside, making them reluctant to approach.

During my recent visit home, I brought my boyfriend and some close friends. Despite their skepticism about supernatural beings, they were intrigued when I mentioned the place. Filled with curiosity about this mysterious location, they eagerly requested to embark on an adventure after some discussion. With intense curiosity driving us, we quickly found the cave. Upon entering, I felt a sudden chill, and my friends marveled at the surroundings. Although caves are generally cool, it seemed unusual near the entrance. Despite this, we proceeded, navigating through overgrown weeds and confirming the way forward.

To our surprise, we found that the path ahead had disappeared. Perplexed, we stood frozen, unsure of what to do. Disappointed by the anticlimactic discovery, I walked over to the wall, sensing that it might be movable. Excitedly sharing this idea with the group, we collectively pushed the wall, producing a thunderous sound as it gave way. We could hardly believe our eyes as we entered the mysterious cave. Inside, it was dark, and my boyfriend suggested using our phones' flashlight function to illuminate the surroundings.

As the cave lit up, we noticed something floating down in the light from our phones. Hurrying over, we discovered it was a piece of dark cloth stained with dirt—a normal occurrence given the number of visitors before us. Unfazed, we continued forward. After a few steps, something felt amiss. Turning around, we realized Xiang Nan hadn't followed us. Standing still, we called out to him, but he responded with an eerie request: "Since you're here, leave one behind to accompany me." Shocked, we tried to brush it off as a joke and continued on our way.

After a brief scare, we pressed on and stumbled upon a wooden box. The box, approximately one meter in length and half a meter in height and width, sparked excitement. My boyfriend eagerly opened the lid, and we gathered around to see. To our horror, the box contained a pile of skeletons with mice crawling through the skull cavities. Despite my boyfriend's attempts to console me, the gruesome sight sent shivers down my spine.

Deciding to leave the cave due to the unsettling discovery, we suddenly heard a massive rumbling sound from a distance. Startled, we were urged by someone to run, and it was then that we realized the imminent danger. Panicking, we ran towards the entrance. Suddenly, a hard object struck my head, and I screamed. My boyfriend, concerned, asked what happened, and I felt warm liquid flowing down my head. Determined to escape the collapsing cave, we continued running.

As we reached the exit, another scream pierced the air. Turning back, we saw Xiang Nan covered in blood, pinned under a large rock. His lifeless eyes stared at us in terror. Helpless against the falling debris, we couldn't save him. Filled with horror, we raced back home, realizing the gravity of the situation. The traumatic events left us questioning whether Xiang Nan's strange remark was a coincidence or if an unseen force controlled him. The surreal experiences in the supposedly ancient cave haunted our thoughts, turning a planned exploration into a nightmarish ordeal.