The Beijing 375 Ghosts' Awakening

In the heart of bustling Beijing, where neon lights and ancient pagodas coexist in a delicate dance, there was a legend that whispered through the city's streets. It spoke of the 375 Ghosts, spirits said to be trapped in the city's oldest subway station, the one with the number 375. The tale was dismissed as an urban legend, a mere whisper of fear that lingers in the corners of old buildings. But on a moonless night, the legend would find its voice once more.

The Summoning

The friends, Xiao Li, a curious history buff, her best friend, Wei, a photographer, and Wei's girlfriend, Mei, a graphic designer, decided to explore the subway station after hearing the eerie stories. They had no intention of summoning the 375 Ghosts, but curiosity got the better of them.

Xiao Li's fingers danced over the subway's control panel, an old-school keypad with a row of numbers. "I'm just going to push 375," he said, grinning like a boy on his first adventure.

With a jolt, the elevator dived into the darkness, and the air grew colder as they descended. At the bottom, the station was eerie and silent, save for the faint hum of the escalator that led back to the surface. The three friends spread out, their flashlights cutting through the shadows.

The Sign

Mei, intrigued by the old graffiti on the walls, moved closer to inspect it. "Look at this," she whispered, pointing to a drawing of a ghost with a key. "It's like the legend said."

The key. Xiao Li's heart skipped a beat. He approached the drawing, and as his fingers traced the outline, something strange happened. The key began to glow faintly, and the walls around them seemed to shimmer, as if shifting between reality and something else.

The Unseen

Wei, caught up in the moment, shouted, "I think we're too late! We need to leave!"

But it was too late. The key's glow intensified, and with a loud crack, the floor beneath them began to tremble. The walls closed in, and a cold wind swept through the station, chilling them to the bone.

The Awakening

Xiao Li, in a panic, tried to run back to the elevator, but it was too late. The air grew thick with a strange energy, and the three friends found themselves surrounded by shadows. The shadows moved, forming into shapes, and before they knew it, the 375 Ghosts were before them.

The ghosts were twisted and grotesque, their eyes glowing with an eerie light. They surrounded the friends, and a chill ran down Xiao Li's spine. "We made a mistake," he whispered, his voice trembling.

The Pursuit

The ghosts lunged, their fingers outstretched, reaching for the friends. Wei and Mei scrambled to run, but the ghosts were fast. They pursued them through the dark corridors, their cries echoing through the station.

Xiao Li, caught in the middle, turned back to face the ghosts. "We didn't mean to... please, let us go!" he begged.

But the ghosts were relentless. They closed in, their touch like ice. Xiao Li's legs gave out, and he fell to his knees, his heart pounding like a drum.

The Decision

In that moment, a choice presented itself to Xiao Li. He could try to run, to fight, or he could do something else. He looked up at the ghosts, their faces twisted with anger and sorrow. He thought of Mei and Wei, and he realized he had to save them.

Xiao Li reached into his pocket and pulled out the glowing key. "This is your key," he whispered, throwing it at the nearest ghost. "Go back, go back to where you belong."

The ghost caught the key, and with a blinding flash of light, it disappeared. The other ghosts followed, and the station returned to its silent, eerie state.

The Escape

Xiao Li, Wei, and Mei ran for the elevator, their hearts pounding. The doors opened, and they stumbled out into the cold night air, gasping for breath.

They had done it. They had freed the 375 Ghosts.

The Reflection

The next morning, the three friends sat in the park, their legs tired, their minds racing. They had faced a supernatural horror, and it had changed them.

Mei looked at Wei, tears in her eyes. "We could have died," she said softly.

Wei nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. "But we didn't. Xiao Li made a choice."

Xiao Li smiled, the first real smile since they had entered the subway station. "I just wanted to make sure you two were safe," he said simply.

They knew that night had changed them. They knew that the 375 Ghosts had been freed, and they knew that the city of Beijing was now haunted by more than just its history.

And so, the legend of the 375 Ghosts would continue to whisper through the city's streets, a reminder that the supernatural can be real, and that sometimes, it requires courage to face it.

The Legacy

Years later, the subway station remained closed, its doors sealed with a heavy iron lock. The 375 Ghosts were gone, but the tale of Xiao Li, Wei, and Mei lived on. People spoke of the three friends who had faced the supernatural and returned to tell their story.

And in the heart of Beijing, a whisper would always linger, a reminder of the night when the 375 Ghosts awoke, and the courage of a few young people brought them back to peace.