The Cursed Mirror of Yulan

The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the ancient, abandoned mansion of Yulan. The four friends, Liang, Mei, Feng, and Jing, had always been inseparable, sharing every secret and dream under the starlit sky. But tonight, their bond would be put to the ultimate test.

Liang, the leader of the group, had recently discovered an old, ornate mirror hidden in the attic of their shared home. It was said to be cursed, with the power to reveal the darkest secrets of its owner. Driven by curiosity and the thrill of the unknown, they decided to gather around the mirror and share stories of their past.

As they sat huddled together, their hands trembling with anticipation, Mei, the most superstitious of the group, warned them of the dangers that might arise. "We must be careful," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "This mirror is not to be trifled with."

Feng, a joker among them, chuckled and said, "Oh come on, Mei. It's just a silly old mirror. Let's not let superstition get in the way of a good time."

Ignoring Mei's concerns, the group pressed on, each taking turns to speak. Jing, the most reserved of the four, recounted a tale of her childhood, where she had once seen a ghost in her grandmother's attic. "It was just a shadow," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "But I've never been able to forget it."

As the night wore on, the stories grew more intense, and the mirror seemed to take on a life of its own. It began to emit a faint, chilling glow, and the air grew colder with each passing minute. Mei, unable to contain her fear any longer, began to beg them to stop. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice breaking. "This was a bad idea."

But it was too late. The mirror's glow intensified, and a sudden chill swept through the room. The four friends exchanged a nervous glance, and Jing's voice, usually so calm, trembled with fear. "It's happening," she whispered.

The mirror began to hum, and a shadowy figure emerged from its depths. It was the ghost of a woman, her eyes hollow and filled with sorrow. She moved slowly towards the group, her long, flowing hair swaying in the air. "You have woken me," she hissed, her voice echoing through the room.

Liang, the bravest of them, stood up and faced the ghost. "Who are you?" he demanded. "And why are you here?"

The ghost did not answer. Instead, she reached out towards Mei, her eyes fixed on her. "You," she whispered, "are the reason for my curse."

Mei's eyes widened in horror as the ghost's hand touched her face. "No!" she screamed, but it was too late. The ghost's touch caused Mei to shrink, her body becoming more and more translucent until she was nothing but a ghost herself.

The other three friends watched in horror as Mei's spirit faded away, leaving only a faint outline in the air. The ghost turned to Feng, then Jing, and finally Liang. "Each of you has betrayed me in your own way," she hissed. "And now you will pay the price."

As the ghost spoke, the room began to shatter around them. The walls crumbled, and the ceiling caved in. The four friends were forced to run for their lives, the ghost's chilling laughter echoing behind them.

They stumbled through the ruins, their eyes wide with fear and confusion. The ghost was relentless, her pursuit relentless. They ran until they reached the edge of the cliff, the ghost close behind them.

"Your time is up," the ghost's voice echoed in their minds. "The mirror has revealed your true selves."

As they reached the edge, Liang stepped back, his eyes filled with regret. "Mei, I'm so sorry," he whispered. And then, without a second thought, he pushed the others off the cliff, sacrificing himself to save them.

The ghost's laughter died away as the four friends plummeted to their deaths. And so, the cursed mirror of Yulan claimed its next victims, a chilling reminder of the darker side of friendship.

In the aftermath, the village of Yulan spoke of the cursed mirror and the four friends who had dared to challenge it. No one knew what had become of their spirits, but the legend of the cursed mirror lived on, a grim warning to all who dared to seek its power.