The Phantom Singer's Lament: A KTV Haunting

The neon lights flickered above the dimly lit stage of the KTV, casting eerie shadows across the room. The patrons, a motley crew of office workers, students, and a lone old man, settled into their seats, their laughter mingling with the sound of the karaoke machine. But little did they know, the night would take a sinister turn.

The old man, a retired music critic named Mr. Li, had chosen the night's theme—a collection of songs from the 1980s, a golden era of Chinese music. He had a deep, resonant voice that seemed to carry the weight of decades, and as he began to sing, the room fell silent.

"Remember the days when we were young?" Mr. Li crooned, his eyes closed, lost in the melody. "The dreams we had, the songs we sang..."

Suddenly, the lights flickered again, and a chill ran down the spines of the patrons. The old man's voice grew fainter, his image on the screen becoming distorted. The patrons exchanged nervous glances, but no one dared to speak.

The next song was a classic, a ballad that had once been a hit for a famous singer named Xiao Mei. As the opening notes played, the room was filled with a sense of anticipation. But when Xiao Mei's voice began to sing, it was not the smooth, haunting tones that had once filled the air.

Instead, a voice like a siren, filled with pain and sorrow, cut through the music. "Why do you still remember me?" it whispered. The patrons gasped, their eyes wide with shock.

The old man, Mr. Li, seemed to come to his senses. "Xiao Mei, is that you?" he asked, his voice trembling. "What do you want?"

The voice was silent for a moment, then it spoke again, its tone colder than ice. "I want justice. I want to be remembered for more than just a song."

The patrons looked at each other, their faces pale. They had heard rumors about Xiao Mei's mysterious disappearance, but no one had known the truth. Now, as the ghostly figure of Xiao Mei began to move across the screen, they realized that the story was far more sinister than they had imagined.

Xiao Mei's spirit was trapped in the KTV, bound to the place where she had last performed. She had been betrayed by her manager, who had stolen her songs and her fame. Now, she sought revenge, and the patrons were caught in the crossfire.

The old man, Mr. Li, knew he had to help. He had once been a friend to Xiao Mei, and he felt a deep sense of responsibility. He began to sing, his voice filled with emotion, hoping to reach Xiao Mei's spirit.

But as he sang, the room grew colder, and the patrons felt the chill of Xiao Mei's presence. She was everywhere, in every corner of the room, her ghostly form haunting them.

"Who killed me?" she whispered, her voice echoing through the KTV. "Who took my life?"

The patrons were terrified, but they knew they had to answer. They had seen the manager, a sleazy man who had always had a suspicious eye on Xiao Mei. He was the one who had stolen her songs, who had driven her to her death.

The manager, caught in the room's dim light, seemed to sense the patrons' fear. He tried to flee, but his feet were rooted to the spot. The patrons surrounded him, and Mr. Li, with a deep, resolute voice, confronted him.

"You did this to her," Mr. Li said, his eyes filled with anger. "You took her life for your own gain."

The manager's face turned pale, and he began to tremble. "I didn't mean to kill her," he stammered. "I just wanted to be famous."

Xiao Mei's spirit, still present in the room, seemed to listen to the manager's words. She was silent for a moment, then her voice spoke again, this time with a hint of compassion.

"I forgive you," she said. "But I need justice."

The manager nodded, his eyes filled with tears. "I'll do whatever it takes. Just let me go."

The patrons, still trembling, allowed the manager to leave the KTV. But as he stepped outside, he was met by the police, who had been waiting for him all along.

The KTV, now empty, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. The patrons had done what Xiao Mei had asked—she had been given justice, and her spirit could finally rest in peace.

Mr. Li, the old man who had once been a friend to Xiao Mei, sat alone in the KTV. He had helped to solve a mystery, to bring closure to a tragic story. He looked around the room, at the empty seats, at the dim lights, and he felt a sense of peace.

The KTV had been haunted, but now it was just a place for people to sing and have fun. The ghost of Xiao Mei had been laid to rest, and the patrons had learned a valuable lesson about the power of friendship and the importance of justice.

As Mr. Li left the KTV, he couldn't help but think about the night's events. He had been part of something special, something that had brought a ghost to peace. And as he walked away, he knew that the KTV would never be the same again.