第11章

One night, as everyone was trying to sleep, huddled together for warmth and comfort, a bloodcurdling shriek pierced the silence. We all jumped up, grabbing whatever we could find for defense – sticks, pots, anything.

The shriek came from outside. We cautiously opened the door and looked out. Under the faint starlight, we saw a figure stumbling towards the house, screaming in terror. It was one of the project members, Dr. Li, a seismologist.

He reached the house and collapsed, his face deathly pale, his eyes wide with horror. He pointed towards the dark forest where he had been camping to collect some samples before the storm.

“Ghost… Ghosts… in the forest…” he stammered, trembling uncontrollably. “They… they are there… shadows… with glowing eyes…”

“What are you talking about, Lao Li? There’s no such thing as ghosts!” Professor Lin tried to calm him down.

But Dr. Li insisted, his voice full of conviction. “I saw them! They are not human! They are not animals! They are shadows! They are in the trees! They are watching us!”