Nam Koo Terrace stands proudly in the centre of Wan Chai, a grand old villa now surrounded by dense bushes. Its cracked walls speak of a dark past, and every night, the sounds of screams and cries are said to be frequent, making anyone who hears cower in fear. Legend has it that the villa was a place of torture by Japanese soldiers during World War II, and many believe that unquiet souls still roam, seeking vengeance.
1.1 The Scourge of Pride
Chloe, a curious anthropology student, decides to prove that all the stories about Nam Koo Terrace are just myths. She enlists two of her friends, Rina, who is bubbly but prone to pessimism, and Tommy, an adventurous horror fanatic, to explore the villa at night. 'We're going to show you that these are all just scary stories!' challenges Chloe, grinning as she holds up a torch.
They arrived at Nam Koo Terrace at dusk, the sky a reddish-orange colour, signalling the impending darkness. As soon as they stepped into the villa, a chill hit them, as if something hostile was waiting inside.
'It's just the wind,' Tommy said, trying to calm himself and his two friends. As they walked deeper, however, the atmosphere grew more tense. The mossy walls and squeaky wooden floors screamed at them to warn them not to go any further. Chloe, despite her brave efforts, felt her hair stand on end.
As soon as she entered the living room, Chloe couldn't contain her curiosity. The room was dark and dusty, with old furniture that looked like it had been used a decade ago. On the walls, once-beautiful landscape paintings now looked faded, as if trapped in time. He walked closer to the window, staring out into the smouldering darkness, and felt something lurking in the distance.
'Check this out,' Tommy said, pointing to an old wall clock that stopped at 1:00. 'This clock never seems to run.' Rina, with a trembling voice, said, 'Maybe it's a sign that we shouldn't be here.'
Chloe laughed sarcastically. 'Come on, we're not going to get caught up in scary stories. It's just an old building.' But as she spoke, a strong wind blew, making the back door rattle loudly. Rina gasped, and the three looked at each other with wide eyes.
'Maybe we should go,' Rina whispered, her face beginning to pale. But Chloe, fascinated by the mysterious atmosphere, insisted on continuing. 'We haven't done anything yet. Let's look further.'
As they explored the villa, their footsteps sounded like crunching sounds infiltrating the darkness. Chloe felt the tension in the air, as if something was ready to watch them. In every corner, she sensed a cold stare, as if the walls held stories yet to be revealed.
In a narrow hallway, they found a slightly open door, inviting their curiosity. 'This must be a forgotten room,' Tommy said, holding his breath as he pushed the door wider. Inside, they found a room that looked like a torture chamber, with old chains lying on the floor.
'What is this?' Rina trembled, covering her mouth. Chloe stepped inside, feeling the cold touch her skin. 'Maybe this is just a device for a horror film,' she tried to soothe, but in her heart, she sensed something was wrong.
'Chloe, we shouldn't be here,' Tommy said, his voice full of fear. 'I feel like someone is watching us.'
And as they spoke, a sudden rustling sound echoed from outside the room, making all three of them jump. The sound was getting closer, sounding like heavy footsteps. They stared at each other, their breathing quickening.
'We have to go. Now!' Rina shouted, starting to panic. They ran for the door, but Chloe stopped, mesmerised by a shadow that flashed in the corner of her vision. The figure of a woman in a white dress with long flowing hair, staring at them with blank eyes. Her face looked full of sadness and pain, as if she was asking for help.
Chloe stared at the shadow, her body frozen. 'Who are you?' she asked in a trembling voice, but the shadow just shook its head, and quickly disappeared into the darkness.
'Chloe, we have to go!' Tommy shouted, reaching for her arm. But Chloe felt trapped in a dark enchantment, a fear she had never felt before.
They ran out of the room, but as they turned round, the previously open back door was now firmly closed. The sound of footsteps was getting closer, and all three felt the tension building. 'What happened?' Rina cried, her face full of panic.
'We shouldn't be here,' Chloe whispered, realising that they had crossed a line that shouldn't have been crossed. With their hearts racing, they searched for a way out, but every door they tried only led them deeper into the darkness of Nam Koo Terrace.
As they tried to open the previously open door, Chloe felt panic spread through her body. 'Push it!' she shouted, but the door seemed stuck, as if some force was preventing them from getting out. Outside, the sound of footsteps grew closer, accompanied by indistinct whispers.
Rina, increasingly frightened, put her arms around Tommy. 'We have to find another way! We can't be stuck here!' her voice trembled, illustrating the helplessness they felt. Chloe, trying to muster up the courage, recalled the path they had travelled. 'Come on, let's try that way,' she said, pointing towards the dark, shrinking hallway.
Quickly, they ran down the narrow passage. Every step echoed, as if the walls were watching their every move. The sound of heavy footsteps grew closer, filling the room with tension. Chloe looked round for a moment, but there was nothing behind them - just the eerie darkness.
As they reached the end of the hallway, Chloe spotted another door that looked a little brighter. 'There it is!' she exclaimed, but as they approached, the light from the door dimmed, as if filled with a negative aura. The three exchanged glances, feeling the same fear.
'What's in there?' Rina asked, her voice barely audible. With a deep breath, Chloe pushed the door, and the crunching sound of its hinges echoed in the silence.
The door opened slowly, revealing a small room filled with various old objects - broken-looking dolls, dusty old books, and in the corner, a large mirror that seemed to reflect a strange light.
'We have to go!' Tommy insisted, but Chloe felt mesmerised by the mirror. 'Wait, look at that mirror!' she whispered, stepping closer. On the surface of the mirror, their shadows appeared blurred, but behind their shadows, the figure of a woman in a white dress appeared, her terrifying smile carving a chill in Chloe's heart.
'Chloe, don't!' Rina shouted, pulling her back. However, Chloe was already caught up in the sight. The figure reached out a hand, as if inviting Chloe to come closer.
'You shouldn't be here,' the figure whispered, its voice shrill in the darkness. Chloe was startled, her steps halting. 'I... I want to help,' she tried to reply, but her voice caught in her throat.
Meanwhile, Tommy and Rina felt the cold getting colder. 'We have to go now!' shouted Tommy, trying to pull Chloe away from the mirror. But as they moved, the mirror suddenly shook, and the image of the woman's figure became clearer.
'They won't let you go,' the figure said in a hoarse voice, and suddenly, the mirror began to shimmer, emitting a blinding white light. Chloe screamed, feeling something pulling her inside.
With all their might, Tommy and Rina pulled Chloe away. 'No! We have to get out of here!' cried Rina, her tears starting to fall.
They ran back into the hallway, but as they tried to find a way out, the three doors they had passed now looked different. 'What happened?' Tommy whispered, his face pale. The walls seemed to be moving, changing the shape of the room, and the sound of footsteps was getting closer, making the trio feel as if they were being chased by the darkness itself.
In a panic, Chloe shouted, 'We have to find a way out! Where's the door?' But there was nothing in sight. The three friends were trapped in an endless maze, as if the villa wanted to keep them forever.
Rina, increasingly panicked, began to run without direction. 'Rina, wait!' Chloe shouted, but Rina had already disappeared into the darkness. When Rina's scream was heard, it made Chloe's heart beat faster.
'We have to find her!' Tommy said, but Chloe refused. 'No, we can't be apart! We have to stay together!'
But as they tried to find their way back, the sound of Rina's screams grew closer, accompanied by dark laughter that echoed throughout the villa. 'Rina!' shouted Chloe, but her voice seemed to be swallowed up by the darkness.
Terrified, they continued to run, trying to find a way out, but every step was heavy, as if the darkness was pulling them deeper. The sound of clattering footsteps was now like an orchestra filling the night - eerie and threatening.
Finally, they found a staircase that led to the upper floor. 'Come on, let's go up there!' Chloe exclaimed, but as they began to climb the stairs, a female voice spoke softly in their ears, 'Leave this place. He's going to take you.'
They ran upstairs, their hearts racing, but when they got to the top, they were faced with an equally terrifying corridor. At the end of the corridor, another door stood firm, waiting to be opened.
'Chloe, we can't go on like this,' Tommy whispered, his voice full of desperation. 'We have to get out.'
Hesitantly, Chloe nodded, and they moved towards the door. As Chloe reached out to open the door, the sound of heavy steps and horrified cries made them freeze.
'Quick, open the door!' shouted Tommy, but Chloe's hand felt heavy. The door felt cold and heavy, as if something was trying to hold it shut.
'No one can get out,' the voice whispered again, and in that instant, Chloe felt as if cold fingers were gripping her arm, pulling her towards the darkness.
---
1.2 The Wrong Adventure
Chloe was stunned, as if all the strength she had was being pulled away. The cold fingers touched her skin, as if trying to restrain her freedom. 'Let me go!' she screamed, trying to lift her arms, but the more she struggled, the stronger the grip became.
Tommy tried to grab Chloe, but he fell on the squeaky wooden floor. 'Chloe! Don't let him pull you!' his voice was full of fear, but it was only muffled in the darkness.
As Chloe tried to break free, she saw the shadow of the woman in the white dress coming closer. Her face looked hollow, but her empty eyes seemed to stare into her soul, shaking what courage Chloe had left in her. 'You shouldn't be here,' she whispered, her voice now echoing and trembling, as if coming from the depths of darkness itself.
Outside the room, the sound of footsteps drew closer, and Chloe felt the pressure growing stronger. 'Tommy! Rina!' she screamed, but her voice was barely audible. With what strength she had left, Chloe reached for the flashlight in her trouser pocket, switched it on and directed the light towards the figure.
The light illuminated the room, and for a moment, Chloe saw the woman's figure stop, as if stung. 'You can't leave,' the voice returned, but it seemed weaker now. In an instant, the figure disappeared, and the grip on her arm began to loosen.
'Now, Chloe!' shouted Tommy, pulling her away from the gathering darkness. They ran towards the door, but Chloe saw Rina emerge from the shadows, her face pale and her eyes full of fear. 'Rina! We have to go!' Chloe shouted, but just then, the dark sounds returned to echo around them.
'She's already mine,' the voice whispered, seemingly flowing through the air. Rina, increasingly panicked, ran towards them. 'I heard voices! We have to get out of here!'
The three of them ran towards the stairs, but the footsteps behind them now sounded even louder, as if a creature was following them. Chloe felt her breathing getting heavier, her heart beating fast. 'Come on, hurry!' she shouted, and they ran down the stairs.
When they reached the ground floor, they saw the main door wide open. 'Come on, we can get out!' Chloe ran towards the door, but just as she was about to reach it, suddenly all the lights in the villa went out, enveloping them in total darkness.
'What happened?' Rina asked, her voice trembling. In the dark, the sound of footsteps grew closer, and the trio felt as if they were trapped in a terrifying void.
'Flashlight! Switch on the flashlight!' Tommy shouted, and Chloe quickly pointed the flashlight around. As the light swept across the walls, they saw shadows moving quickly, as if trying to get closer to them.
'We have to find a way out!' Chloe shouted, but just then, the door behind them suddenly closed with a loud bang. 'No!' cried Rina, fear striking.
As they tried to find another way out, they heard a soft whisper in their ears, 'You can't leave. They won't let you.' The voice swirled around in their heads, making it increasingly difficult to focus.
'We have to get out of here! Come on!' Tommy grabbed Chloe and Rina's hands, pulling them towards the hallway. They ran without direction, the sound of footsteps and whispers leading them further and further. Amidst the chaos, they felt the air temperature grow colder, as if the darkness was sucking all the warmth out of their surroundings.
Finally, they found a small door at the end of the hallway, and without thinking, Chloe pushed it open. They fell into a small room filled with old and dusty items. In the centre of the room, there was a large wooden table filled with strange items: bottles filled with dark substances and ancient papers containing obscure writing.
'What is this?' Rina asked, fear creeping back into her face. Chloe scanned her vision, looking for something that could help them get out.
'We don't have time for this,' Tommy shouted, but as he spoke, the sound of clattering steps echoed back, seemingly approaching them. 'He's close!'
Chloe quickly grabbed one of the bottles and looked at the contents inside. 'Maybe this can help!' she shouted, but before she could explain, the light from the flashlight began to fade. 'No, no! Don't die now!'
As they struggled against the darkness that was closing in on them, the whispered voice filled the room again, 'You're going to be one of us.' Chloe stared at the bottle, straining to find a way to use its contents.
'We have to use something against them!' Chloe exclaimed, but her voice seemed to be swallowed up by the growing darkness. In desperation, she opened the bottle and poured the dark liquid contents onto the floor.
Suddenly, the room shook, and the shadow of the woman in the white dress reappeared, but this time, the figure looked angrier. 'What are you doing? You can't touch that!' she whispered, and just then, the walls of the room began to shake, as if affected by what Chloe was doing.
'Come on, let's get out of here!' Tommy shouted, but as he moved towards the door, the woman's figure hovered in front of them, her face full of anger. 'You're not leaving! This is my house!'
With fear setting in, Chloe felt energy flowing through her hands. 'No! We won't be a part of you!' she screamed, pointing the torch at the figure.
'Let her go!' Tommy screamed, trying to block the figure, but the woman moved her hand, sending Tommy crashing to the floor.
'Chloe, help!' cried Rina, tears streaming down her face. Chloe felt a strength inside her that she had never felt before. In an instant, she tried to draw energy from the bottle and release it towards the woman's figure.
The room shook, and as Chloe released the energy, a bright light emanated, illuminating the entire room and dispelling the darkness. The woman screamed, her face twisted with fear. 'No! This can't be!'
As the light faded, Chloe and her friends found themselves standing outside the villa, in the bright moonlight. They were breathless, confused and frightened.
'What happened?' Rina asked, looking up at the now peaceful-looking villa. Chloe shook her head, feeling the panic still lingering inside her.
'We can't go back there,' Tommy said, his voice shaking. 'We have to get away from here.'
And as they walked away from Nam Koo Terrace, Chloe felt that the darkness was still lurking behind them, ready to return at any moment.
---
1. 1 Darkness Lurks
The night was long and eerie. The three friends walked without direction, trying to get away from the place that had changed their lives forever. The sound of chasing footsteps, agitated whispers, and the woman's terrifying face flashed in their minds. Darkness surrounded them, as if to suck out all light and hope.
'We have to forget what happened,' Tommy said, trying to calm himself and his two friends. 'We're still alive. That's all that matters.' However, his tone of voice was not reassuring. Chloe could feel the same uncertainty creeping into her heart.
But as they turned around, Chloe felt a deep sense of unease. 'Tommy, I can't forget his face,' she confessed, her voice trembling. 'He looks so... hurt.' A weight settled in her chest, as if something tied her to the villa.
Rina nodded, her eyes fixed on the path before them. 'We can't just leave the place like that. There's something unfinished.' Her voice was full of doubt, but also firmness. 'We don't know what will happen if we leave.'
'Are you crazy?' Tommy shouted, his face looking even paler. 'We just almost died! We need to get as far away from here as possible!' Cold sweat ran down his temples, and his gaze couldn't escape the darkness lurking around them.
'But we can't keep living in fear,' Chloe replied, her soul feeling bound to something greater than just fear. She could sense that there was something deeper than what they were seeing - a mystery buried in the darkness. 'He needs help.'
As they continued walking, the whispering voice ambushed them again, creeping softly in their ears. 'Go back...' the voice danced, evoking a deep sense of dread. It was as if the villa was calling them to return.
'What is it?' Rina whispered, looking even more frightened. 'I don't like this.' Her eyes glistened with fear, and Chloe could feel her heart racing.
'We need to hide,' Tommy said, his face pale. 'Quick, get into those bushes!' They darted behind the bushes, hoping the noise would pass. In the darkness, Chloe felt something inside her that stirred fear and courage simultaneously. 'I can't keep running away,' she thought. 'We have to face him.'
But as she tried to calm herself, the image of the woman returned to her mind. A figure she could never forget. 'We have to go back,' Chloe finally decided, looking at Tommy and Rina sternly. 'We have to find answers.'
Her two friends were surprised, but when they saw the firmness in Chloe's eyes, they knew that there was no way to convince her. In an eerie silence, they turned around and started walking back towards Nam Koo Terrace, feeling the growing tension in the air.
Along the path, the night breeze whispered through the trees, as if signalling the lurking danger. The usually soothing sounds of night animals now sounded distant, leaving them in eerie silence. In the darkness, shadows moved as if something was watching them.
As they approached the villa, the atmosphere grew more tense. The moonlight shining down on the road was faint, as if covered by a thin mist. Chloe felt her fear and curiosity fighting within her.
'Chloe, we could be stuck in there again,' Tommy said, his voice full of doubt. 'We don't know what's waiting for us.'
'But if we don't, we'll never know,' Chloe retorted. With courage coursing through her veins, she lifted her head and stepped forward, pushing open the door that felt cold when she touched it.
As soon as they stepped into the villa, a chill instantly enveloped them. The door closed with a loud bang behind them, making their hearts beat faster. The room was dark and silent, surrounded by walls that seemed to hold a thousand secrets.
'What are we looking for here?' Rina asked, her voice trembling. Chloe frowned, sensing that there was something bigger behind all this.
They began to explore the room full of dusty, broken old things. In the corner, Chloe spotted an old book lying on the floor. Carefully, she picks it up, and as she flips through the pages, a strange scent wafts through, as if releasing a long-buried story.
The writings inside the book contained an account of the dark forces and curses looming over the villa. Chloe felt a rush of fear as she read sentence after sentence describing the fury of the caged spirits.
'This isn't just about us,' Chloe said, her voice echoing in the room. 'It's about everyone who came here and never came back.'
Suddenly, a crunching sound came from behind them, and they turned their heads quickly. Black shadows flashed across the walls, as if watching their every move. 'We have to go,' Tommy whispered, his face pale.
But before they could move, the whispering voice returned. 'You can't leave,' the voice said softly but threateningly. 'You've come to help us.'
Outside, the sound of rain began to fall, adding to the tension in the villa. Chloe felt a chill run down her spine, and just then, the door they had entered began to shake. 'What's going on?' Rina shouted, panicking.
Chloe looked down at the book in her hands, and just then, she felt a strange vibration. 'This can't be happening!' she shouted, but just then, the image of the woman in the white dress reappeared, hovering in front of them with eyes that were empty and full of anger.
'You'll be one of us,' the figure whispered, her voice echoing in their minds. Chloe felt an unbearable fear, but in that instant, a power coursed through her. In a panic, she held herself together, trying not to be riveted by the figure's presence.
'What do you want?' Chloe shouted, her voice full of uncertainty. 'We didn't come to hurt you!'
Suddenly, the walls of the villa began to shake, and the sound of screams could be heard from within, as if thousands of trapped souls were screaming in unison. 'You'll be trapped forever!' the woman whispered, and the light from Chloe's torch began to flicker.
The tension grew as other shadows emerged from the darkness, approaching them with blank stares. Chloe felt her heart pounding, and she knew that they had to find a way out soon. 'Come on, we have to go!' she shouted, tugging on Rina and Tommy's hands.
They ran towards the door, but every step was heavy, as if the darkness was trying to pull them back. The whispering voices continued, confusing their minds. 'Back... back...'
Just as they were about to reach the door, the woman stepped forward, restraining them with her outstretched hand. 'Don't go!'
Chloe felt a dark presence approaching, and in an instant, all the light from the flashlights went out. Darkness enveloped them completely, and a terrifying scream broke the silence of the night. The three friends were trapped, surrounded by intimidating shadows, with no way to escape.
Amidst the darkness, Chloe screamed, but her voice seemed to be swallowed up by the darkness itself. They didn't know if this was the end of their journey or the beginning of something much worse. In the gripping uncertainty, only one thing was certain-the darkness would never let them go.
---
1.4 The Shadow of Death
A piercing chill ensnared Chloe, Tommy, and Rina as they stood still, transfixed by the darkness that haunted the old villa. Faint screams continue to echo off the walls, the sound of cries wrapped in an unseen but palpable anguish. This building was not just a villa, but a prison for the tormented spirits of the past.
'We have to get out of here!' exclaimed Tommy in a panicked tone, but his legs felt as if they were bound by something invisible, refusing to move.
Chloe felt the atmosphere grow heavier, as if something was moving beneath her skin-something that came not only from inside the villa, but also from a past full of blood and pain. A strange impulse forced them to walk in a direction they hadn't chosen, into a narrow hallway lit by dim light.
They came to the end of the hallway, where a large, old and fragile door stood. Above the door, carved ancient Chinese characters were faintly visible, coloured by dried blood that had become part of the wood over the years.
'What is this...?' Rina whispered, her voice sounding shaky.
Chloe pushed open the door, and with a deafening creak, they entered into a large room. In the centre of the room, a large altar stood, flanked by monstrous-looking statues of hell gods. The statues stood in a row, with faces that stared at them with indescribable hatred.
The altar was filled with incense that had long since burned out, and on top of it were several offering objects caked in dust. Chloe, Tommy, and Rina looked at each other, confused and frightened. They had heard stories about this place, about the spirits of the Japanese soldiers who tortured the prisoners in the past, and now they felt trapped in those horrible memories.
'Should we... pray?' Tommy asked, his voice full of doubt.
'What else can we do?' Chloe replied in a low voice. 'It might be the only way to survive.'
The three of them decided to pray before the statues of the gods of hell, begging for salvation from the threat they sensed was approaching. As they knelt, the candles around the altar were suddenly lit, one by one, as if by an invisible hand.
The room suddenly changed. The floor shook violently, the walls faded, and before they knew it, they were no longer in front of the altar. The room that once resembled a place of worship had now turned into a prison full of torture instruments. Loud screams could be heard everywhere. Chloe, Tommy, and Rina fell silent, terrified as they watched the images of human beings being beaten, bound, and cruelly tortured by the Japanese soldiers.
'What... what are we looking at?' Rina whispered in fear, her body trembling at the horrific scene in front of her. The Japanese soldiers beat the prisoners mercilessly, blood flowing on the dirty stone floor.
'These... these are their memories,' Chloe murmured, stunned. 'We're looking at the past, when these prisoners were tortured to death.'
The screams of pain were so real, so piercing. The prisoners lying helpless were treated worse than animals, and their pain was contagious, enveloping the room with the haunting energy of death. They could feel the agony-the fear that could not be contained, the despair that could not be forgotten.
Instantly, the screams stopped, and the shadows vanished. The room turned back into an altar with statues of hell gods standing in a row in the corners. But this time, something was different. The altar now felt more alive, and the tortured spirits seemed to still be wandering around, having yet to find peace.
Chloe stood on trembling legs, her heart pounding. 'We can't leave without doing something... we have to help them.'
However, before anyone could respond, the largest hell god statue in the room began to move. The statue's eyes flashed red, and from its mouth came an echoing voice that could not have come from the human world.
'They have not been freed... they will continue to haunt this place... until the lost blood is replaced...'
Chloe, Tommy, and Rina were frozen in silence. They realised that this villa was not only a place for horrible memories of the past, but also a trap for anyone who entered the territory of these cursed spirits.
Now, they must choose-sacrifice themselves, or find a way to break the curse that has held the spirits captive for decades.
---
1.5 Wong Chi Keung
Confusion and fear filled the air around Chloe, Tommy, and Rina. The screams that had filled the room disappeared, leaving behind a much more eerie silence. The altar in front of them was back to normal, but the impression that they had just witnessed the horrors of the past was still vivid in their minds.
'We have to do something... but what?' Chloe muttered a question that no one answered. Their minds whirled around without finding a way out. There was no clue. There was no obvious way to stop the spirits that roamed here.
However, before they could think any further, the old wooden door at the end of the room creaked open. Out of the darkness emerged a young man, dressed in an ancient army uniform. The uniform was typical of Hong Kong soldiers from the Japanese occupation. However, unlike what they expected, the figure did not inspire fear-only deep sadness.
'Who... who are you?' asked Tommy in a cautious tone, his body still tense.
The young man stood in front of them, his gaze gentle yet filled with an inner wound that never seemed to heal. 'My name is Wong Chi-Keung,' the young man introduced himself in a calm voice. 'I am one of those tortured... spirits that still roam here.'
Chloe, Rina, and Tommy were silent, not knowing how to respond.
'You've seen it, haven't you? The torture... the crime that was never atoned for,' she continued. 'Those of us who died here, our bodies were never found. No ceremonies were performed to appease our spirits, no one ever cared.'
'But... why is all this happening? Why are these spirits still here?' Chloe asked, her voice sounding shaky.
The young man took a deep breath before answering. 'As long as our bodies are never found and honoured, we will continue to be trapped here. The torture we endured while alive is etched into this place, and we cannot rest in peace. Those who died here were fighters-soldiers, prisoners, and ordinary people. We died without a name, without honour. The Japanese threw our bodies away like rubbish, and no one knows where they ended up.'
Rina bit her lip, her eyes glazed over. 'So, what can we do?' she asked quietly.
'There's not much you can do now,' Wong Chi-Keung replied. 'But at least, you can start to honour this place. This house is a silent witness to our suffering. Don't let people vandalise it again out of ignorance. We just want to be recognised, respected, remembered... Not to be left in ruins.'
The atmosphere became increasingly quiet, only the sound of their breathing could be heard. Chloe and the others realised that this house wasn't just a den of spirits. This was the unofficial graveyard of the nameless dead, forgotten by history.
Wong Chi-Keung smiled weakly, but it couldn't mask the grief that weighed on him. 'If you can look after this place, honour our memory... then perhaps we can rest easy, and this house can return to what it should be-a place of peace, not a nightmare.'
After saying so, the young man's figure began to fade away, like smoke being blown away by the wind. Before disappearing completely, he added, 'Please, don't let others ignore us... Don't let this place become forgotten again.'
When the young man vanished, the altar room that had been filled with terrifying energy suddenly changed. A rattling sound came from the direction of the door, and one by one, the locked doors of the villa opened. The sound of disappearing chains signalled that they were now free to leave.
'Is this... over?' Tommy asked with bated breath.
Chloe looked around the room, feeling something different. There was no longer that tense feeling pressing against their chests. 'I think... yes,' Chloe replied quietly. 'He just wants us to take care of this place, to honour what happened here.'
The three of them walked out of the villa with mixed feelings of relief and sadness. They knew the spirits were still there, but they were no longer raging or demanding. They just wanted to be remembered, honoured by the living.
As they exited the villa, they gazed at the building once more. The rising sun slowly shone down on the old villa in Wanchai, giving it a sense of peace that they had never felt before.
Chloe, Tommy, and Rina left the place with the new realisation that it was not fear that they should take home, but respect for those who could not speak-the spirits that had been trapped in this villa for decades.
And now, they finally knew that the house was not just a haunted place. The old villa in Wanchai is a reminder of those lost in the shadows of history.