The Unspoken Tension

As time went by, the relationship between Lin Li and Xiao Ye grew increasingly complicated. Although they were still just classmates, that late-night encounter seemed to plant an inexplicable seed between them. Xiao Ye remained her lively and outgoing self, often joking harmlessly, seemingly unaware of the darkness lurking in Lin Li's heart. Meanwhile, Lin Li started to develop an ambiguous feeling toward her, a mixture of curiosity and attachment, tinged with fear and unease.

They began seeing each other more often after class, occasionally grabbing a meal together or studying in the library. Xiao Ye's presence brought Lin Li a sense of comfort, as if her bright smile could temporarily dispel the shadow that clung to his mind. Yet, he couldn't fully relax. The strange dreams and the haunting midnight vision felt like a curse, always lurking, always reminding him that something wasn't right.

One evening, Lin Li and Xiao Ye had planned to grab dinner at a small restaurant near campus. As they strolled along the campus pathways, the evening sun bathed everything in a warm, golden light. Xiao Ye's laughter echoed cheerfully in the air, and Lin Li turned to look at her. Her face, bathed in the soft glow of twilight, filled him with an indescribable warmth. Yet, this warmth was always accompanied by a subtle sense of dread, as though darkness was waiting patiently to swallow the moment.

"You've been acting a bit off lately," Xiao Ye said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Something on your mind?"

Lin Li was caught off guard. He hadn't expected such a direct question. Hesitating for a moment, he forced a light tone. "It's probably just the stress from school. Nothing major."

"Don't lie to me," Xiao Ye stopped walking and turned to face him, her eyes locking onto his. Her gaze was filled with genuine concern, as if she could see right through his defenses and into the secrets he was hiding.

Lin Li avoided her eyes, unable to meet her gaze. He had never spoken to anyone about his nightmarish experiences, let alone a girl. He didn't know how to explain the strange dreams or the faceless figure from that night. He wasn't even sure if he could fully trust her. Everyone had their own secrets, but Lin Li's seemed far more dangerous than most.

"I…" Lin Li opened his mouth, but the words wouldn't come.

Seeing he wasn't ready to share, Xiao Ye let out a small laugh and patted his shoulder. "Okay, fine. Whenever you feel like talking, I'm here."

Lin Li felt a wave of warmth in his chest. He appreciated her concern, but the fear within him kept gnawing at his peace. Maybe keeping his distance from her would be the safest option, but he wasn't sure if he could.

They continued walking toward the restaurant, the streetlights gradually flickering on, casting their shadows behind them. Xiao Ye kept talking animatedly about the recent happenings in their class, and Lin Li listened quietly, his emotions a tangled mess.

After dinner, night had fully fallen, and the quiet of the campus once again took on an eerie atmosphere. As they walked back toward the dorms, Xiao Ye was enthusiastically recounting the plot of a suspense movie she had recently seen, her voice full of excitement as she described the twists and turns.

"You won't believe the climax! It was so creepy!" she said, waving her hands dramatically. "The protagonist turns around and realizes that the person following him was actually…"

Her voice trailed off.

Lin Li noticed she had stopped walking. He turned to look at her and saw that her face had gone pale, her eyes fixed on something ahead of them.

"What's wrong?" Lin Li asked, feeling a rising sense of unease.

Xiao Ye didn't answer. She stood frozen, her eyes wide with fear, staring at something down the path. Lin Li followed her gaze.

Standing in the shadows of the trees just ahead was a figure. The figure looked eerily similar to the faceless being Lin Li had seen that night—vague and distorted, blending unnaturally into the darkness around it. But this time, Lin Li knew it wasn't a trick of his mind.

The figure slowly turned its head, revealing the same blank, featureless face. Even from this distance, Lin Li could make out nothing but pale, smooth skin where there should have been eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Only a pair of hollow black holes seemed to stare at them.

"Run!" Lin Li shouted instinctively, grabbing Xiao Ye's wrist.

Xiao Ye seemed to snap out of her trance and bolted alongside him. They ran as fast as they could, the sound of their frantic footsteps echoing through the empty campus. Neither dared look back, desperate to escape whatever that thing was.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally stopped near one of the academic buildings, breathless and drenched in sweat. Xiao Ye was trembling, her face still drained of color.

"What… what was that?" Xiao Ye stammered, barely able to catch her breath.

Lin Li didn't answer right away. His heart was still racing, his mind replaying the faceless figure's ghostly appearance. What was it? Why had it returned? And this time, Xiao Ye had seen it too. This wasn't just his nightmare—it was real.

Before Lin Li could respond, he heard it again—soft, almost imperceptible footsteps approaching from the distance. His body tensed, and he looked around frantically, trying to locate the source of the sound. The dark campus now seemed even more oppressive, as if the very shadows were alive and watching.

"Did you hear that?" Lin Li's voice was low and tense.

Xiao Ye nodded, her wide eyes filled with terror and confusion. She had heard it too. Whatever that thing was, it was still following them.

The footsteps grew louder, echoing off the walls of the silent buildings. Lin Li scanned the darkness, but could see nothing. The oppressive atmosphere thickened, wrapping around them like a suffocating blanket.

Suddenly, a faint flash of light appeared in the distance, breaking the stillness. It flickered for a brief moment, like some kind of signal, then disappeared.