When the O’Shea University announced a brand new dormitory, the students were ecstatic. Little did they know, they would soon come face to face with an ancient, unfathomable evil.
It was a cold Tuesday when Connor and Mia, best friends since their freshman year, moved into their dorm rooms. The new dormitory was a grand, six-story structure named The Ravenscroft Hall, with an eerie aura surrounding it. The creaky wooden floors, the antique portrait of the university founder that seemed to watch you wherever you moved, and the dimly lit hallways created an ominous atmosphere that made your hair stand on end.
“I’ve got a weird feeling about this place, Connor,” Mia said, fidgeting nervously.
“Relax, Mia,” Connor chuckled. “You’ve been watching too many horror movies.”
Days turned into weeks, and both Connor and Mia tried to shake off the uneasiness that lingered. They began to notice strange occurrences — soft whispers in the night, eerie shadows dancing on the walls, and sometimes, they’d even find their belongings misplaced.
One night, a terrified scream ripped through the silence of the dormitory. Mia and Connor rushed out of their rooms and saw their neighbor, Samantha, standing in the hallway, shaking like a leaf. She claimed she saw a shadowy figure standing at the foot of her bed, grinning wickedly.
After that incident, students started reporting similar experiences, and rumors spread that Ravenscroft Hall was haunted. But the university administration dismissed it as imaginative minds running wild.
Determined to find answers, Mia and Connor decided to investigate. They discovered that Ravenscroft Hall was built on the ruins of an old asylum where terrible things had happened. Asylum patients were said to be tormented by a sinister demon named Astaroth. Could it be the same demon haunting Ravenscroft Hall?
They began researching ancient texts and discovered that Astaroth was banished long ago, and the only way to bring him back was through an innocent soul’s plea. Samantha, the scared student, had jokingly recited an incantation found in a book in the university library, unbeknownst to her, the words were a plea to Astaroth.
Now, it was up to Mia and Connor to send Astaroth back to where he came from. They found an ancient ritual in one of the texts that would banish the demon, but it had to be performed exactly at midnight in the place of his summoning.
They prepared everything as mentioned in the text. As the clock struck midnight, they began the ritual. A cold wind howled through the hallway, the lights flickered, and an oppressive presence filled the room.
Suddenly, Astaroth appeared in a form of shadow and smoke. His presence was terrifying, his eyes were like burning embers, and he spoke in a voice that sounded like a chorus of whispers, “Why send me back when I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted?”
Unfazed, Connor replied, “We want nothing from you, demon! We banish you back to the darkness from whence you came!”
They recited the incantation and Astaroth let out a blood-curdling scream. His form began to dissipate, and soon, all that was left was a small, glimmering amulet.
“Did we do it?” Mia asked, nervously. Connor picked up the amulet, examining it. “I think we did.”
The next morning, peace was restored. The students woke up to find the aura of Ravenscroft Hall surprisingly serene. Connor and Mia were hailed as heroes.
But as Mia celebrated, she noticed something strange. Connor was acting differently, almost distant. And then, she saw it — the amulet, around his neck. “Connor, why do you have that?” she asked, pointing at the amulet.
He looked at her, his eyes now burning embers, “Why send me back when I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted?” He repeated Astaroth’s words in the same chorus of whispers, revealing the horrifying twist: Astaroth hadn’t been banished. He’d simply found a new host.