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The place was known as Laura’s Boarding House and was situated in the suburbs. Most of its residents were young newcomers from out of town—some were university students, while others were working professionals.
Perhaps because the rent was very affordable—fitting a student budget—and the amenities were adequate for student life (including clean bathrooms, a television, a fan, and free Wi-Fi), many people chose to live there, despite local rumors that the place was haunted.
The disturbances experienced by the residents were limited to sounds—such as footsteps or the noise of someone showering when the bathroom was actually empty, with the most frequent sound being that of crying; no one had ever been bothered by the apparition of a distinct ghostly figure. Perhaps because these strange sounds were heard so often, the residents eventually grew accustomed to them.
However, things changed after a new resident named Diana moved in for a few months due to work requirements. It was 8:45 PM. Diana had just arrived at her new boarding house; although she was aware of its reputation for being haunted, the low rent and proximity to her workplace had led her to choose it.
A month passed without incident; everything went on as usual. Then, one night, Diana sensed that something was amiss in her room. It was 11:30 PM, and the house was deathly quiet. She was fast asleep on a mattress resting atop an old bed frame that creaked with every movement.
Suddenly, the lullaby "Nina Bobo" began to play on its own from an old music box sitting beside the bed. The sound grew increasingly loud and shrill. Diana woke up and tried to turn it off, but the music kept playing; the atmosphere turned chilling, making her heart pound wildly and cold sweat break out all over her body.
The scent of jasmine slowly wafted through the air. Diana carefully climbed out of bed, the iron frame beneath her creaking. She had just set one foot on the floor when she felt something—with a bone-chilling coldness—grip her ankle. Slowly, she lowered her head to see what had touched her; her eyes widened and her body froze in shock. A deathly pale hand with long, blood-stained fingernails was clutching her ankle.
Diana tried desperately to run out of the room, but she struggled to move her legs and eventually collapsed onto the floor. Beneath the bed, she saw a long-haired figure with pale, blood-smeared skin glaring at her with a pair of red eyes. Diana screamed hysterically while trying to break free from the grip on her ankle. Suddenly, the room's lights flickered and then went out completely. In a panic, Diana continued to scream hysterically until she finally fainted right there in her room.
The day after the incident, Diana and several other boarders—mostly women—decided to move to a safer and more comfortable place; the cost of rent was no longer an issue, provided the new location was safe and comfortable.
