The Haunted Cafeteria Oven: Kangding's Middle School's Spooky Cooking

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a crimson glow over the Kangding Middle School campus. The cafeteria, a bustling hub of youthful energy during the day, now lay silent and ominous. The air was thick with the scent of forgotten meals and the echo of laughter long since faded. The old, rickety oven at the heart of the cafeteria was the source of the school's unease, a silent witness to countless stories, some of which were never meant to be told.

The story began with the arrival of a new student, Xiao Li. She was a shy girl with a penchant for cooking, drawn to the warmth of the kitchen like a moth to a flame. Xiao Li often found herself in the cafeteria after hours, experimenting with recipes and perfecting her culinary skills. She was unaware that the oven, a relic of the school's past, had a dark history that none dared to speak of.

The first sign of trouble was the strange noises that began to emanate from the oven late at night. Whispers, creaks, and occasional laughter that seemed to come from within the metal beast. Xiao Li dismissed it as the wind, but the other staff members were not so sure. They whispered about the old stories, tales of students who had vanished without a trace, their last moments tied to the oven.

As Xiao Li's obsession with the oven grew, so did the occurrences. She began to see shadows moving inside the oven, as if it were a living entity. One night, she decided to investigate, her curiosity getting the better of her. She opened the oven door, and a cold draft swept over her, making her shiver. Inside, she saw nothing but a pile of charred remains, the remnants of a meal gone awry.

Determined to uncover the truth, Xiao Li sought out the school's oldest teacher, Mr. Wang, a man who had seen better days but still held the secrets of the school. He listened to Xiao Li's tale with a furrowed brow, his eyes reflecting the weight of the years.

"Xiao Li," he said, his voice a mixture of concern and sorrow, "that oven is no ordinary appliance. It was built by the school's first cook, a man who was said to be a witch. He used it to perform dark rituals, binding the souls of those who dared to challenge him. Over time, the oven became a vessel for these spirits, trapped within its walls."

Xiao Li's heart raced. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "But why now? Why me?"

Mr. Wang sighed. "The oven has chosen you, Xiao Li. It's time for the spirits to be freed. But you must be careful. They are not kind."

Determined to help, Xiao Li began a series of rituals, guided by Mr. Wang's instructions. She cleaned the oven, burning incense, and reciting ancient spells. As the rituals progressed, the oven's activity intensified. Shadows swirled around her, and whispers grew louder, urging her on.

One fateful night, Xiao Li felt the oven's power surge. She opened the door, and a flood of spirits spilled out, their faces twisted in anger and sorrow. They were the students who had vanished, bound to the oven by the dark cook's curse. Xiao Li had the chance to release them, but at what cost?

As she stood there, the oven's door swinging shut behind her, Xiao Li realized the true price of her actions. The spirits were free, but she was left to face the consequences of her decision. The school was no longer the same, and the once lively cafeteria had become a place of dread.

The townspeople spoke of the school's curse, warning others to stay away. Xiao Li, however, understood the weight of her responsibility. She had set the spirits free, but she had also opened a door to the unknown. The oven remained, a silent sentinel, its secrets safe within its walls, waiting for the next curious soul to uncover them.

The Haunted Cafeteria Oven: Kangding's Middle School's Spooky Cooking is a tale of obsession, sacrifice, and the haunting legacy of a dark past. It is a story that will leave readers questioning the line between the living and the dead, and the true cost of seeking the truth.