Previously: The Gambler’s Game.
Unfortunately I have absolutely no idea from whence Musical Chairs Alone originates. I found it copied and pasted on a few random Wattpad pages, but alas, there’s no discussion of where it came from, who came up with it, or any other information about the game. I came up empty on Google, too, finding only the same basic set of directions over and over and over again (a true piece of creepypasta if ever I’ve seen one, albeit a somewhat poorly written one). I still find the ritual itself kind of interesting, though, so I’ve attempted to clean up the instructions a bit — here are the results.
I should probably note here that I’m also not totally clear on why you’d want to play this game. It’s high risk — if you invite something into your home and it doesn’t want to play, you’re probably going to have a difficult time getting rid of it — but with absolutely no reward. Maybe it’s for the thrill of it — that whole “tempting fate” thing we’ve talked about before.
[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]
In any event, here — have at. Like The Gambler’s Game, it’s short and sweet. But as always… play at your own risk.
Players:
- One principal.
Requirements:
- A chair.
- A match.
- Something with which to play music.
- A recording of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.”
- A quiet, dark room — empty if possible.
Instructions:
- Begin at midnight.
- Prepare the room: Draw the curtains. Make sure no light leaks into the room. Set up your music-playing device — whether it’s a CD player, a computer, a smartphone, an MP3 player with a speaker, or something else is up to you. Cue up “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” Place the chair in the middle of the room. Turn the lights off.
- Hold the match in your hand, but do not light it.
- Play the music and begin the game. Walk around the chair six times.
- If the music stops: Sit down and light the match. Congratulations — you win.
- If the music keeps playing: You’ve invited something into your home… but it doesn’t want to play.
- If the chair falls over on its own: Leave the room. Do not look at the chair. Do not enter that room alone again — ever.
Additional Notes:
The instructions do not specify what to do in the event that the music continues playing. This is what makes the game so dangerous: It has too many unknown quantities. In the event that this outcome occurs, it is recommended that you terminate the game and performing a purification ritual; however, there is no guarantee that whatever you’ve invited in will leave, even if you perform such a ritual.
In Case You Need It:
The appropriate soundtrack may be found here.
Use with caution.
***
Follow The Ghost In My Machine on Twitter @GhostMachine13 and on Facebook @TheGhostInMyMachine. And don’t forget to check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available now from Chronicle Books!
[Photo via Bertsz/Pixabay]
