Previously: The Knockertell.
By request of TGIMM reader Kai: Created by someone going by the name NeveRsLeePwitHme, The Apex is more or less a variation on hide and seek — although the stakes are somewhat higher than they are in games like, say, One-Man Hide and Seek. It’s a long one, and it’s best not attempted unless you are in possession of a certain set of survival skills. I’m unclear on exactly what the Apex is; we know it’s a hunter, and we know it lives in the woods — but given that the definition of an apex is, variously, “the uppermost point,” “the narrowed or pointed end,” or “the highest or culminating point”… well, what exactly is this hunter the apex of?
Although there’s also the whole idea of the apex predator, so, y’know, do with that what you will.
[Like what you read? Consider supporting The Ghost In My Machine on Patreon!]
As for how you win, maybe this will be useful: In game theory, there’s a pursuit-evasion game called the Princess and Monster Game. In the basic set-up, the Princess and the Monster are thrown together into a dark room (meaning they cannot see each other); the object of the game is for the Princess to evade capture for a certain period of time. If the Princess is to survive, her best strategy is to move to a random position in the room, stay there for the optimal period of time, move to another position in the room, and repeat the process until time is up.
The trick, of course, is figuring out what that optimal period of time is — while also remembering that the Monster has a winning strategy up its sleeve, too.
As always, play at your own risk.
Players:
- At least two participants. Your partner(s) should be people you trust beyond any doubt.
Requirements:
- A forest as far away from civilization as you can manage.
- Survival supplies. Bring enough to get you through an entire 24-hour period.
Instructions:
The Challenge:
- Begin by entering the forest before dawn with your partner(s).
- Form a circle with your partner(s) by holding hands. Say aloud the words, “We are allies! We wish to game a worthy opponent! Will no challenge face us?”
- When you hear a crash coming from elsewhere in the forest, run — together. Do NOT get separated from the group. Do NOT leave anyone behind.
The Hunt:
- You and your partner(s) are now the Herd. For the next 24 hours — an entire day and night — the Herd will be hunted by the Apex.
- Survive however you must, but do NOT get separated, do NOT harm your partner(s), and do NOT beg for mercy.
The Prize:
- When the 24 hours are up, leave the forest immediately.
- When you emerge from the forest, you will be approached by a park ranger who will ask you, “Are you worthy?”
- If you answer “Yes”: It is NOT recommended that you choose this answer.
- If you answer “No”: It is NOT recommended that you choose this answer.
- If you answer “Am I?”: The ranger will hand you a box. Take it, but do not open it or look inside (yet).
- Leave the area.
- Once you are on familiar ground, open the box to receive your prize. You will find one of two items inside: An object of value, either monetary or personal, which you or your partner(s) had previously lost; or a sheet of paper with something written on it. Should you find the sheet of paper, you may choose to read it or you may choose not to; either way, though, exercise caution when making your decision.
Survival Tips:
Stick together. A true hunter, the Apex excels in isolating members of the Herd and picking them off one by one. It bears repeating: Do NOT get separated, and do NOT leave anyone behind.
Should you hear the Apex behind you, do NOT turn around and do NOT look at it. To do so may result in memory loss or paralysis.
Do NOT attempt to leave the woods before the end of the hunt. The Apex isn’t confined to the woods, you know — and you certainly don’t want to bring it home with you.
Concerning the Sheet of Paper:
Written on it will be a secret — but think carefully before reading it. Not all secrets were meant to be shared, and what has been learned cannot be unlearned.
Good luck.
***
Support The Ghost In My Machine on Patreon for behind-the-scenes access and other bonus content. You can also follow on Twitter @GhostMachine13 and on Facebook @TheGhostInMyMachine.
[Photo: Frida J/Flickr]
I am honestly tempted to play this game. The problem is finding someone/people I fully trust.
Aye and someone who’s can run a at the same speed as you ?
Just hold hands with them
I would like to say that holding hands actually helps, but no. It doesn’t. It slows the fast people down – thus it makes the entire groups slow. I remember running in one big line when I was younger in Gym class. The middle is fast, and the outsides are slow.
Same! I have like 2 friends who wouldn’t be giggling and looking back the whole time
True
Jordyn my friends can’t stop giggling and looking back if they spot my crush, let alone staying calm when they spot the apex lol.
Apex predator perhaps?
The title probably refers to the creature being the ‘apex predator’ in the micro ecosystem between the beast and the players.
What if you do leave the woods and totally live in a different city would it track you down ? And what would happen if i told the park ranger yes im worthy or no ?
If you say no he will probably leave. If you say yes, I’m not sure.
You can’t leave. Well, you can, but the Apex will follow you.
You might not receive the box, or worse, be killed. Also as stated above… The apex picked of 1 by 1 + he = death to you or death to others…. see.. simple math
Wut???
I read in other sites that, if, you say yes your friends are killed and you are left alone to play again. And if you say no you are killed and your friend has to play again…
What does the Apex look like?
Skinless bearlike animal
I don’t think anyone has been alive to tell that
The apex looks like the apex. Question awnsered.
Saying the Apex looks like the Apex is a logical fallacy as you are claiming to know something using the knowledge you’re claiming.
Since it’s the Apex predator, I’d say it can look like anything. Another big reason why you wouldn’t want to get separated from your friends, is because if they resurface, you can no longer trust them. They might be the apex.
Hey, I never thought of that. Proves that you can’t trust even your closest friends all the time.
what happens if you get caught?
My best guess is you die.
Your killed.
You ded m8.
but has anybody tried this one yet? maybe its just me but i’d imagine summoning something usually takes more than just saying one line
Do you have to run the whole time?
No but, it is advised that you continue moving, think, a moving target is harder to hit… therefor, your easier to catch if you stay in one spot.
It’s not a marathon, so don’t treat it like one. You don’t have keep on running all the time, but don’t stop moving. A moving target is harder to hit.
How did you intend to do that? I don’t doubt that you’re in a good physical condition, and I expect your partner(s) to be in a good condition as well, but I still don’t think you can continue to run a full 24 hours. And even if you are capable of doing that, your partner(s) may not be.
I would suggest to keep walking all the time and to stop only if there is an injury or something else that absolutely forbids you to walk on. But don’t remain there too long.
I would only use my running capacity, should I hear the Apex behind me. Best to not spill all of your energy when you don’t actually need it.
What if you die from something other than The Apex? Like, getting impaled on a tree branch, or a bear/wolf/whatever?
Then that’s your fault. The Apex will likely just continue hunting your friends, ignoring you. Don’t quote me on that, though.
You still die
Then your dead
Then you die. I don’t think coming back to life is possible, even if the Apex wasn’t responsible for your death.
It doesn’t say anything about that in the instructions, but I still it is the end of you. It is not a video game in which you just respawn when you happen to be caught by a bear.
Yeah uh no. Not doing this one. It’s terrifying.
Could the Apex react to religious symbols or is it an unaligned entity?
Well once you started it you cant stop so i doubt it.
Don’t bring along anything unneeded for it could anger him or it would just add onto your already full pack pack… yes I say pack pack
I guess it’s the park ranger you see
And he respects
You for surviving
Which is why he gives you a gift or something
How are the Apex and the ranger related? Where could they come from?
The Apex and the ranger are (probably) 2 separate entities. But, the Apex are more like a hunter and the ranger are the reward giver. This game is more like a competition.
As for where do they come from, probably the depths of hell or other dimension. Nobody knows
I wonder, though, if this one can be done alone?
It says:
Stick together. A true hunter, the Apex excels in isolating members of the Herd and picking them off one by one.
So if you are alone he can easily kill you
Me and my friends have starting training to try this (I’m a sceptic but interested) – does anyone have any advice on staying 24 hrs in the woods with no sleep?
a ton of candy and caffeine to stay awake perhaps
Yes, finally some free prize!
*thinks about myself*
shit. i’m the worst runner
Same XD
It says get far away from other people as possible but im guessing if other people are in the woods then they die. If they leave before you chant then u think they will be ok, but if they dont leave before the loud bang went off to indicate the game started then the stranger is probably dead meat. Lol
I’m not sure. They didn’t participate in the summoning, although it is stated in many other rituals that once you’re in the premisses during at the start, you’re in the game, whether you like it or not.
As Dr. Lecter stated, it can either way. But judging on the fact that you are dealing with an entity and not just your neighbour, let’s assume it is the worst alternative – which is : everyone in the forest is fair game for the Apex.
wait what if our native language isn’t english?
How’d you comment?
well, to answer the second person’s question, they’re either just curious or they’re someone who speaks English as a second language. as for the first question, i’m not sure. it doesn’t specify whether or not you have to speak English for it to work, and idk if anyone’s tried this game and spoke in a different language besides English
would it be better to have more people?
Well, I guess. On the upside, that just means it’ll take more time for the apex to kill all of your friends. On the downside, you’re putting many of friends in danger.
It is easier for you to survive when many others are there to be hunted, but it is also easier to have people seperated from the group without others noticing. If the comment I read earlier is right, you are responsible for the deaths of many partners if you claim to be worthy. But yes, the odds of you getting caught are smaller.
I am a sprinter with no friends so I could pick a stranger and ditch him/her
If you mean that it is a possibility, I agree. But with that, you wouldn’t just endanger this other person, but also yourself. The Apex is good at hunting down people who decide to go solo. Also: the instructions tell you to pick someone (or several people) you actually trust. I quote: “Your partner(s) should be people you trust beyond any doubt.”
What if you aren’t paralyzed? Could you be a bad ass and kill it?
You would hope that killing a supernatural being is easier, and it’s not.
U know, i always imagined the apex to look like a dementor from harry potter.
I kind of imagined it to look like a very tall and thin man wearing a suit with pale skin and no face. Basically Slenderman without the strange tentacle thingies. The Apex is Slenderman to me.
It is said that no one has ever won this game.
Why so?
Because the Apex is so good at hunting its prey, i.e., us.
Just think about it. How good are you at running from a supernatural entity much stronger than you for hours and hours? That too, with a group of your friends.
Someone has to have won, otherwise how would the writer know about the ranger, the way to answer the ranger, and the prize they give you? Someone had to win to know these things.
I just realized a tag is “game theory”. Sooooo “it’s just a theory, a game theory!”
Hi! I got that reference! I watch Matpat’s YouTube channel aka ‘The Game Theorists’ too! Do you watch his second channel ‘The Film Theorists’? In that channel’s videos he says, “it’s just a theory, just a film theory!”
I actually kinda want to try it. Call me crazy, but I feel like it would be a cool experience.
I hear that if you say “no” to the ranger, you will get shot. And if you say “yes” to the ranger, your partner will get shot. But if you say “Am I” you both will survive, then you’ll get the box.
Yeah, that’s how it is written in the creepypasta fandom.
If you flee the forest and the 24 hours are up, will the Apex still follow you?
Probably not, but you also won’t see the park ranger.
No, you’re free after that. The ranger will come.
If you flee the forest before 24 hours are up, there are high chances that the Apex will follow you.
However, if you have managed to survive the full 24 hours and then flee, it says that a park ranger will come up to you and your partners asking a question.
If answered correctly, then he will offer you a box.
And no, the Apex will not follow you if you survive.
And if so, are you…
out of the woods yet?
Wonder if anyone has won this game?
What happen if you leave someone behind/let go of their hands?
They will more likely die. The instructions specifically say to stick together. It also says that the Apex is skilled at separating and killing off one by one. Do you really want let go of your partner’s hand and have an unclean conscience if something happens to them?
What happens if you and your partner(s) stay more than 24 hours in the forest?
After the 24 hours have passed, the survivers win and the game ends. But still: get out of there as soon as you can. Who says the Apex will accept its loss.
What happens if you look at the apex the moment the 24 hours are up? Would he still kill you? Or paralyze you?
Depends on the Apex’s sense of honesty. After 24 hours you have “officially” won, but you never know whether or not the Apex decides to take his chances anyway.
Someone I know recently had a creepy experience with something in the woods. How long does the apex remain after the 24 hours are up? And where does it go when it does leave?
I enjoy playing these games as long as they dont have any side effect. The problem is all my friends think everything is a joke. And I don’t want them looking back thinking its funny. Welp. I guess all games aren’t made for everybody ):
No entities are ‘mean’ they all accept their loss. And if they dont’.. then why do people dare to play? Ok, there are entities that are mean but none of them are nice. And after all, you invited them, saying that you wanted to die
okay so this game has left with a lot of questions (me, being the curious rawenclaw i am). so, here we go!
1- can the apex swim? if it can’t, can we hide in a lake in the forest?
2- how does the apex track the herd? of their scents, the trails the herd leave behind etc.
2b- if it tracks us with scent, can we kill an animal (i know it’s cruel) to hide our scent?
3- can a scenario of we-see-the-apex-but-it-doesn’t-see-us can appear? what are the odds?
3b- can we take a picture of it and will it be seen in the picture?
4- can the apex fly or climb? can we hide by climbing up trees?
5- if we’re lucky/ talented enough to shoot the apex, will it die or get injured? or will we have aggravated it even more?
6- it says that we should
run, but can we travel by something else (bike, hover board etc.)?
7- how can we know the apex is close? do we feel it, do we hear footsteps of some sort, or simply we don’t?
8- if there are any other bystanders/animals in the forest are present, will the apex attack them?
8b- if some of the borders
guarding the forest (if there is) are damaged/torn down etc. can/will the apex escape?
9- how does the apex kill? by venomous fangs, claws/teeth, suffocating etc.
10- when is it the safest to play the game? on a rainy day, a day with an odd number etc.
11- can we outrun the apex (i mean we probably can’t but maybe usain bolt can)?
okay these are my questions!
12- is the more people the merrier?
13- how can we cheat in this game? are there any ways of cheating (not that people will actually
do it)?
1. Probably. Also, if you hide in a lake, there is a high chance you run out of oxygen and die.
2. I’m pretty sure it just randomly tries to find them. I think it doesn’t track them, I think it tries to find them.
2b. The Apex is a very smart hunter, even if it does track you by scent, don’t do that. Secrets don’t last forever.
3. Probably. But I suggest you don’t look at it because you’re toast either way.
3b. Yes, but I don’t think it will be caught. Either way, like I said, you’re toast.
4. Yeah, but let’s hope you don’e fall. Apex can climb up- best case scenario. You fall right into it- worst case scenario.
5. Do you seriously think a SUPERNATURAL ENTITY can die?
6. Yes. Just hope you and your besties all have bikes or run as fast as a hover board.
7. You just know. I think the Apex is large, so I guess you’ll hear a crash nearby.
8. Obviously. If you stand at the middle of the ring at a wrestling tournament, do you think you’ll survive even if you’re a bystander?
8b. I think not. Once the game is over, the Apex is trapped, you get out. That’s it. It follows the system.
9. I suggest not to find out.
10. Idk. Just play at any day, any time. Just don’t play on a rainy day if you don’t want your supplies to get wet.
11. THAT’S THE POINT OF THE GAME!
12. You’ll probably be safer, but more people will die, and it’s because of you.
13. Good gravy, no! There is no way to cheat, and if there is, don’t do it. You’ll be putting yourself and your dudes in danger.
I’ve played this game only once after reading this, I was 12 and crazy.
The Apex is not exactly what you think it would be. When it gets close you will not be able to hear it, (i do not know about seeing it because my friends and I didn’t look back) you can only sense it. You may feel a random breeze unless playing while windy, or the temperature will drop around you and you hair will stand on end.
How my group of 10 friends including me were able to win was that we split into 2 groups of 5. We then started at the middle of the semi-small woods and started out. We walked in circles constantly getting bigger as we went. We only sensed the apex once in the 24 hours, however the other group sensed it multiple times. By the time we walked in circles back to where we came in the 24 hours were up.
We all left the forest and a fog suddenly dropped over us and we could barely see 1 foot in front of us. The a police officer from my city walked up and asked “Are you worthy?” I did what this site said to and I asked “Am I?” the officer gave me the box and the fog lifted.
I looked around and my friends were gone so I went back to the “safe zone” as we called it and all 9 of my friends were there with the boxes. When i asked where they wen’t they said they couldn’t see anyone after the fog came. All of my friends had a different answer when i asked about the “park ranger”. Not one of us saw the same person that gave us the box.
After we drove back to my house, we all opened our boxes and read what was inside. We decided as a group to keep the thing in the box a secret until whatever was said happened or if you got an item to keep, 1 month passed. After one month we all got back together with our boxes, only 5 boxes had items to keep in it. The items ranged from golden crosses to religious stones and even a picture of a passed loved one. My friends and I are 14 now and the 4 others that got notes have had happen what the note said happen. I have not, the paper told me to find a spirit and ask it 3 question when I turn 15. I am going to do the raven man ritual and ask the Raven Man 3 questions. The 3 questions were all given to me specifically. The first question was this 1. What is the meaning of life? 2. How do I unlock the total control of my entire brain? and my question 3. How do you control supernatural powers.
I have yet to tell my friends that I am doing this because I believe they will try to talk me out of it. It feels like destiny, but would I be tempting fate with this?
I played it with 7 people and left with 6 sadly it was my brother’s friend but I did not know him so