Previously: Japanese New Year Ritual.
Ritual pastas tend to fall into two camps: Games you read about because they’re good stories, and games you read about because it seems like you might actually be able to play them. The 11 Miles ritual is definitely the former.
There’s secondary set of categories, too, by which ritual pastas can be similarly divided: Games that are made-up internet shenanigans, and games that stem from history or folklore. Here, too, 11 Miles is definitely the former.
But although it might be clearly made up, 11 Miles also follows a longstanding tradition of journeys in folklore, legend, and mythology: Journeys to get your heart’s desire; journeys to return home; journeys to get your heart’s desire that result in returning home because you didn’t realize that returning home was what you wanted all along. I keep thinking back to The Odyssey — a much longer trip than 11 measly miles, for sure… although perhaps only in the literal sense.
[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]
Part of what I do with these games here at The Ghost In My Machine depends on the game itself. If it’s a Game You Might Actually Be Able To Play, I try to spin more of a yarn than the original set of instructions might otherwise offer. If it’s a Game You Read For The Story, I try to tease out the instructions from the overall story, offering a sort of blueprint or map to follow in case you do actually want to try to play it.
That’s what I’ve done for 11 Miles. At their core, the rules are actually quite simple: Find the right road, and drive. Of course, though, there’s much more to it than that. For the full story — not just the rules of the game — read Richard Southard’s original tale. It’s an excellent piece of storytelling.
After all, sometimes the rules will only get you so far.
As always, though… play at your own risk.
Players:
- One principal.
Requirements:
- A vehicle and the ability to operate it. A car is a common choice, but it’s not the only option you might pick.
- A deep wish or desire.
Instructions:
Finding the Road:
- Begin at night, ideally at a time when the roads are not well-traveled.
- Drive to the woods. The woods must be a particular type of woods: The road you take to them must also pass through them.
- Drive. Enter the woods.
- Drive. Begin looking. Look carefully. Let your wish guide you. You will know the road when you see it.
- Drive. When you are certain you have located the road, turn down it.
Traveling the Miles:
- Take a moment if you need it. You may stop the car if you wish. Proceed only when you are ready.
- Drive. This is mile one. If it gets cold, you may turn your heater on.
- Drive. This is mile two. If you haven’t already turned the heater on, now would be a good time to do so. If you do not, you might regret it later.
- Drive. This is mile three. Ignore any shadows in the trees, no matter how human they may seem.
- Drive. This is mile four. Ignore any voices you may hear, no matter how human may they seem.
- Drive. This is mile five. Ignore the vanishing of the trees, the sudden appearance of a lake, and the glowing of the moon.
- Drive. This is mile six. Ignore the returning of the trees, the disappearance of the stars, and the flickering of your headlights. If your radio turns on, ignore that too. Ignore it no matter what it says, but do not attempt to turn it off.
- Congratulations; you are halfway done.
- Drive. This is mile seven. Ignore — again — any voices you may hear, no matter how close they may sound. Do not turn around, even if the voices appear to be coming from the backseat.
- Drive. This is mile eight. Slow down, but do not stop. Break if your headlights flicker, but do not stop. No matter how cold it gets, do not stop. No matter who or what you might see, do not stop.
- Drive. This is mile nine. Your vehicle may stall. Close your eyes. Attempt to restart your vehicle. Do not open your eyes. No matter what you hear, do not open your eyes. When your vehicle starts, hit the gas as fast as you can. When the mile is over, you may open your eyes.
- Drive. This is mile 10. Do not look in your rear view mirror.
- Drive. This is mile 11. Your vehicle may lose power, but continue to move. Let it.
- If you see a red light ahead, close your eyes. Close them tightly. Cover them with your hands if you must. Cover your ears if you can. Make sure you cannot see anything.
- No matter what you hear, do not look.
- No matter what you feel, do not look.
- No matter how hot it gets, do not look.
- When the power returns, stop your vehicle. Open your eyes. Take a moment. Take a breath.
- Drive.
Receiving Your Reward:
- Drive until the road dead ends.
- Stop.
- Relax.
- Close your eyes.
- Imagine your deepest desire. Even if it has changed from what it was when you began your journey, imagine it all the same — changes and all. Imagine not simply desiring it, but possessing it.
- Open your eyes.
- If your desire was an object: Check your trunk. If it is smaller than that, check your back seat. If it is smaller than that, check your pockets.
- If your desire was non-material: Return to your life and check there. If it does not appear immediately, wait. Be patient. It will come.
Completing the Journey:
- You may find at this point that you have returned to the start of the road.
- You may go home… or you may begin the journey again.
- The choice is yours.
During the Journey:
Do NOT do any of the following:
- Turn on the radio, tape deck, CD player, MP3 player, or other music-playing device;
- Use a cell phone;
- Open the windows;
- Drive faster than 30 miles per hour;
- Or leave the car.
And Also:
Keep your eyes on the road.
And Also:
Buckle up. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
***
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[Photo via evoo73/Flickr]
As soon a I can drive alone I’m doing this! Also one of my friends did it and they got their wish. They told me that they were going and I road there with them and another friend but when we got to the forest we left. She stayed, and when she got home she was holding a dog. I thought at first that she had got it at the pet store but they were closed by that point. It hadn’t been in her car when she got to the forest, because we checked her car to be safe. Is she tricking me or is it real?
What happens if you break one of the rules? Will it stop working, will it take you back to the beginning of the road or will something bad happen?
you can do it with somebody else but they have to follow the rules to for it to work
If the player wishes for something unrealistic like “I want to be healthy throughout my life ” or “I don’t wanna die until I’m 100 years or more ” would that wish be still fulfilled?
My sister did the 11 mile rutile
We found her again i was with her and she got out of the car we found her after a day she said that she heard voices
Where is the 11 mile road anyways?
The second I get a license I’m trying this.I know my one wish already…What’s yours?
I have done this before and I saw a little girl in my car and I got out of the car and left the girl was gone after an hour and it was 4am in the morning
What if you go in an 18 wheeler?
What if you run out of gas?
What if your tire deflates?
What if you wish for a super power? Like laser eyes or super strength?
What if you get out of the vehicle when one or multiple shadow figures are on the road?
Sorry that there’s a lot of questions.
What happens if it starts to rain and I don’t see a red light that should be for mile 11? what should I do and what mile would I be on?
Has anybody completed this ritual? What was the resut?
I did and I got my wish!
No, you can’t try with more than 2 people, if you do though, the ritual will not work. So if you or someone else had the same wish, you could do it on a separate road at night. But really, if you are in the same car wishing for something, everything would just mess up and it wouldn’t work.
What if I want a person? Do they show up in my life in a random way, like I see them on my walk to the grocery store or they need to stop at my house for some reason? Or can you not ask for people.
Can you play with two people? Me and someone else have literally the same wish, so that wouldn’t mess anything up. Or would it not work with both of us?
I think you can actually play with other people. There’s no game rule where it says you will have to play alone.
I’m pretty sure that you can only do it with one person. although it would be pretty cool if you can do it with somebody else.
If your eyes are closed and you come to a corner will the car automatically navigate itself around any corners or will it just go off the road and hit something?
What would happen if you opened your eyes or stopped or did what it told you not to do?
if you’re never supposed to go faster than 30mph then what do you do when you have to hit the gas? Is that an exception? Do you only go as fast as 30mph or lower?
You cannot go by these YouTuber who do these 11 mile challenges. One of the stipulations is during this ritual all and any type electronics will not work and yet they have videos cameras working.
This is cool when you do the 11 miles change.
Can we talk about how you can’t use a cell phone this whole time…what are you going to do, print off the instructions? How are you gonna read if your eyes are closed???
FACTS, that’s what is was thinking. But go watch Stromedy’s video of the 11 mile ritual he used his phone to read off the miles has he proceeded to every mile
Print out the instructions
for your wish, what if you asked to see a person you haven’t seen in a long time? then where do you check?
Could you wish to cure a disease from the ritual? Will it grant your wish?
Do you think you could wish to go backwards in time? Or forwards? Could this actually work as a one-way time travel?
I’m really confused. Are you supposed to actually go out and do this in life or is this a mental/spiritual kind of thing?
So you can’t have another person in the car, but it didn’t say anything about having your pets with you.. is this a loophole? ? and is it so can you bring your pet?
do you really want to put your pet in that kind of danger though?
Would you really want to risk your pets life in that way? They’d go through everything with you including the immense pain of the 11th mile. Would not recommend.
I’m really interested in this ritual and might do it when I’m older. I don’t know for sure yet but I think I will. If anyone reading this has done this ritual, could you please reply to this comment and tell me the outcome? Did you actually get the thing you wished for? And was the 11 miles as everyone says it is(seeing people, faces, and hearing things ect.)? Thanks.
If you are thinking about doing this ritual, I can only say one thing. FOLLOW THE RULES. Do NOT stop. Do NOT speed. and STAY IN THE CAR. Just watch the road in front of you. Oh and another thing. It helped me get through it. Talk to yourself. Keep reminding yourself of why you want to take the journey. And make sure the why is worth it.
Hey there ^^
Did you try the ritual and did it work? How did you feel throughout the whole thing?
Where is the 11 mile located?
you just go at a time in some random place. the road isn’t on the map, if you approach it you just have that “feeling.”
Is it like a road that doesn’t exist or something, will it just “appear”? Or do I have to find a really long already existing road?
It’s not, you have to find it yourself. Basically drive to the country any country and drive in the “woods” look for the road less travel a road that gives you the chills.
Hm. Thinking of a question is hard…
Ah. I have one. What are the figures in the forest supposed to be? Demons? Other supernatural entities?
Oh, according to the source creepypasta, those are your predecessors. Who haven’t been successful.
Can I use a tank for this?
that would be fun, but how would you see stuff? from what I know tanks don’t have windows.
This may be a stupid question, but where is the road located? I know there are no gps coordinants and it’s not on the map and you just find it, but it doesn’t say anywhere where it actually is. And also, do you really have to do it alone or can 2 people be in the car?
There’s no set location for the road to do the 11-mile challenge on. You just drive in or around a wooded area, away from civilization if you can, and just drive and feel around the area until you get that feeling in your stomach that the road you need to take is nearby. As of me having replied to your comment, i never actually tried this because of a lack of a car, but i do want to, so the advice i’m giving you is based off everything I read, heard, and know about this challenge.
Also, from what I’ve researched, you may get “signs” or “signals” that the path is the path you need to take to start the ritual depending on whatever you wished for. For example, if you wished for money, you might see green leaves (especially of a light green color) blowing down the street, or if you wished for a romantic/sexual partner or significant other, there might be red rose petals going in the direction of the road or somewhere near it. I even heard that if what you’re wishing for is revenge against someone who wronged you, you may feel and intense powerful anger bubbling up within you as you get close to the road or right by it.
To answer your last question, according to the rules, no, you shouldn’t bring a second person in the car with you if you want to maximize the success of your journey and getting your wish at the end of it.
If what you wish is for a person, but a dead person and you want to bring them back to life, then when would you see that person?
I think that counts as a non-material desire.
You left something out: You’re not supposed to EVER, EVER look at the moon or the lake, because if you do, the road will end and you will plummet into the water, in which will freeze you on mere minutes.
It specifically said to ignore the lake and moon 😐
what if your wish at the end was to make the trip easier or less scary? Would it work and make it easier the next time that you went?
I honestly don’t see a point in that wish. It would be all for nought. Why wish for an easier and safer journey when the entire point is to go through such a mindbending hellride to see if you’re worthy of obtaining your deepest desire? And to go through all of that just to wish for that? If you make it to the end of the journey, why wish for an easier round 2 when you could just wish for the one thing you’ve always wanted and not have to do it again?
Dont use a motorcycle! The beings will easily be able to get to you!!!
Also, what if my motorcycle doesn’t have any sort of radio? Is that just one less obstacle I’d have to face?
If I’m driving a motorcycle, can the beings pull me off of it? Sorry for all the questions about motorcycles, but I really am awful at driving cars, probably because I couldn’t afford one at sixteen but still wanted to be able to drive…
If I use a motorcycle and don’t have a heater or anything, can I use a hand warmer or should I just bundle up? I can’t drive a car very well, I usually just drive motorcycles… whoops… Also, even if my motorcycle is moving on it’s own, will it also keep its own balance? If I take my hands off the handlebars to cover my eyes and ears, my motorcycle would fall over unless it somehow kept its own balance.
For all your questions about motorcycles, no need to worry, (although I don’t know much about them) I will answer your questions.
1. Yeah, motorcycles don’t have heaters. Your attire must be like you’re in Finland. That way you won’t regret about that darn heater.
2. Whatever you do, keep your hands on the handlebars. Ignore the voices, ignore everything.
3. It depends on your weight. The heavier the better. But don’t get overweight though, it can give you a heart attack.
4. Then that’s one less thing you have to worry about.
Good luck and hope you don’t die!
There’s so much to worry about if you’re using an open vehicle.
1. The cold would be unbearable, you have nothing to preserve heat or keep out the cold, so don’t expect to last long.
2. The miles concerning the figures could make you extremely vulnerable as you have nothing to protect you.
3. When it comes to mile 11, you’ll see how surprising it is to keep your eyes closed. Covering your ears or eyes is recommended. This involves removing your hands from the handlebars. Meaning you have to balance your weight for 31 seconds.
Just don’t use a motorcycle. Use an enclosed sturdy car, it’s recommended for your own good.
I just did it with a motorcycle I got hyperthermia oof
The beings will have taken you a lot faster so use a car genius otherwise they will claim your soul because of traveling the 11 miles and failed miserably so they want you to fail too
So a lot of these questions everyone has is stated rather clearly on the creepy pasta so that’s a good place to look for questions.
Here’s how to get off the hook of death.
1. Do the 11 miles thing and wish for immortally.
2. Congrats. Now just wish badly for another thing and you wont have to worry about death.
Yeah and everybody will think you’re the ultimate lifeform.
How to get free items from non-existent.
1. Drive into the 11 miles wood.
Congratulations, you have gotten your item.
What is the red light
some say it’s hell. some say it’s a being trying to attack you. some say it’s more horrific than the two. DON’T FIND OUT
Ignore the red light! Trust me its horrible the rest of thr ritual and the 11+ miles you have to go back to get out of the woods will be hell! Just ignore everything and focus on your wish
Probably a traffic light in the ritual.
Oh, I forgot to say in my last comment: Please also post ‘Whispering Dark’. No, its not the other name for the closet game, its different. You’ll find both this one and the one I mentioned in my last comment on WordPress.com.
Thanks a lot Lucia for posting these. Please post these rituals more often. I have a suggestion: Please post the game ‘Dark Counterpart’. Its just awesome!!!
Regarding mile nine, it says to close your eyes and drive and to only open them when the mile has ended. Driving with your eyes closed… Isn’t that really dangerous? How will you know you aren’t driving off the road and into a tree or something if you can’t even see?
In the story, it said that the beings will retreat temporarily at the sound of the car restarting. I would assume that is the time to open your eyes and floor it.
What if the thing I wish is a person? How do I get it? Will I find him/her in my trunk? Or does it count as a non material desire?
I’m your backseat maybe. Although that’ll be pretty creepy
I was wondering the same but if the person appears in the trunk or even in the backseat, that would be too creepy.
And what would the person think ? How would they react ? I think desiring of someone in that game is pretty dangerous
It is. Not only is this game a little high risk, the person may be under the influence of spirits. Whatever you wish for, DON’T WISH FOR A PERSON!!
It counts as an abstract/non-material desire. Wait. Go back to where you started.
I wonder if i could wish for superpowers.
oh wow that is creepy. How do you know when the mile is over once you close your eyes
Man…..I wanna try this but I have no licence ._.
For channel infinity, what if you don’t destroy the statue? And what if the statue of your loved one was your partner?
In the One-Man-Hide-And-Seek, if you were it and you came back to find the doll wasn’t there(and your pretty sure you named it something other than your name) would you proceed to the doll being it or the ending of the game?
I think you’d have to find the doll in order to end the game.
Find the doll, pour the salt water, close out the game, cleanse the premises of any evil entities.
I wonder, during 11 miles you can have more than one wish or desire?
Ohhhhh godddddddd even if This Is simple (Just driving all the Game) its creeeepy
Very nice! Loved this. (I’m just a reader. Lol. I’d never attempt any of these. Even if I don’t believe they’re real. Not worth the risk. Lol)
Also, the creepypasta wikia (Btw, I agree. A good read). It states that you won’t be able to forget the screams heard in the Hellish 11th mile, you won’t ever be able to forgot it.
With regards to the creepypasta story, like someone else who asked there, what would happen if you wished to forget the screams? I wonder…
That would be pretty desperate, since it says that you must feel an extreme need for it. But well if it’s that bad then why not. It should actually work
Aah yes. Probably! Haha. What a waste of a journey and a wish though.
It says open your eyes once mile nine is over but if our eyes are closed, how will we know when it’s over?
You just will I guess
You will know. The journey will only take under an hour.
Your car will eventually stop or all powers will turn off and the figures will surround your vehicle. Don’t lose hope, try to start your car while your eyes are closed, starting your car will frighten all the figures away and you will get a chance to move forward, but open your eyes before moving forward.
Not sure if I wanna get my license now ;_; But seriously, thank you for this one! It was too hard to find anywhere else that wasn’t laggy or caked in ads!
I am going to do this when I get a license.
Exactly. I would love to do this with my best friends to see if they bail
You have to do it alone
You can only do it alone Bo
Regarding step 11, how will you know if the mile is over if you can’t open your eyes? And the additional notes say to keep your eyes on the road?
Apparently the 11th mile is exactly 31 seconds of hell, so it’ll probably be pretty obvious when it’s over.
exactly
Yeah, I also wondered how you would drive if your eyes were closed.
You’re not really driving at that point, some unknown force will be pushing you forward.
Same thing I was thinking.
I think the car will start doing it own thing
for the 11th mile you have to close your eyes because of the red light and the car will be moving by itself you don’t keep your eyes on the road at this point because you don’t need to you know the mile is over because it says on another website that you need to close your eyes for 31 seconds so just count and then open your eyes when you get to 31.
well you will know because if it is red or bright you will see orange when you close your eyes
and close your eyes softly