Previously: The Picture Game.
The idea of a multiverse isn’t new, but in Sever the Cord, which was first uploaded to the Creepypasta Wikia on Nov. 7, 2010, it’s a little different — less a multiverse and more a… two-story house, let’s say. In this two-story house, each floor is identical to the other; the same furniture, the same organizational principles, and the same decorations exist on each floor. The inhabitants, too, are the same — there’s you, on the floor that you live on, and then there’s your Copy, which lives on the other floor. When you look in a mirror, you’re seeing the other floor. You’re seeing your Copy.
There’s one difference between the two floors, though, and that’s the fact that a… Being lives on one floor. The Copies that live there can’t see him… but he’s there. Watching. Keeping an eye on you through your Copy, for everything you do is also done by your Copy. The Being watches it all, meting out retribution when necessary.
You can escape the watching, of course… but the price is high.
Fun fact: Researchers did in fact find what might be evidence of a multiverse a few years ago. In 2010, a study found “four statistically unlikely circular patterns in the cosmic microwave background” of the universe, according to Phys.org — patterns which, theorized the researchers, might be “bruises” our universe got by bumping into other universes.
[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]
Whether or not our Copies or the Being were present when those bruises happened remains to be seen.
As always, play at your own risk.
Players:
- One principal.
Requirements:
- A mirror.
- A dark room.
- A light with a switch.
Instructions:
- Begin at any time. Nighttime is recommended.
- Prepare your room: Cover the windows securely; no light should shine through, whether streetlights or moonlight. Set up your mirror. Make sure your light and its switch are in working order. Leave the light on for now.
- Stand in front of your mirror.
- Look at your reflection in the mirror.
- It’s not your reflection. It’s your Copy. Look at your Copy in the mirror. Look your Copy in the eye.
- Know — don’t think; know — that you are not looking at yourself. Know that you are looking at perfect Copy of yourself. Know that you are bound to your Copy, and your Copy to you — but also that your Copy is distinct from you, a separate creature, a being all its own. Know this with every fiber of your being. Know that it is true.
- When you have reached this moment of truth, turn off the lights.
- NOTE: If you do not reach this moment of truth, DO NOT PROCEED.
- Wait. There is no precise time to wait; simply wait until it feels right to wait no longer. Most players wait around two minutes. You might wait more. You might wait less.
- Turn the lights back on.
- If your reflection is still present: The ritual has failed. It is NOT recommended that you try again.
- If your reflection has vanished: The ritual has succeeded. There will be no need to try again.
The Prize:
If the ritual has succeeded, you have severed the “cord” — the bond — between you and your Copy. Your Copy will no longer mirror your every move. You will no longer be watched. You may do as you please, and you will face no retribution for any of it.
The Price:
At the site of severance, the “cord” will begin to decay — on one side, and one side only. There is no telling which side will decay; it could be your side, or it could be your Copy’s side. Whichever side it is, upon reaching the You on that side, the decay begin to eat at that being’s soul. They will grow pale and weak, sickness tearing away at them from the inside out, cursing them to an eternity of shadows.
If your Copy falls to the decay, you will go free.
If the decay comes after you…
…You will not.
Concerning the Copy:
Don’t assume that the Copy isn’t you.
If you start to feel ill one day — like a shadow of yourself — look in the mirror.
Is your reflection there?
If not, the other You may have severed the cord…
…And you’re the one who’s paying the price.
***
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[Photo via bambi_photos/Pixabay]
Why is it not recommended to not play again after u failed, if i may ask?
I never will do a ritual in my life because I don’t want anything haunting or following me but this kinda scares me because what if my copy does it and they don’t suffer the price? Or does your copy have the same personality as you?
Your copy is an exact copy in every way. Physical, mental, emotional, and so on. If you would never do it, neither would they.
Probably.
I could never do that to my copy. Our copy probably feels the same as us, thinking they are being watched by us, but if I sever the cord, then my copy will feel really ill. How awful it is to make someone feel that way. I don’t really mind being watched either.
If our copy copies our every move then technically they wouldn’t be able to do this ritual without us doing it
If the copy of a person, who hasn’t severed the cord yet, reads this game, then this means that his/her copy also read it. Can they try the ritual without us knowing? After all, they copy all our moves.
we would know. because then we’d have to do the ritual too. they do what we do, we do what they do. so if you don’t do it, they won’t, either.
Would it be possible if your copy tries to sever the cord and they turn out to be the copy? Would you just cease to have a reflection? And can others see your reflection even if you sever the cord?
Oh and question, would that apply to cameras as well?
What if… we are the copies.
Well we technically are,if you were on the other side then you would think of yourself as the copy,and the other way around right now.
So in a way,we kinda are
sorry if this question is confusing or stupid or something, but do all Copies reside in the same realm/universe/etc? or are Copies and non-Copies mixed within realms without any way to distinguish one from the other? because if they aren’t mixed together and realms are strictly Copy or non-Copy, couldn’t someone just tell another person who they knew to do the ritual, and just wait and see if they decayed or not? anyway, i love reading about these games, thank you so much for sharing these with us! (although my house is full of mirrors and i often find it hard to sleep at night haha)
So think about it, if you were to take someone’s life after successfully completing the ritual and being on the prize side, your copy won’t be there to take their copy’s life, so what do think exactly happens?
Also, does your Copy know that they’re a ‘Copy’ or what if we ourselves are a Copy? How do we know?
We *are* Copies. And our Copies are Copies. We’re Copies of each other. One wasn’t made before the other or from the other. We coexist as one, until one of us chooses to sever the cord.
Is the thing that watches over you evil? Or perhaps it is sent to watch over you?
I’d like to think it’s an omnipotent being who has it’s ways of manipulating the things around it, so yes. It’s more of a neutral party, but who knows what it’ll do when you have done something wrong?
This is by far my favorite post. :3 Thank you so much for posting all of these, I really enjoy scaring myself with them. XD