The Most Dangerous Games: Lightless City

Previously: The Triple Mirror Game.

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The ritual game known as “Lightless City” belongs to the “11 Miles” school of thought: It’s more story than instructions, and it’s more fakelore than folklore. In fact, in its original form, it reads kind of like an entry in the Holders series, or perhaps one of Calgary’s Gideon Keys. There’s a reason for that; it’s a creepypasta — an old one — credited to KI_Simpson and originally published in a thread on the old, pre-GameSpot GameFaqs forums.

I haven’t been able to locate the original thread — it may no longer be available to view, — so authorship is a little tough to verify; however, KI_Simpson does also appear to be the original author of a creepypasta classic so old a lot of folks probably don’t even remember that it has an author: “Dead Bart.” KI_Simpson posted that one to a thread on the GameFaqs boards in 2010, so I feel fairly confident that they’re also the mastermind behind “Lightless City.” “Lightless City” itself was cross-posted to the Creepypasta Wikia in March of 2011, so it’s at least eight years old at the time of this writing — possibly older still.

[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]

As is usually my tack with games that a) don’t have a folkloric base, and b) are really meant to be read as stories, I’ve pulled out the rules here so that, in the event that you do want to try actually “playing” it, you can; however, for the full experience, you’ll definitely want to read the tale itself. You can do that here.

Also, don’t play this game unless you’re prepared to deal with the consequences.

Don’t play this game unless you’re okay with the idea of bringing harm to another human being.

(No one should ever be okay with bringing harm to another human being.)

And as always…

…Play at your own risk.

Players:

• One principal.

Requirements:

• A moderately-sized or large city.
• The means by which to access said city.
• An enemy.
• Perseverance.

Instructions:

The Journey:

1. Before you begin: If you are not already located in your chosen city, travel to it. Make sure you arrive before nightfall. You may choose to rent a hotel room or find an otherwise suitable location to set up a home base if you wish, although it is not required you do so.
   • Note: This is not the Journey. This is simply the preparation for the Journey.
2. Wait until dark. After night falls, your Journey will begin.
3. Think of your enemy. Think of how much you hate them. Stoke that hatred. Let it burn in your mind, and in your heart. Hold all of this — your enemy, your feelings about them — in your mind while you venture out into the city.
4. Wander the city streets until you find an alley. The alley must be empty of other people. But do not choose just any alley; you’ll know the correct one when you see it. Pay attention to your instincts.
5. Once you have located it, enter the alley.
6. Close your eyes.
7. Repeat the words “Lightless City” aloud — quietly, but aloud — over and over again.
8. Focus on the darkness.
9. Do NOT open your eyes.
10. If, while your eyes remain closed, you:
    • See only darkness: The ritual has failed. Do not proceed. Cease speaking, and with your eyes still closed, exit the alley. Do NOT open your eyes until you have exited the alley. If you have set up a home base, return there and wait until daylight. If you have not, go somewhere brightly lit and stay there until the sun has risen. You may try again another time, in another alley and/or in another city, if you wish.
    • Begin to see… images: The ritual has succeeded. You may proceed. Keep your eyes closed. Keep repeating the words “Lightless City.” Focus on the images — the shapes, the colors, the details.
11. Do NOT open your eyes. Even if the images begin to… change. To grow clearer. Sharper. Disturbing. To become horrific and violent. Do NOT open your eyes under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
12. Wait until the images stop. Wait until you see nothing but darkness. Then, and only then, may you cease chanting and open your eyes.
13. Congratulations. You have entered the Lightless City.

The Questions:

1. Exit the alley.
2. Choose a direction.
3. Walk in that direction.
4. Walk until you reach the outskirts of the city.
5. Walk until you see a child. The child will have no eyes.
6. The child will ask if you will “share your light” with him.
   • If you answer “No”: Do not answer “No.”
   • If you answer “Yes”: The child will reach for your right eye. Allow him to pluck it out. Kneel down to his level, if it is necessary for him to do so.
7. Continue walking.
8. Walk until you see a man. The man will be very tall.
9. The man will ask you whose “light” you wish to “have taken away.”
   • If you remain silent: Do not remain silent.
   • If you give him a name: The name must be the name of your enemy. Do not give him any other name.
10. Wait.
11. The tall man will ask you if “your hatred is satisfied.”
    • If you say “Yes”: You will find yourself in the alley — suddenly, as if you had just woken up there. It will now be daylight. Exit the alley, and return home. There will be no need to proceed to Step 12; your Journey ends here.
    • If you say “No”: The tall man will leave you. Proceed to Step 12.
12. Continue walking.
13. Walk until you see another child. This child will also have no eyes.
14. The child will ask if you will “share your light” with him.
    • If you answer “No”: Do not answer “No.”
    • If you answer “Yes”: The child will reach for your left eye. Allow him to pluck it out. Kneel down to his level, if it is necessary for him to do so.
15. Continue walking. You must do so sightlessly now.
16. Walk until you hear the voice of the tall man.
17. The tall man will ask you “whose life you wish for the darkness to claim.”
    • If you remain silent: Do not remain silent.
    • If you give him a name: The name must be the name of your enemy. Do not give him any other name.
18. Continue walking.

The Rest:

1. Continue walking.
2. Continue walking.
3. Continue walking.
4. Welcome to your life in the Lightless City.
5. Continue walking.
6. Continue…
7. Continue…
8. Continue…
9. …

Additional Notes:

If you do not encounter the children or the tall man at any point during your walk, return to the alley as quickly as possible — if returning the alley even is possible. Close your eyes. Wait. And hope for the best before you open them again.

The children and the tall man are not the only inhabitants of the Lightless City.

Do not encounter any of the other inhabitants of the Lightless City if you can help it.

If you hear them, run.

If you see them, hide.

Do not allow them to catch you.

Concerning The Tall Man And Your Enemy:

The first time you give the name of your enemy to the tall man, your enemy will immediately lose their sense of sight.

The second time you give the name of your enemy to the tall man, your enemy will immediately expire.

Do not begin this game unless you are willing to take responsibility for your actions.

Concerning Beginning The Game:

Do NOT begin this game unless you intend to complete it.

Do NOT begin this game unless you intend to answer “Yes” or with the appropriate name to all questions.

Do NOT begin this game unless you are prepared to deal with the consequences.

Do NOT begin this game.

Full stop.

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[Photo via shantanukashyap/Pixabay]