Previously: The Triple Mirror Game.
Note: Please don’t copy/paste or republish the text of this post on other websites without permission.
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.
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:
- 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.
- Wait until dark. After night falls, your Journey will begin.
- 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.
- 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.
- Once you have located it, enter the alley.
- Close your eyes.
- Repeat the words “Lightless City” aloud — quietly, but aloud — over and over again.
- Focus on the darkness.
- Do NOT open your eyes.
- 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.
- 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.
- Wait until the images stop. Wait until you see nothing but darkness. Then, and only then, may you cease chanting and open your eyes.
- Congratulations. You have entered the Lightless City.
The Questions:
- Exit the alley.
- Choose a direction.
- Walk in that direction.
- Walk until you reach the outskirts of the city.
- Walk until you see a child. The child will have no eyes.
- 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.
- Continue walking.
- Walk until you see a man. The man will be very tall.
- 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.
- Wait.
- 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.
- Continue walking.
- Walk until you see another child. This child will also have no eyes.
- 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.
- Continue walking. You must do so sightlessly now.
- Walk until you hear the voice of the tall man.
- 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.
- Continue walking.
The Rest:
- Continue walking.
- Continue walking.
- Continue walking.
- Welcome to your life in the Lightless City.
- Continue walking.
- Continue…
- Continue…
- Continue…
- …
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.
***
Please don’t copy/paste or republish the text of this post on other websites without permission. Linking to it or sharing the URL only is fine (and encouraged!), as is writing your own unique version of the game with sources cited and linked to, but copying/pasting, republishing, or otherwise reproducing the text of this piece in its entirety or near-entirety on other websites without permission isn’t.
***
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 via shantanukashyap/Pixabay]
I really enjoyed this one more than 11 miles. Thanks for the work you put in to entertain us.
So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!
I also wanted to thank you. I have read many of your posts and dangerous games and I am so impressed. it’s like reading an awesome book. thanks a lot 🙂
If you say your hatred is satisfied, and you wake up, do you have your eye back?
No, you will never get your eye back. You’ll spend the rest of your life wandering around the lightless city, and to also comment on something that you might be curious about, yes it does hurt when the child plucks your eye out but there will be no blood or wound.
No
I’m personally inclined to believe that the removal of your eyes is more figurative than anything else. It’s a symbol of sacrifice. What you actually do sacrifice, though… well, I’m not willing to find out. It could actually be your eye, or it could be something entirely different.
But wait she herself written it that if a person answers that his anger is satisfied then he will return back to his world and this journey ends here…so why people are saying that he will live inn lightless city forever?
I think they’re implying for the second time you say your enemy’s name; you lost both of your eyes, therefore you’re blind forever, meaning: you won’t be able to see light anymore, and the lightless city consists of no light. So it’s like you’re still in the lightless city because it’s pitch black.
What happens if you tell the boy “no”? Does he just kill you?
Yeah, I guess so.
Yeah, pretty much
This is the weirdest game I’ve ever read. So, to kill my enemy, I’ll have to give up my sense of sight, and everything I know of including my world. Isn’t it just easier to kill in person, and then die facing the worldly consequences?
true… but this is a story. no one will play this.
Wow, I might try this in the future, but I have questions:
Will you feel pain if the child takes out your eye?
and What happen if you remain silent?
another one
when you finish
your eye will still be in your eye, right? or… is it gone?
I just realised it would actually make sense for you to lose one eye as a ‘price’ for blinding your enemy.
1. Probably not.
2. Man: So, who do want to have their light taken away?
Player: ………
Man: Uhhhhhh….
Player: ………
Man: I’ll just uh, leave.
3. Pretty sure you still have your eyes.
1. Yes it will probably hurt
2. I don’t know
3. It’s gone
Yes, you will feel pain when the child takes your eye out but there will be no blood or wound. If you stay silent, you will just straight up die, and when you finish, no, you will never receive your eyes back. You will spend the rest of your life wandering around the Lightless City, blind.
So….after we do the game (the dying one), we basically live in Lightless City now? Lol, I’d actually do this except that I only want my enemy to lose their sight, I’m merciful, you know?
Hold on, wait. So if your hatred is satisfied with your enemy blinded, will you have your eye back?
I don’t think so. One eye is the price for blinding your enemy. It’s a pretty good deal if you ask me: you lose one eye, your enemy loses both.
No, I doubt you will regain your eye. In ritual games, there is *always* a price, even when successful; the higher the stakes, the greater the price and the greater the danger.
In every case, those games that are meant to harm others always, always require a costly sacrifice.
It could be said that anyone with enough hatred to kill someone is already blind and wandering in darkness.
Yes, when the child tears out your eye, it will be painful, but there will be no blood or wound. And to answer your other question, no, you won’t have your eye back. You’ll spend the rest of your life wandering around the Lightless City blind. (Sorry, I don’t know what happens if you say no) If you want more detail on this game, you can check out Lucia’s link.
Lucia, I love The Most Dangerous Games, you never fail to scare me. My only complaint is that you post too seldomly. PLEASE post more often.
Thanks for the kind words! We publish new content twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays; games get posted every other Wednesday. (Unfortunately TGIMM doesn’t bring in enough money for me to do it as my full-time job; otherwise I’d post more frequently. Gotta pay the bills, you know?)
This is kinda useless. Losing everything and not even be sure, like do I even have the proof that the dude/girl is really dead ? Worst, ritual ever.
Although, good writing!
So, the price for blinding enemy is right eye and price for killing enemy is all eyes and staying there, is it right? There’s no way back if killling the enemy? Just stay there for the rest of your life?
So we will pay for harming our enemy by losing one of our eyes or both (if you intend to kill them)?
That’s right.
During the part where it says to keep your eyes closed and repeat the words “Lightless City”
What would happen if you were to open your eyes?
I understand that it would likely not be a good thing to do,
And I don’t want to do it myself,
But I just want to know out of curiosity.
Gosh, I haven’t been here for so long, glad to see so much new stuff is here, now I gotta grab a cup of coffee, snuggle up in my blanket and enjoy this shit!
How are you supposed to know which alley is the right one?
good writing!! i absolutely love how creepy this is. of course i’d never try this but i’m also curious as to what kinds of things i might find in this “lightless city”…
I honestly think this story is in an alternate plane of existence. I don’t think you’ll lose your eye permanently, but you will feel the pain of it, if you die however, you’re gone for good
You know what? This was so good I’m going to go write a poem about it. Thank you for this.
I want to know how the blind children know where you are and where your eyes are, also, concerning with the other inhabitants, if you’re blind then how do you avoid being caught in the Lightless City by any other inhabitants that aren’t the two little bind boys or the tall man? That’s confusing to understand, because if you’re blind and according to the rules you have to run if you hear any other inhabitants and/or hide but you’re blind so how will you know where you are going? Or do you still have sense of sight before any of that happens? And what if you have multiple enemies? I know it probably isn’t possible to play the Lightless City again. If you tell the tall man your hatred is satisfied do you return to your world with one eye or do you not return at all?
If you tell the man that your “hatred is satisfied” then you will return to the real world. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. It also only says that if you still have both your eyes and hear one of the other inhabitants of the lightless city, then you must RUN AND HIDE. If you encounter them while blind, then you will be able to feel their presence, I guess and you will have to go somewhere or just continue walking. The children and the Tall Man already know that because I am guessing they are entities. So they can know stuff beforehand. And I think you can only do this with one enemy not multiple enemies because you’d have to sacrifice even more than your eyes