Previously: The Paper Ring Game.
There are an awful lot of ritual games out there that claim to offer luck or good fortune as a prize. They’re rarely — if ever — actually worth it; the prize may be covetable, but the cost is typically quite steep, indeed. Such is the way with the ritual game I’ve been thinking of as “Shadow Hide And Seek”: Yes, the rules are familiar, and yes, the prize is good luck in perpetuity — but if you lose, you’ll pay for it dearly. Heck, even if you win, there’s still something of a… caveat that might spoil your victory somewhat.
Like I said: Rarely if ever worth it.
[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]
“Shadow Hide And Seek” is the framing my mind came up with to make sense of this one, by the way; the story’s original title on the Creepypasta Wikia is simply, “Let’s Play A Game.” It was first published over there in July of 2012 by user Dthdsguise, who posted one other story at about that time — “A Curse Cast Once, Turns Seven Times” — before going dark. Mysterious? A little. Then again, it’s easy to lose track of people on the internet if they… don’t want to be found.
This one takes its cues from games and traditions like Deadman’s Tag, Hitori Kakurenbo/Hide And Seek Alone, the Midnight Game, and just… straight-up hide-and-seek, which dates back to ancient Greece. (For the curious, this ancient version of the game was called ἀποδιδρασκίνδα, or apodidraskinda.) As such, it’ll probably feel quite familiar… but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security.
Is this one an eerie story more than an actual ritual, and therefore more likely to fail than to succeed if actually attmepted? Yes… but still:
Play at your own risk.
Players:
- A small group of participants — ideally an even number. At least four is recommended.
Requirements:
- A playing field. The playing field is not required to be outdoors, although suitable outdoor locations may be more readily accessible than indoor locations. (See: Additional Notes.)
- For each participant:
- An outfit comprised entirely of black clothing. (See: Additional Notes.)
- A mask that covers the entire face.
- An item capable of making a ringing noise when struck — for instance, a bell, a metal bowl, etc. (See: Additional Notes.)
- An item to do the striking — for instance, a stick, a spoon or other piece of metal flatware, etc.
- A flashlight. (Optional, but highly recommended.)
Instructions:
The Preparations:
- Before you begin, gather all participants together as a group and determine the following: The date on which you intend to play; the playing field on which you intend to gather in order to play; and the time at which you intend to begin. The date MUST be the night of a new moon. The time MUST be as close to midnight as possible. If all are not in agreement about the date, location, and time, DO NOT PROCEED.
- Now: Wait until the appointed date. During this time, each participant should gather up their required materials. DO NOT attempt to play if you are not all well prepared and ready to go by the appointed date and time.
- If you have anything you need to say to each other, now — this period of waiting, before the appointed date arrives — is the time.
- On the appointed date: Dress in your black clothing. Don your mask. Hide your identity as much as possible. Gather your ringing item, your striking item, and your flashlight, and bring them with you to the appointed place, at the appointed time.
- DO NOT greet each other upon arrival. DO NOT speak when or after you arrive. DO NOT make any kind of noise once you have entered the playing field until after the game has concluded. Remain absolutely silent from here on out.
- When all participants are present at the playing field, take stock of each other — silently. Do not speak. If ANY of you can identify ANY of the others, DO NOT PROCEED.
The Main Event:
- Once you are all present, and you have all silently agreed to continue, line up, and kneel down on the ground. You may line up anywhere within the playing field; it is only important that all players arrange themselves in a line. It does not matter where on the playing field that line is.
- Do not speak. Do not remove your mask.
- Produce your ringing items and place them on the ground in front of you. Both you — yes, you, participants — and your items should be arranged in a neat and tidy line, one in front of the other.
- Do not speak. Do not remove your mask.
- Produce your striking items. Together, use them to strike your ringing items. You need not strike in unison, although you may find it helpful to do so.
- Do not speak. Do not remove your mask.
- Continue striking your ringing items. Allow the ringing sound to fill the air.
- Do not speak — not even if you begin to grow cold.
- Do not speak — not even if you feel something touching you.
- Do not speak — not even if you see the shadows start to shift out of the corner of your eye.
- Continue striking your ringing items, no matter how restless your surroundings become as you do so.
- Do not speak. Do not remove your mask.
- When you sense the restlessness calming and stillness returning, cease striking your ringing items.
- Do NOT speak. Do NOT remove your mask.
- Now: Go. Run. Hide.
- Don’t let Them find you.
- Your goal is to stay uncaught until the sun has risen. To do so, you must remain silent, and you must remain faceless. Do not speak, and do not remove your mask — no matter what They do, what They say, or who They pretend to be.
- They will do anything They can to convince you to do precisely what it is you should not do.
- Do not let Them fool you.
- If you are careful, you may go the entire game without encountering one of Them — but if you do find yourself facing Them, shine your flashlight upon Them, and They will flee. This strategy may only work once or twice — but escaping once or twice is better than not at all.
- Do not speak.
- Do not remove your mask.
The Conclusion:
- The game continues until the sun has risen, or until all players are caught — whichever comes first.
- If the sun has risen, and you are still alive: Congratulations — you’ve won. You and any other survivors may now speak freely and remove your masks. Your prize will go into effect immediately. (See: Prizes And Consequences.)
- If you have not been so fortunate, however — if you were caught — then for You, the game is not over.
- For You, there will be another round — and perhaps another, and another, and another.
- You will have to wait for someone else to begin the game, You see. Only this time, You will be on the… other team, so to speak.
- It is now Your turn to convince those foolish enough to play to speak aloud.
- It is Your turn to convince them to remove their masks.
- Only then will You be set free.
Additional Notes:
Please observe the following details regarding the game’s requirements:
The clothing: Each player should be clothed entirely in black, ideally in long sleeves and pants. Gloves and/or hats may be helpful, as well. The end results should be an erasure of individuality — no player should stand out; nor should their true identity apparent. Anonymity is your friend. For safest results, each item of clothing should be newly purchased — ideally on the day you intend to play the game — and previously unworn. You may also choose for all players to wear identical masks.
The ringing item: Each player’s item must be identical to each other’s — that is, if you are playing with, say, four participants, you should have a total of four of the same item available to produce the ringing sound. Do NOT play with four different items.
The playing field: Ideally, the playing field will be a large space with which all players are very familiar — that is, you all know the lay of the land well and can navigate it quickly and easily. A large park, woods or a forest, a warehouse that is no longer in use, a large parking garage, etc. are all satisfactory choices, although not the only satisfactory choices that may be available to you.
Please note, however, that trespassing on private or otherwise off-limits property is NOT recommended; we do not condone such behavior, and we are not responsible for anything that might befall you, should you decide to engage in it. Additionally, some playing field options may be inherently unsafe; be smart and sensible and exercise caution if you choose one such location. We are also not responsible for anything that might befall you, should you decide to play in an unsafe or dangerous location.
Do not play in a cemetery.
Do’s, Don’ts, And Other Considerations:
DO stay hidden. If They can’t find you, They can’t win.
Do NOT exit the playing field before the conclusion of the game. They will know if you try, and They will not let you off lightly for it. There is no way to force-stop the game once you have reached The Main Event; if you begin this game, you MUST see it through to the end. Do not attempt it unless you are willing to make that commitment.
DO stay silent. If They can’t hear you, They can’t win.
Do NOT believe everything you see, hear, or experience during the course of the game. They are smart; They are tricky. They will do anything They can to get what they want — and They can do almost anything.
DO keep your mask on. If They can’t see your face, They can’t win.
Do NOT allow Them to learn your name.
You’ve figured out how They can do so by now, haven’t you?
It has to do with your voice.
It has to do with your face.
Do NOT allow Them access to either. If They can’t learn your name, They can’t win.
And if They can’t win, then you can’t lose.
And if you can’t lose, you will never become You.
You see?
Prizes And Consequences:
The prize for playing and winning this game is luck — good fortune, and good luck, in perpetuity. You will have them with you for the rest of your life; things will just… seem to go your way, no matter how rough of a situation in which you may find yourself.
It’s best not to speak of why that is. If asked, the safest option is simply to reply: “Just lucky, I guess.”
Don’t draw attention to yourself — no more than you already have, that is.
Because even if you win, there is no guarantee that They will leave you be — especially not if They are continually reminded of the fact that you bested Them at Their own game.
Is a lifetime of looking over your own shoulder worth it?
Really?
Only you can answer that question for yourself.
Be careful if you ever sense something moving out of the corner of your eye.
Be careful if you see the shadows start to shift.
***
Follow The Ghost In My Machine on Bluesky @GhostMachine13.bsky.social, Twitter @GhostMachine13, and Facebook @TheGhostInMyMachine. And for more games, don’t forget to check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available now from Chronicle Books!
[Photo via A_Different_Perspective; TemperateSage; Bertsz/Pixabay]
