The Most Dangerous Games: The Ghost At The Crossroads Ritual & How To Change Your Fate

Previously: The Ghost Book Game.

Fate spins along as it should… unless you should desire to change it, of course. If that’s what you want, then might I suggest this ritual game? It’s called the Ghost At The Crossroads Ritual. You don’t need a lot to play it — but, as always, “simple” doesn’t mean “safe.” Especially not when the stakes are this high.

We’ve talked a bit about the folklore of crossroads before here at TGIMM — notably when we took a look at Tsuji-ura, or the Fortune Game, many years ago — but in case you need a refresher, crossroads can serve a number of peculiar functions: As liminal spaces, they both are and are not many things, and that, as I’ve noted before, gives them an awful lot of power. (Perfect for the Halloween season, no?)

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

Here, we’re seeing them used in one of the more well-known, traditional ways: As a place you might change your fate. Unlike in Tsuji-ura, though, the Ghost At The Crossroads Ritual doesn’t require you to physically go to a crossroads, though — not one out there in the big, wide world. This time, you’ll be creating one of your own, on a much smaller scale… and yet, also on a larger one, in a manner of speaking.

There’s also an optical illusion at play here: The Hermann grid illusion. Breaking the fourth wall for a moment (look away if you don’t want an actual scientific explanation for the ritual’s main gameplay component), that’s what’s truly going on when you’re chasing the “ghost” in this game; the squares and paths that make up the “map” here trick your eyes into seeing dark splotches at the intersections that seem to disappear when you try to look at them directly.

The Hermann grid illusion was first described by physiologist and speech scientist Ludimar Hermann in 1870, so it’s, y’know, been around for quite some time — even if this particular ritual game has not. (Under its initial title of “Ghosts At The Crossroads,” this one first appeared on the Creepypasta Wiki courtesy of RedNovaTyrant in April of 2020.)

There’s fire and blood in this one, so in addition to the usual warnings, fire and health and safety warnings apply as well; these instructions are for educational purposes only.

As always, play at your own risk.

Players:

• One principal.

Requirements:

• A needle, properly sterilized. (See: Additional Notes.)
• Thread.
• A black marker.
• At least one sheet of plain white or grid paper. Grid paper is recommended. Do not use lined paper. You may use multiple sheets of paper if you wish.
• A ruler. (Optional if using grid paper; necessary if using plain white paper.)
• A timer or other timekeeping device with an alarm function. (Optional, but recommended.)
• Matches or a lighter. (See: Additional Notes.)
• A fireproof dish or container. (See: Additional Notes.)
• A quiet, well-lit room in which to play.
• A wish or desire — a change you wish to make to your own fate.

Instructions:

Entering The Game:

1. Begin at any time.
2. Empty your chosen playing space of all other people or pets. Ensure that you will not be disturbed for the duration of the game.
3. When your playing space is properly emptied and prepared, bring your supplies to the room. Close the door behind you.
4. Using the well-sterilized needle, prick the tip of one of your fingers until it bleeds. Then, use the blood on your fingertip to draw a symbol upon the sheet of paper: A circle with a cross running through the middle. The circle should look as though it has been divided into four quadrants by the lines of the cross. (See here for an example.)
5. Clean and dress your wound. (Safety first.)
6. Next, using the black marker, write down your wish or desire on the sheet of paper. Write it somewhere near — though not on top of — the symbol you previously drew.

Drawing The Crossroads:

1. Now: It is time to create your crossroads map. Turn the sheet of paper over, and, using the black marker, begin drawing and coloring in a grid of black squares upon it.
   • If using plain white paper, the design must fit the following specifications:
     • Each square must measure one inch by one inch (one inch square). The space between the squares must measure one-quarter inch in width. Use a ruler to ensure that these specifications are met.
   • If using grid paper, the design must fit the following specifications:
     • Each square must measure four units by four units (four units square). The space between the squares must measure one unit in width. Due to the grid spacing on the paper itself, a ruler is not necessary to ensure that these specifications are met.
2. You may use more than one sheet of paper to create your crossroads map, if you like. If using multiple sheets of paper, connect them by threading the needle with the thread and stitching the corners — and only the corners — of the sheets of paper together.
3. Do NOT connect them by anything other than the corners of the pages.
4. Do NOT connect them using tape, glue, or any other means of adhesive.
5. Your finished result should look as though there are paths of white leading in a grid pattern between squares of black. The places where the white paths intersect — they are each a crossroads. (See here for an example.)
6. When you have finished your crossroads map, count the number of squares you have drawn. Multiply this number by five. The resulting product of this calculation is the number of seconds you will have to complete the sequence laid out in Catching The Ghost: Steps 3 through 17.
7. Set the timer, if using, to count down this number of seconds, but do not — do NOT — begin the timer yet.
8. Now, place the map in front of you, where you can see it clearly.
9. Take a deep breath.
10. Prepare yourself.
11. When you are ready, proceed.

Catching The Ghost:

1. Close your eyes and count to 10. Keep your eyes closed for the full 10 seconds.
2. Then, when the 10 seconds are up, open your eyes and look directly at your crossroads map. Keep your eyes trained on the first intersection of the paths of white they fall upon. Do not look away from this intersection.
3. Begin the timer, if using, now.
4. Keep looking.
5. Are you still looking?
6. Good.
7. As you look at this one intersection — at this one crossroads — you may become aware of the other crossroads surrounding it suddenly appearing… no longer empty.
8. This is fine.
9. Do not shift your gaze to these other intersections (yet) — keep your eyes trained on the same intersection you have been focused on since you opened your eyes — but know that this is fine.
10. When you sense one of the intersections is not only no longer empty, but has also darkened — this is the intersection that should interest you now.
11. Move your eyes to this new intersection — this darkened intersection, this intersection which now appears somehow shadowed.
12. When your focus settles on this new intersection, you may observe it to lose its shadowed appearance, and for another intersection nearby to darken in its stead.
13. This, too, is fine.
14. This is what is meant to occur.
15. Now: Make your way through your map, journeying from crossroads to crossroads, following the shadowed spot as it moves.
16. Your goal is to be able catch the shadow — to catch the ghost — in its intersection, and to gaze upon it for a full 10 seconds.
17. Pay attention to the time; to succeed, you must complete this goal within the number of seconds you previously calculated based on the number of squares you drew on your map. If using the timer, you must complete this goal before the timer goes off.
    • If you do NOT catch the ghost at the crossroads within the allotted time: The ritual has failed; do not proceed. Remove your gaze from the crossroads map IMMEDIATELY, and crumple the map up into a ball. Place the ball of crumpled paper within the fireproof dish or container and, using the matches or lighter, burn it to ash. Remove the ashes from the premises and dispose of them as far away as you can. For you, the ritual ends here.
    • If you DO catch the ghost at the crossroads within the allotted time: The ritual has succeeded; you may proceed.
18. After successfully catching the ghost — after the 10 seconds are up — close your eyes, and conjure up the image of your map inside your mind.
19. Focus on the image — on the idea — of the map until the words you wrote on the opposite side of the map in Entering The Game: Step 6 emerge into your mind.
20. Then, open your eyes. Do NOT look at the map.
21. Crumple the map up into a ball, then place it within the fireproof dish or container.
22. Using the matches or lighter, burn the map to ash.
23. Remove the ashes from the premises and dispose of them as far away as you can.
24. Now: Go about your life. Let your instincts guide you. You may find that, when you are presented with certain… choices, you will know precisely which one to make. Act decisively, and you will find yourself getting closer — ever closer — to your desired fate.
25. But be warned: Should you ignore these instincts, you… may find yourself worse off than you began.
26. You can only change your fate once, after all. Do not squander the opportunity.

Additional Notes:

Due to the drawing of blood, this game should be considered a HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD. Do not attempt to play without exercising proper health and safety precautions regarding the sterilization of needles, etc. We are not responsible for anything that may befall you as a result of playing this game.

Due to the use of candles and open flames, this game should be considered a FIRE HAZARD. Take common sense fire safety precautions before playing, including but not limited to removing all flammable objects or items from the vicinity of the flame, keeping a functional fire extinguisher on hand during the course of the game, etc. We are not responsible for anything that may befall you as a result of playing this game.

Do not attempt to play this game with any bystanders present.

Do not attempt to play this game for someone else. You may only play this game yourself — to change your own fate, not someone else’s.

Do not attempt to cheat.

There are consequences for disregarding these rules. You are already tempting fate by playing this game. Do not tempt it further.

Regarding the drawing of blood: If you do not wish to draw the symbol on the sheet of paper with your own blood, an alternative method may be employed. Instead, you must draw the symbol upon your own eyelids — both of them. Should you choose to utilize this method to enter the game instead, it is suggested that you use an eye-safe material such as eyeliner.

Regarding the size of the map and the time allotted to catch the ghost: For each square drawn on the map, you have five seconds of safety while attempting to catch the ghost at the crossroads.

There is no set number of squares you must draw; however, you must draw enough for there to be more than one crossroads on your map.

(Drawing only four squares — drawing only enough to create one crossroads — is considered cheating. Do not cheat. There are, as previously noted, consequences for cheating.)

If your map has 12 squares, you have one full minute to attempt to catch the ghost.

If your map has 24 squares, you have two full minutes to attempt to catch the ghost.

If your map has 120 squares, you have 10 full minutes to attempt to catch the ghost.

A larger map may allow more time for the chase; however, it may also allow for more opportunities for you to get lost while attempting the chase.

A Final Warning:

Do NOT get lost.

Do NOT continue the chase after the allotted time is up.

The ghost you are chasing, you see, is not the only ghost on the map.

And those other ghosts?

They would love to be able to make an escape.

They cannot do so without offering an equal alternative in exchange for their place, however.

And you?

You would make a very nice offering, indeed.

***

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!

[Photos via Pexels, eggnukes, hbschw, kascreates/Pixabay]