There is this game circling around my high school called "The Window Game", what a creative name right? So much thought must have been put into that 'super creative' and 'original' title.

"The instructions state that you can only play this game at the stroke of midnight. Make sure to prepare a candle, a box of matches, a piece of paper, and a red pen beforehand."

"With the pen, you must write the phrase 'Shadows, would you like to play a game?' all over the paper till it is completely covered."

"Then you have to open your window and light the candle with a match while repeatedly saying 'Let's play a game'. The candle will refuse to light so you have to keep trying, and each time you try again strike a new match. If you run out of matches you have failed to start the game. Put everything away and try again the next day."

"But, if you have successfully managed to light the candle, pick up your piece of paper and burn it, allowing the ashes to scatter outside of your window as you do so." 

"Once done, shut your window, make sure to leave the curtains open, turn off the lights, and get into bed. The game has begun. You will start hearing noises coming from outside your window, tempting you to turn around and open it. Face away from the window and whatever you do, DO NOT TURN AROUND. No matter what."

"Stay in bed and try not to move too much. Pretend to sleep. If you manage to make it till sunrise then congrats, you've won, and you will be blessed with a prosperous and fortunate life."

"It sounds so scary..." I hear one of my classmate's whisper.

"Yeah, I'd never do it. It sounds so dangerous..." another says.

"Pfft... You do realize that it's all fake right?" I scoff.

"Oh yeah? Then play it." my friend says to me, with a playful smirk.

"Kit, don't listen to them. It's a bad idea..." I hear someone say.

I ignore the warning and narrow my eyes at my friend as I answer, "Fine then, I'll play it and prove to you what an utter scam it is."

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I look up at my clock and see that it's 10 minutes to midnight.

"I should start setting up." I think to myself as I take out my phone and put it in the phone stand I (stole) borrowed from my sister's room. I turn on the camera and position everything, making sure that my desk, window, and bed are visible on the screen.

I stand in front of the camera and click on the record button. I hear a small beep, indicating that it has started recording.

I clear my through and begin talking, "I'll be playing The Window Game, everyone at my school has been talking about it so I'm doing this to prove to you all that it is nothing but a stupid scam."

I pick up all the things I prepared and show them to the camera, "These are all the things that they said to prepare beforehand." 

As I finish my sentence I hear the clock chime, letting me know that it's midnight.

I take one more look at the camera and say quietly, "It's midnight, so let's get started."

I pick up all my necessities for the game and set it down next to me as I open the window, letting in a gust of cool air as I do so.

I hold out the candle and strike a match, watching as the small flame dances lightly on the tip of the match.

I take a deep breath and begin chanting.

Let's play a game.

Let's play a game.

Let's play a game.

I keep trying to light the candle, but it doesn't.

I keep trying.

Again.

And again.

And again.

I'm sure that it isn't going to work.

But for some reason, I decided to try one more time.

So, I strike another match and hover it over the candle, expecting it not to light.

But, to my surprise, it does.

"Probably just a coincidence.." I mumble to myself.

I pick up my filled piece of paper and burn it quickly, scattering the ashes outside my window.

I shut the window and turn out the light.

I jump into bed and turn to face the wall, away from the window.

Again, I expect nothing to happen.

Until I suddenly hear a noise from outside.

The sound of something lightly tapping on the window.

"This stupid game isn't real... right?" I question myself softly, my back still facing the window.

Slowly the noise goes from light taps to aggressive rapping on the window.

Something is really trying to get my attention...

The urge to turn around is so strong but I don't.

Can't my family hear the noise too?...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After what felt like hours of aggressive knocking, suddenly the noise stops.

Is it over?...

Am I safe?...

Did I win?...

The knocking's stopped.

I must have won.

I cautiously sit up in bed and turn around, slightly shaky.

There's nothing there.

I let out a deep breath of relief.

But then my eyes fall on the clock as I feel fear overwhelm my body as a shiver goes up my spine.

The time reads 3.30 am.

I turned around before I was supposed to.

How am I safe?

Was it all just a bad dream?...

Then, I feel a light tap on my shoulder from behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

News Flash: The youngest child of the Gardener Family, Kit Gardener, was found lying dead in their room at 9 am this morning by their older sister who claimed she was looking for her phone stand. Authorities were alerted and the scene was searched but no evidence was found leading to their untimely demise. According to the autopsy Kit passed away at around 3.30 am the night before. A crime scene investigator found a phone set up in the victim's room. After looking through it for evidence, a video was found that seemed to have recorded the events. But before it could be viewed the device mysteriously short-circuited and stopped functioning. The police have declared the case as a suicide due to lack of evidence.

Author's Note

Hey Lovelies, what do you think of my new story? I came up with this at 12 am one night because I couldn't sleep. The idea just popped into my head so I decided to just roll with it. Also, if you are wondering why I haven't been online much, well... it's because I broke my phone by dropping it on the floor- so I'm currently just using my dad's old phone for messages till my phone's fixed, and I decided not to download Wattpad there because I am too lazy to go ask my mum to put in her Gmail account for me- I always use the laptop to update because I just prefer it. Also, I just started online school this week so I've been kinda caught up with homework and lessons so I just didn't have time. And when I did, I was just too tired to post. I'll be going to physical in two weeks' time and so far my teachers seem pretty ok. I personally really like my science teacher this year because she's just really funny- Anyways, till next time lovelies! Bye Bye~