The Hooded Man

<center>The Hooded Man</center> <center>[[Let's Play->T1]]</center> <center>[[Credits->C0]]</center>

The following is not for the faint of heart. If you doubt whether you have the mental fortitude to finish this ritual, then you should not (link: "start")[ //God, I should really fucking// (link: "sleep")[ If you fail to complete the ritual or perform any of the steps incorrectly you most likely will not [[recover->T2]]]]

<ul>The Hooded Man <li>/u/Nickybutler123 https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/2m2wrf/an_informal_guide_to_the_hooded_man_ritual/</li> <li>Lucia https://theghostinmymachine.com/2014/12/29/the-most-dangerous-games-the-hooded-man-ritual-black-cab-taxi-phone-call/">Lucia </ul>

*Well that’s dark. Recover from what? Why are they so vague in telling me I’m probably going to* (link: "die")[ [[//I mean, I really want to do this though//->T3]]]

<center> *The Ritual*</center> <ul> <li>In order to perform this ritual, you must have two black cords, a telephone of any kind, and a (link: "watch")[[[ //I'm gonna have to read the instructions first//->T4]][[ //I think I'm ready//->T10]]] </ul>

<ul> <li>Go to the window and open the curtains. The sky will give off a strange hue and a dark cab will be parked outside your house. </li> <li>Leave your house and enter the back seat of the cab </li> <li> Lock the doors and find a way to put yourself to [[sleep->T7]]

<ul> <li>Take the cords and the telephone into the room you have chosen to perform the ritual in</li> <li>Shut the doors, shut the windows, close the curtains, turn off the lights, turn off everything</li> <li>The handset still on the receiver, Count to 13. When you have reached 13, dial 20496888 on your [[telephone->T5]].</li> </ul>

<ul> <li>Tie one of the cords to your handset, pick it up and dial 25515823. During this process do not touch the handle of your telephone.</li> <li>Count to 13 again and place the handset onto the ground on the count of 13. Speak into the receiver and very clearly state, “Hello? I need a cab.” </li> <li>Replace the cord tied to the handset with the second (link: "cord.")[[[ //keep reading//->T6]][[ //I think I'm ready//->T10]]]</li> </ul>

<center>Concluding Procedure</center> <ul><li>When you no longer wish to continue, lean towards the Hooded Man and clearly whisper “I have reached my destination” into his ear. </li> <li>You will find yourself in your bed. Return to the telephone and dial, 200082. Remove the headset and put it aside. Say, “Thank you for the Ride” into the Headset. </li> <li>Burn the cord, bury the remains, and apply salt to the (link: "burial grounds.")[[[ //I'm ready//->T10]]]

<ul> <li>When you wake up check your watch. If the screen says 3:30 you have performed the ritual correctly. If not, leave the cab immediately and perform the conclusion process. </li> <li>If the watch reads 3:30 you will fall asleep shortly. When you awake the taxi will be moving, driven by (link: "a hooded man.")[[[ //keep reading//->T8]][[ //I think I'm ready//->T10]]]</li> </ul>

<center>Rules</center> <ul><li>Do not speak to the hooded man except to conclude the ritual </li> <li>Do not attempt to leave the cab while it is in motion</li> <li>If a passenger joins you along the way, do not speak to him. </li> <li>You may ride for as long as you’d like, though it is said to become more dangerous as time (link: "increases.")[[[ //keep reading//->T9]][[ //I think I'm ready//->T10]]]

You place the telephone on the foot of the bed and stare blankly at it while you plan (link: "your next move.")[[[ //shut the door//->T11]][[ //count to 13//->F12]]]

You quickly shut the door, followed by the windows. You turn off all the electronics in the room and shut off the (link: "lights.")[ (link: "//God this is freaky//")[ [[count to 13->T12]] [[dial 20496888->F13]]]]

You count until you reach thirteen then start to dial the (link: "telephone number.")[ (link: (either: "*one second*", "*hold on*", "*fuck*", "*goddammit*", "*wait*", "*shit*"))[ (link: (either: "*What was that number?*", "*I can't remember*", "Just slow down, you got this.", "*I really hope this works.*", "*Why the fuck didn't I write it down?*", "I'm pretty sure it started with a 2."))[[[ 25515823->F13]][[ 20496888->F13]][[ 200082->F13]]]]]

After counting to 13 you put the handset on the ground and talk into the the (link: "receiver")[[[ “*Hello? I need a cab.*”->F14]] [[ "*Can you send me a cab?*" ->F14]] [[ "*I'm ready to be picked up.*"->F14]]]

After counting to 13 you put the handset on the ground and talk into the the (link: "receiver")[[[ “*Hello? I need a cab.*”->T14]] [[ "*Can you send me a cab?*" ->F14]] [[ "*I'm ready to be picked up.*"->F14]]]

You remove your cord from the handset and tie the second cord around it. Afterwards you burn the first (link: "cord.")[ It takes a while to burn, but the cord soon deteriorates into a pile of ash on (link: "the carpet.")[ You walk over to the window and pull (link: "the curtains.")[ The moon shines a bright yellowish orange immediately (link: "drawing your attention.")[ It isn't until you finally break loose from the moon's pull that you look down and remember (link:"your purpose")[[[ A vacant black cab sits in front of your house.->T15]]]]]]]

You remove your cord from the handset and tie the second cord around it. Afterwards you burn the first (link: "cord.")[ It takes a while to burn, but the cord soon deteriorates into a pile of ash on (link: "the carpet.")[ You walk over to the window and pull (link: "the curtains.")[ The moon shines an odd shade of lavender. For some reason, the view leaves you (link: "deeply unsettled.")[ It isn't that it's a different color, it's something about the (link: "color itself")[ It engulfs everything in sight with an uneasy (link: "glow")[ No, its not a glow. It's not light, its not dark, it's simply (link:"visible.")[ Everything is visible but dark. Including the cab that is parked in front of [[your house->F15]]]]]]]]]

(link: "Do I want to go through with this?")[[[ *Well, I have come this far.*->T16]]]

Your mind is telling you to put an end to this stupid ritual, but you feel unable to (link: "stop yourself.")[ [[There's no turning back now.->F16]] ]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

//What does it matter anyways? No one would miss me. I'd hardly miss myself. Anything is better than this// (link: "//slow painful exsistence//")[ //This carrying on as if everyday wasn't exactly as lonesome and pointless as// (link: "//the last//")[ //I'm afraid of everyone. I'm afraid of everything. All I do is// (link: "//hide//")[ //I'm not hiding this time. I'm going to do something for once.// (link: "//And you know what? Maybe I'll never come back from this... to this.//")[ Not wanting it to shake your newfound resolve, you shield your eyes from the purple moon while you charge towards the taxi (link: "fast as you can")[ The door's joints nearly snap from the force of you yanking it open.[[ You topple inside and slam the door.->F17]]]]]]].

You walk to your front door slowly and (link: "methodically")[ Are you prepared for this? Your life isn't much, but it's something. Something is undoubtably (link: "better than nothing")[ Failing to find a persuasive answer to your question, (link: "you walk outside the door")[ While nervously pacing around the cab, you take note of it's (link: "every detail")[ Its an older car, a type you have rarely seen. It looks like a miniature hearst, but the passenger compartment reaches higher and is (link: "more rounded")[ The "taxi" sign sits on the edge of the roof, it's entirely black and you can only make out the word through the yellowish glow refelcted from (link: "the moon")[ You make your way to the left rear door and take a deep breath before quickly opening it. After practically throwing yourself into the cab you slam the door shut and [[lock it behind you->T17]]]]]]]].

The moon provides some light in the otherwise dark taxi but fails to add color to the overwheming amount of gray that adorns the (link: "interior.")[ (link: "Gray Seat Gray Floors Gray Roof Gray Doors")[ You lay down across the back seat and close your eyes//And now I sleep?// (link: "//How the fuck am I going to sleep?//")[ [[Count Sheep->T18A]] [[Lay Quietly->T18B]]]]]

The backseat of the cab is engulfed in a lavender aura from the reflection of the moon. (link:"Everything looks and feels surreal.")[ Your confidence continues to grow as it sinks in that you've actually succeeded at (link:"performing the ritual")[ Unfortunately, your newfound (link:"zest for life")[ (link:"or zest for an altered life")[ Makes (link:"sleeping difficult.")[ (link:"//How the fuck am I supposed to sleep like this?//")[ [[Count Sheep->F18A]] [[Just close your eyes and lay down.->F19]]]]]]]]

It's nearly impossible to shut your mind off. A little voice in your head keeps asking you, (link:"what do you think you are doing?")[ You aren't quite sure how to (link:"answer the question.")[ (link:"You wanted something new.")[ (link:"You wanted an escape.")[ (link:"And you got it.")[ Whatever the consequences, and you are well aware there could be many, you feel drawn towards (link:"completing the ritual.")[ (link:"//I'm going somewhere.//")[ (link:"//I'm going somewhere.//")[ [[//I'm going somewhere//->T19]]]]]]]]]]

(link: (either: "*What the fuck!*", "*Shiiiittt!*", "*Fuck!*", "*What! Where am I?*", "*No Mommy, I don't want to go to sch—*", "*Holy fuck!*", "*Holy shit!*"))[Twiddled pop corn]

<center> [[ONE->T18C]]

<center> [[TWO?->T18D]]

<center> [[Umm...Three?->T18E]]

<center> [[FOUR->T19]]

<center> [[ONE->F18B]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

<center> [[TWO->F18C]]

<center> [[THREE->F18D]]