The story describes the author’s experiences playing a game called Murder in the Dark. The first time they played was in a cellar with a pool table and a player piano. The game involved turning off the lights and the boys pretending to strangle the girls, creating excitement.
However, the game was interrupted when Louise’s parents came home. The second time the author played, it was with adults and was less enjoyable but more intellectually complex. The author also mentions hearing about a poet who took the game too seriously and tried to actually harm someone.
The game involves folding up pieces of paper and having each player choose one. The player who gets the “x” becomes the detective, and the one who gets the black spot becomes the killer. The detective leaves the room, and the murderer chooses a victim, either by whispering or playfully squeezing their throat.
The victim screams and falls down, and everyone freezes except the murderer. The detective then enters the room, questions everyone except the victim, and tries to determine who the murderer is. The murderer must lie, while everyone else tells the truth.
The author suggests playing games within the game, such as making the murderer the writer and the detective the reader. The story concludes with the author expressing their sinister intentions and reminding the reader that, according to the rules of the game, they must always lie.
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