The package is small and rectangular, about the size of a hardcover novel. Epel doesn't recall ordering anything recently, yet his name is labeled clear as day. The address is not listed, suggesting that this did not go through any postal service. Then who could have sent this?
He inspects the box for a bit, then jumps straight to opening it with a knife. What he finds is even more perplexing: a VHS tape written in red marker, "Oct. 31, XXXX".
Epel steps back. The date matches that of the day when Deuce was last seen or heard from. It has to be a coincidence, right? He looks into the box again, finding the corner of a folded sheet behind the video tape. The sheet, when unfolded, reads, "Watch this alone if you wish to know of your friend's fate."
He glances at the door leading to Jack's bedroom. Though he questions the motives of the tape's sender, he would rather not risk invoking their wrath by dragging someone else into this. If the video contains evidence, he can bring it to the police for them to handle–if they're willing to bother reopening a case they put no effort into. The paper crumples in his hands. Screw the police! I'll take this into my hands!
Burning with a bright glimpse of hope, Epel takes the tape and marches to the living room. The technology available to him in rural Harveston is limited and archaic, but he received a TV and VHS player as a graduation gift and it's proving to be well worth it. He had some help from his more tech-savvy friends from Ignihyde; their modifications allowed the devices to function using magic-based sources, reducing the reliance on electrical sockets. With all the components in place, he pops in the tape.
