The Videotape

My brother sent me a tape. A videotape. It's the kind of thing that people in modern times aren't exactly familiar with anymore. I'm not sure when the tapes started, but all I remember is that I wasn't fond of those tapes. I always had this strange fear, like I wasn't supposed to watch whatever was on those tapes. 

My father had a problem with my fear, and would get after me, telling me that tapes aren't monsters that are going to bite off my hand while I sleep. It didn't exactly help me get past my fear, much to his dismay. My brother constantly picked on me for that, and the thought of this sudden package being a joke from the past from him did cross my mind. 

However, I knew my brother. He wouldn't send me a tape as a joke. He would be in your face, all personal about it. 

I had opened the package, so confused why there was just a tape inside. I had called my brother at that moment, but he didn't answer. I picked up the tape, confused with the post it note taped to the back of the videotape. 

"Don't watch the tape."

I brought the package to the living room, and I almost dropped it. There was now a VHS in my living room, along with the Roku player I had installed to my television. I let out a scoff, again wondering if my brother had set this up without me knowing. But even I knew that was impossible. I had an alarm system set up at home, I would have known if my brother or anyone else had broken in. 

I placed the package on the couch, feeling a bit shaky. The phone rang, and I bit back a scream. I let out a nervous laugh, as I checked the caller ID. It was my brother. I answered the phone. 

"Luke, what the hell is going on -'

"Shut up, Rick. Please listen to what I have to say. Please. Don't watch the tape. You need to send it to someone else."

"Why?"

"Is there a VHS player in your living room now?"

I looked at the VHS player. It now had an ominous feeling to it, and it made me uncomfortable. It reminded me of a cougar getting ready to pounce. 

"Yes."

"Don't play the tape."

"Why would I put a tape inside of a VHS that I don't even fucking own? What the fuck is even this supernatural shit, Luke? What the hell did you do?"

"Don't play the tape. That's all I can say. Send the tape to someone else, and you must give them the same warning. Pass it on. And whatever you do, don't give in to the tape. It can get in your head. And I'm sorry. Goodbye."

"Wait -'

Luke hung up on me. I let out a frustrated cry, almost throwing the phone against the wall. Or at the VHS player. Perhaps that would have been smarter. I looked down at the tape, thinking of who I could sent the tape to. There were a lot of co - workers that I wasn't fond of, so maybe that would work in my favor. But I don't think I want to be jerk like that. 

Hopefully they wouldn't play the tape, but maybe they won't even take the warning seriously. The majority of them are the kind of people that like to horse around, and some of them like to keep to themselves. And one of them I happen to have a crush on, so that is also a bad idea. 

I picked up the tape from the package, flicking it back and forth. There was nothing wrong with it, nothing that specified that anything was menacing was wrong with it. Suddenly, the VHS player wasn't too bad either. It was inviting now, like my mother after she bakes chocolate chip cookies, extending her arms out to me and my brother for a hug. 

I walked over to the VHS player, and inserted the tape. The TV turned on by itself, showing a movie. It took me a minute to realize that it was my childhood home, and I was watching the past. My father was getting after me, telling me that the tape wasn't going to hurt me. He placed a random tape in my hand, telling me to insert the tape into the VHS player. 

I did just that, even though I was scared. 

The screen turned on, like it did in the now, showing me in the present. There was someone standing behind me. For a second, it looked like head of the person was a camera. There was a flash, and something sharp stabbed into the back of my head. I smiled, as the blood started to drip from my head, pooling around me. 

My father was right. 

There was nothing to be afraid of. 

---

A wellness check was done on Rick's residence, after he didn't show up to work for days. His body was discovered, and he was found on his knees in front of the television, his head missing. The VHS player and the tape was never found. It would be sent back to Luke, and to his horror, he would find a new post it note on the back.

"Rick watched the tape."

---

Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn