CASE 1-1: Shadowed (DEMO) (2021)

Welcome, CASE Director. We at the CASE Directive are grateful for your expertise and willingness to evaluate our first CASE Document. Please note that this CASE file is a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). Originally found in VHS (Video Home System) format, it has been converted into a more modern digital format. Given the age of the technology involved, we understand that some may not be familiar with the devices required to access this file. Therefore, this document contains instructions on how to properly use the devices and details about the information we've already gathered.

This CASE file demands a highly capable device to operate correctly. The foundation has found a way to connect the DVD to the internet and access a machine in the CASE Directive Facility. To establish this connection, your facility-issued laptop should suffice, but if you opt to use a personal computer, it must meet certain specifications. Your computer needs at least an Intel Core i5 5200U processor running at 2.20GHz, and it must be running the experimental Windows Vista. Additionally, the built-in GPU should be more than sufficient to support the network connection. A significant amount of RAM is required to manage the connection, as opposed to ROM. A minimum of 4GB of RAM is necessary for proper function. If your computer does not meet these requirements, we recommend you use your company-issued CASE Directive laptop for the task.

The CASE file contains the following information regarding the victim, Alexi Turner, who received a letter from his friend, William, that may shed light on the case:

TRANSCRIBED COPY:
Dearest Alexi,
10/18/1981

I am writing to you today in hopes we may work together on one last project. As you’ve probably heard, I am suffering from stage 4 kidney cancer. While I’ve not lost my spirit or strength, I feel this may be my final opportunity to do something special. I believe we should film one last episode of Monster Hunt for the fans. Lake Mon-Millian in Turner County has been reported to have paranormal activity dating back to its early settlement. It has remained largely untouched for nearly 200 years, since several disappearances occurred. If this letter reaches you after my death and I cannot join you, I hope you will go in my place. This series has meant a great deal to me.

As a token of appreciation for always being there for me, I’ve left money for your daughter, Mary, upon her 18th birthday. I never had a wife, but I always considered her a daughter of my own.

I also want to let you know I met a woman named Sarah. She was the nurse who treated my burns after episode 5. We were planning to marry, but my illness has prevented it. I regret not marrying her sooner, but I don’t want to leave her without a husband to help raise our child.

Best Wishes,
~William

Sadly, William passed away from his illness before he could fulfill his plan. Alexi, honoring his final request, decided to follow through and investigate Lake Mon-Millian. The map of the lake, which William included in the letter, marks the location where the camera containing the crucial footage was found.

Monster Hunt was a documentary series that followed Alexi and William as they explored supposedly haunted and paranormal locations. The episodes usually concluded with no real evidence of monsters, except for two notable episodes. In these, an entity was caught on film, appearing to enter William’s body from his lower left side and exiting from his lower right. Severe visual artifacts were present in the footage during this event. The following episode showed William suffering severe repercussions, including:

• Severe burns at the entry and exit points.
• A persistent cough, resembling symptoms of a cold or flu.
• Difficulty breathing.

The entity being pursued is still unnamed, though it claims to be an interpretation of Abaddon, a “Fallen Angel” or demon of destruction from biblical lore. The claims regarding its identity seem dubious, as there is no visual or historical evidence to match the biblical depictions of Abaddon. The entity, a shadow-like figure, asserts it is over 2 billion years old. If true, it could have been responsible for major extinction events in Earth’s history—or it could have arisen from the aftermath of those events.

Previous attempts to directly view the VHS tape have led to strange disappearances, and anyone entering the room while the tape played reported seeing different versions of the story, with a set of four choices on the screen. When viewers later watched the tape, they saw text-based options, with corresponding choices for the remote control. However, attempts to select a choice did not appear to alter the course of the story. This suggests that the tape’s true nature might be more complex than initially understood.

Further testing has led the CASE team to hypothesize that the missing persons captured in the VHS might be uploaded into the video’s data. It remains unclear whether you, the viewer, will also be uploaded during this process. Our current theory suggests that successfully completing the trial will free you from this strange world, but failure could result in your being trapped within it.

When the VHS data was extracted, its size was found to be 9.4GB—double the storage capacity of a typical DVD. How the VHS managed to hold such an immense amount of raw data remains unknown. To allow for easier viewing, experts have modified the video. It is uncertain how these modifications will affect the story's outcome.

As you explore this CASE file, please ensure that you record your session externally, take detailed notes, and maintain vigilance. The DVD is extremely fragile, and any scratches or damage could cause the device to fail catastrophically. We wish you the best of luck, Agent. Please proceed with caution.

Best regards,
The CASE Directive Team