We asked them more questions, and they shared more about our family's history and the context of the video. It was a lot to take in, but I was grateful to finally have some answers.

It was as if we were under some kind of spell, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The video ended abruptly, with a shot of us looking directly at the camera, our eyes wide and our faces pale.

We snuck into Grandma's study, trying not to get caught, and managed to find the file on her computer. Alex clicked play, and we both leaned in to watch.

We looked at each other, both of us feeling a bit spooked. "What was that?" I asked.

As I left the lake house a few days later, I turned to Alex and said, "You know, sometimes the most interesting family secrets are the ones that are a little strange and inexplicable."