Give or Die

I find a man laying lifeless outside a convenience store with with a bundle of money and brown bag laying by his side. I walk up to investigate and see how much money is in the bundle. I try to wake the man up but he won’t wake. I call 911 immediately. While waiting for the ambulance I put the money in the bag and put it in my truck. I could use that money and it’s cash so no one knows I have it.

The police come first, then the ambulance. They ask me the usual questions. “Who are you?”, “how did you find him?”, “did you touch him?”. After they took my statement they let me leave. I went straight home and parked in the driveway.

I sat in my truck for 1 minute trying to decide if I should deposit the money or stash it. But, first I had to count it. I empty the bag in my lap. A bunch of crisp $100 blue face bills and a little black book fall into my lap. The money is all over my lap but the book catches my eye first. As I turn it over I see the ominous title in red lettering that says “Give or Die”. I open the book and see lists of names with dates. I flip to the inside front cover and there’s a caption in the red font.

“You have been chosen to play Give or Die. With this book is 200 $100 bills. You have to give 200 people $100 each in 24 hours, or you die. You must write down the date and name of each person you give to in the book. Should you complete this task, you must return this book in the bag back to where you found it. We’re watching you, so please don’t try anything funny. Since you probably don’t remember the exact time your 24 hours started, we suggest you get started!”

My heart jumped into my chest immediately. I counted the money, and there was exactly 200 $100 bills. So basically I had to pay $20,000 not to die. I can either blow it on my myself, or I can help others to save myself...

I look around to see if anyone is watching. I pull out of the driveway and drive around looking to see if I’m being watched. Then I go back to the store where I got the bag.

When I get to the store there was no trace that I even found a man dead. I walk in and ask the clerk how long ago did the police leave. He has no clue what I was asking about. He got quite disturbed when I mentioned a dead man outside his store. So I just left. I went to the spot where I found the body. It was clean as if nothing had happened at all.

I get back in my truck and the bag is still there. The Little black book and the money is still in the bag. That’s the only proof that what I saw this morning was real. I bet if I just put it back and leave like nothing happened I will be able to put all of this behind me.

I take the bag and the money and get out of my truck. I walk up to where I found the body earlier and leave it in the ground. It can be someone else’s problem....

1 hour later...

A policeman wakes me up. He tells me the store attendant found me passed out on the ground with my truck running. He thought I was dead. I get up and look for the bag and it’s gone. I’m relieved to be rid of that thing. I tell the officer I’m fine I just work a lot and fatigue caught up with me. He did a sobriety test and asked if I wanted an ambulance. I said no and went back home.

When I get back home I sit in my truck and try to recap what just happened. I reach into the center console to get a cigarette and can’t find them. When I fully open the door of the console I see the brown bag!

What is going on? I close the console door and look all around to see if I’m being watched. I don’t see a single soul outside. I pull the bag out and look inside. And sure enough the black book and 200 $100 bills are inside.

Where and how am I going to find 200 people in 24 hours that I can give $100 so I won’t die?