I had discovered an exploit. Some sketchy ‘play games, earn money’ tycoon-style game allowed me to purchase stocks which I could not afford, allowing me to rocket my net worth in the game to $1.9 septillion. Jokingly, I entered my banking information into the game’s deposit screen not thinking it would work: it did work.
The following moments were absolute glee. The realization that I would never have to worry about bills again. I was now the richest person in the world! What could ever ruin this?
The website the game is played from displays a leaderboard, showcasing the richest members—of which I was the third richest. Alongside this the site offered unsettling quizzes.
Being the richest person in the world attracts attention, especially from banks. I realized if I wanted to keep the money I had to quickly disperse it in a way that was difficult for the bank to track. Me and my grandmother jumped into her car to get to as many ATMs as possible and withdraw as much as possible. At the same time I began calling family members, trying to disperse the money into more bank accounts.
It was too late though, by the time I placed the first phone call to my mother her number redirected me to a line intended for those interested in America’s Got Talent auditions. The radio in the vehicle turned itself on, blaring an obscenely loud high-pitched buzz which jolted my grandmother, causing the vehicle to swerve off the road and crash into a tree.
No longer was I the third richest person in the world.