Little Black Book

Imagine waking up one morning, rolling over in your bed, snoozing your phone alarm, and checking your bank account. Now imagine seeing a deposit for 20,000 dollars in your bank account. I had never leapt out of bed so fast in my life. Already I was thinking of the possibilities. Paying off a few months worth of rent. Catching up on missed bills. Finally getting a new tv to replace the fat cubed one in my living room. Things I had promised my taxes and unemployment towards once it finally came in.

At first I thought that's where the money had come from. But when I looked again, the little bit where it said the deposit had come from was glitched. Into that weird zalgo text looking shit. I couldn't make it out. I was desperate, however, now wasn't the time to question where it had come from. So with my phone in hand, a poptart for breakfast, and static from the tv, I went to start spending a bit of my new small fortune. This is where I had come into the first problem this money caused me. I couldn't actually spend it. It kept declining the payment as I tried to shove $2000, roughly 3 months of my rent, through the online payment option. I checked my bank account again just to make sure I hadn't been dreaming.

The $20000.01 was still there.

"Well that's just cruel," I mumbled to myself, chucking my phone down beside me on the couch. Quick to frustrate, I touched the tips of my fingers to my thumbs. A method both to calm anxiety, and anger. I would just have to call the bank, and find out why the money wasn't being taken out. I figured if my account was frozen, that I wouldn't be able to log into it at all. Even then, wouldn't the bank have notified me about this sort of thing? Now that I think about it...I never got a notification for the deposit either. There wasn't a text from my bank, and a quick check to my email confirmed that I hadn't received anything new there either. Aside from a another late notice email from my landlord.

"I get it Sharon, eviction notice coming," I rolled my eyes. I start to psych myself up to make the call to my bank. How am I going to word that I was just...given 20000 dollars? From some mystery source? But that it didn't seem to exist?

This should have been the best thing that ever happened to me, and it was turning out to be a right pile of crap.

I scroll through my contacts for my bank, and right as I'm about to press send call. Three knocks on my door. Soft, but patterned, like a timid child playing ding dong ditch. I assume that's what it is, but three more knocks quickly follow. This time louder and more insistent. The kind of knock that's too loud, coming from impatient adults. I was hesitant to go open the door to my flat. But maybe someone's kid had rammed their bike into my car, broke my mailbox. Something along those sorts, an accident I could quickly get squared away (and hopefully not too damaging) so I could return to my real problem.

When I opened the door, there was a kid there. At least, I thought for a moment they were a kid. They were short enough to be one. They had a gray cloak wrapped around their shoulders, the hood pulled up and hiding their face. The only thing that tipped off they were maybe older than I first thought, was the shaking, withered hand, raised to knock again.

"Can I help you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at them.

"I am here for the book." Was their immediate reply. Their voice seemed to shake the door frame slightly. And I couldn't tell their age or gender from it. It was...layered. It was the high pitch of a little girl, and the deep shaky pitch of an old man. I went to shut the door, but their foot stopped it.

"You...found a black book yesterday," they continued. "It is very important to me. I need it for my work."

My heart had leapt to my throat, and I recall the black book that I had found on the sidewalk. It was a completely blank notebook. I figured I could use it for my writing. I looked around. Something wasn't right about this person. I had to wonder if I was being punked somehow. Were there hidden cameras, watching me?

"Right...your book," I offered a smile. "Come right on in." I stepped to the side, allowing them to shuffle past me into my home. I swear for a moment they're floating, rather than walking. This is starting to get too weird for me,

"So, what kind of prank show is this?" I ask.

"I do not understand what you mean." We stand in my hallway, staring at each other. I think they're staring at me anyway?

"Oh you understand! The weird voice filter, the black book, the creepy robe," I cross my arms, not willing to play this game. "Clearly this is like some set up for a jumpscare or something! I'm not buying it."

“Ah...that is what you mean,” The person paused again. “I can see where you would think something like that is afoot. But I assure you this is no prank. The book is necessary for my work. For keeping the balance of life and death.”

Okay, this was getting cryptic. The bloke was either high or nuts, but I was putting my bets on both. I frowned, shoving my hands into my pajama pants pockets,

“Righttt, you mind elaborating on that….?” I trailed off, obviously not knowing their name.

“You can call me Grim, if you must,” they replied.

“Grim...that some goth name or something like that?”

“No.”

“So...about the book? If you use it for work, why are all the pages blank?”

“Because the contents of the pages only show if I am near, as it does for any reaper,” Grim acted as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. I didn’t know what to say, motioning for them to continue. “The book itself is my ‘To Die’ list. Without it, I cannot reap those on their destined date of death.”

“You need to have the book with you to do that?” I ask, deciding that this person was definitely crazy. Not the harmless sort of crazy either. It was the ‘I needed to sneak away and call the cops kind of crazy.’

“Well...no. But I have a terrible memory, the book helps.” Grim goes quiet, studying me. I try to make sure that I don’t look as though I don’t believe them, I don’t want them putting me on their ‘To Die’ list. I take a step back, turning to go to my room.

“I’ll go get your bo-” I start, before they interrupt me.

“I deposited the reward for finding my book into your account already. The 20,000. You can’t spend it yet.” Grim explained. “Once you give me my book, and I leave, it will be completely available to you.”

They knew about the 20,000? I didn’t know what to make of that, I hadn’t messaged or called anyone about it yet. Even more so they knew I couldn’t spend it, a very specific detail. I hesitated, wondering if I should make a break for it and call the cops. I just nodded my head, before turning on my heel and going back towards my bedroom. I could feel Grim watching me as I go to my room and shut the door behind me. The little black book is on my nightstand. I wondered what would happen if I called the police. Would the 20000 disappear from my account? Would they actually do anything about this strange person, given he hadn’t tried to attack me, and I had invited him in the first place.

I pick the book up off the nightstand. The sooner I gave this back to Grim, the sooner I wouldn’t have to deal with them anymore. It was a free 20000 practically, just for not throwing this little notebook away. Doesn’t matter if they were crazy or not. Curiously, though, I flip the notebook open. What were once blank pages, now have pictures, names, details of how they’re doing to die. Birth dates and death dates. The book shakes in my hands, for how strange this situation is. I flip through the pages. I don’t come across anyone I know.

Then I find my name. Ash Sinclaire. I’m going to die tomorrow. The cause of death just says “Vehicular accident.”

My heart stops. This can’t be real. But if this was what Grim really said it was...no wonder they were so willing to share this with me. But they were forgetful, they said so themselves. I check over my shoulder to make sure they haven’t snuck up on me. I don’t know if I really believe Grim or not.

Either way, I rip the page out and stuff it in my pocket.

I bring the book back to Grim, and hold it out to them. They take it from my hand, running their fingers over the cover reverently. They seem far more appreciative than one would expect to get one notebook back. Grim held the book close to their chest.

“You did not damage it, did you?” they ask.

“No, I just found it on the sidewalk and brought it back here,” I replied calmly. Grim nods, opening the front door to leave.

“Thank you, Ash,” they said as they stepped out. As they turned back to look at me, I could see their wrinkled lips from beneath their hood. They cracked into a smile,

“I will see you tomorrow.”