Madison
Madison
What’s up, guys!?
Madison
Madison
Welcome back to my channel!
Madison waves at the camera on her laptop.
She’s sitting in her stylish bedroom.
There’s plush white fur everywhere.
Madison
Madison
As always, we’re going to be talking about makeup today.
Madison
Madison
But remember…
Madison
Madison
A good foundation is only as strong as the beautiful person underneath it.
Madison beams.
Madison
Madison
It’s Makeover Monday…
Madison
Madison
And you know what that means.
Madison holds up a handful of lotions, brushes, and color palettes.
Madison
Madison
New products!
Madison shakes with excitement.
She quickly eyes her computer screen.
Hundreds of thousands of people are watching her live broadcast.
Madison
Madison
Okay.
Madison
Madison
I’ve got a lot to show you.
Madison
Madison
But first, I want to thank this week’s sponsor…
Suddenly, Madison’s screen goes black.
Her bubbly persona quickly fades.
Madison
Madison
Oh.
Madison
Madison
Uhh, one sec.
She reaches for the keyboard.
But before she gets to it, something pops up on the screen:
“I know what you did with the money.”
Madison cocks her head to the side and tries to make sense of the message.
Madison
Madison
What?
She taps the spacebar and her screen goes back to normal.
She’s still live…
With thousands of more viewers joining every second.
Madison shakes it off and smiles for her audience.
Madison
Madison
Sorry about that, guys!
Madison
Madison
As I was saying…
Madison
Madison
I’d like to thank this week’s sponsor, Dewy Glow.
Madison
Madison
If you want your skin to glow like mine, be sure to check out—
Madison’s screen goes black again.
Then another message pops up:
“I know who you really are.”
Madison gets lost in the words for a moment.
Then she remembers her audience.
Madison
Madison
Sorry!
Madison
Madison
Looks like I’ve got some kind of glitch today.
Madison taps the keys on her keyboard, but nothing happens.
That is, until another message pops up:
“This isn’t a glitch, Madison.”
“It’s retribution.”
Goosebumps rise across Madison’s flawless skin.
Then her screen splits in two as a new window pops up.
It’s the homepage for Liberty Eastern Bank.
Madison watches as the username is filled in.
It’s *her* username:
MakeupMadison.
Madison
Madison
Hey, wait…
The password fills itself in just as quickly.
And with one click, all of Madison’s banking info pops up.
It’s clear that her YouTube career pays big.
There’s well over ten million dollars in her account.
Madison
Madison
Whoa!
Madison
Madison
What’s going on?
Madison
Madison
That’s my…
On the black side of the screen, another message pops up:
“Your fans are still watching, Madison.”
“Don’t let them down…”
Madison’s jaw drops.
She looks to the camera on her laptop…
And remembers how many eyes are on her.
Then, without warning, $10,000 is transferred out of Madison’s account.
Another message comes in:
“Talk to them, Madison. Or I’ll just have to take more.”
Another $10,000 disappears.
Panic fills Madison’s eyes.
Madison
Madison
Umm…
Madison
Madison
I know I probably look crazy to all of you right now.
Madison
Madison
But I think I need help.
$50,000 is transferred out of Madison’s account.
Madison
Madison
Oh my god.
Another message comes through:
“Don’t you say a word about me.”
Madison swallows hard as more messages arrive:
“On with the video, Madison.”
“You wouldn’t want to disappoint your sponsors.”
Madison looks at the camera and forces a smile.
Madison
Madison
Okay.
Madison
Madison
Ummm…let’s get back on track.
Madison’s eyes dart around the room.
Madison
Madison
We’re going to start with a…
She holds up a bottle, but the stress is too much.
For the life of her, she can’t remember what it is.
More funds disappear from her account.
Madison
Madison
Umm…
Madison
Madison
I’m so sorry.
The transfers speed up—
One after another.
Madison
Madison
This is…
Suddenly, Madison eyes the power button on her laptop.
Madison
Madison
Bye!
She smashes the button and her computer goes dead.
Madison races to her plush white bed and grabs her phone.
She opens her banking app.
Funds are still flying out of her account.
Each transfer is for a different amount.
She hits the “help” button…
And waits frantically for someone to answer her call.
Customer Service
Customer Service
Liberty Eastern Bank, how may I help you?
Madison
Madison
Oh my god.
Madison
Madison
Thank you so much!
Madison
Madison
Some psycho hacked into my account.
Madison
Madison
They’re stealing my money as we speak.
Customer Service
Customer Service
Okay ma’am.
Customer Service
Customer Service
We’re going to take care of this for you.
Customer Service
Customer Service
I just need to verify your identity.
Madison
Madison
I’m Madison LeRae.
Madison
Madison
157 Del Prado Court in Los Angeles.
Madison
Madison
And my security code is…
Madison runs to a beautiful mirror-covered nightstand.
She pulls it open…
And fumbles through a stack of papers until she finds the right one.
Madison
Madison
84005.
Customer Service
Customer Service
Thank you.
Customer Service
Customer Service
Your account has been verified.
Madison looks at the app.
Money is still flying out of her account.
Madison
Madison
Okay.
Madison
Madison
It’s still happening.
Madison
Madison
So like, what do we do now?
Madison
Madison
I want my money!
There’s silence on the other end of the phone.
It lingers for an unbearable amount of time.
Then, finally…
Customer Service
Customer Service
Well, unfortunately…
Customer Service
Customer Service
You haven’t learned your lesson yet.
Madison tenses up.
Madison
Madison
What?
The voice on the other end of the line starts laughing.
Madison
Madison
What’s going?
Madison
Madison
Why are you laughing at me?
Eventually, the laughter settles.
Customer Service
Customer Service
You think I can hack your computer and not your phone?
Madison goes white.
Madison
Madison
Who are you!?
Madison
Madison
Why are you doing this to me?
Madison
Madison
I’m calling the cops and you’re going to jail!
Madison
Madison
You can’t just take people’s money!
The unknown voice lets out a long sigh.
Unknown
Unknown
Madison, do you remember the fundraiser you did last year?
Madison
Madison
I do a ton of fundraisers.
Madison
Madison
Which one are you talking about?
Unknown
Unknown
Brookside Memorial Hospital.
Unknown
Unknown
You raised two million dollars with one video.
Unknown
Unknown
That’s absolutely incredible.
Unknown
Unknown
Your fans love you.
Unknown
Unknown
And they support your causes.
Unknown
Unknown
Or at least, they think they do…
Madison’s mouth dries up.
Unknown
Unknown
Two million dollars.
Unknown
Unknown
All to help families pay for operations they couldn’t afford.
Unknown
Unknown
That’s life-saving money.
Unknown
Unknown
But you never sent it, did you?
Madison
Madison
What?
Madison
Madison
Yes I did.
Madison
Madison
I mean, I’m going to.
Unknown
Unknown
It was a year ago, Madison.
Unknown
Unknown
You either donated the money, or you kept it.
Unknown
Unknown
Which is it?
Madison
Madison
I was going to send it!
Madison
Madison
I swear!
Madison
Madison
I’ve just been so busy and…
Unknown
Unknown
You had to buy yourself that new house…
Unknown
Unknown
And all those new cars you’ve been posting about.
Madison
Madison
Please just stop this.
Madison
Madison
I can get you money if that’s what you want.
Unknown
Unknown
I want my brother back!
Those words float in the air.
Madison is frozen stiff.
Unknown
Unknown
I watched your fundraiser last year.
Unknown
Unknown
I was thrilled by it.
Unknown
Unknown
My mom and I couldn’t afford my brother's operation.
Unknown
Unknown
But I knew that with your help, he’d be okay.
Unknown
Unknown
We waited weeks for those funds to come through.
Unknown
Unknown
My brother grew weaker by the day.
Unknown
Unknown
The money never came.
Unknown
Unknown
And my brother never left the hospital again.
Madison covers her face with her palm.
Madison
Madison
Look, I don’t know what to say.
Madison
Madison
I’m sorry.
Madison
Madison
I know that’s not enough for you but…
Unknown
Unknown
It isn’t about me or my family now.
Unknown
Unknown
It’s about the other families at Brookside Memorial.
Unknown
Unknown
They’re struggling to save their loved ones.
Unknown
Unknown
Now your money is finally going to give them a fighting chance.
Madison takes a long breath.
She’s furious, but she knows she’s in the wrong.
Madison
Madison
Fine.
Madison
Madison
Fair is fair.
Madison
Madison
I was going to send the two million eventually, anyway.
Unknown
Unknown
I’m glad you’re finally feeling generous.
Unknown
Unknown
Because I didn’t send them two million.
Worry climbs across Madison’s face.
Madison
Madison
How much did you send them?
Unknown
Unknown
All of it.
Madison squeezes the phone.
Madison
Madison
No!
Madison
Madison
That money is mine!!
Unknown
Unknown
Welcome back to zero.
Madison
Madison
Give it back now!
Madison tears the plush pillows off her bed and tosses them across the room.
Unknown
Unknown
You may think I’ve taken everything away from you.
Unknown
Unknown
But I actually just gave you a new life.
Unknown
Unknown
People love you, Madison.
Unknown
Unknown
Do something good with that.
Madison’s heart pounds.
Sweat pours out of her forehead…
And her eyes go wild.
Unknown
Unknown
Oh, and remember…
Unknown
Unknown
A good foundation is only as strong…
Unknown
Unknown
As the beautiful person underneath it.
Madison
Madison