Daniel Tarsus sat idly at a forested bend in the railroad tracks, casually tossing stones at the trees around him. He glanced up at his more macabre companion, a train whistle sounding a short ways off.
"So you're him, huh?"
YES.
"Not as impressive as I would have thought."
TERRIBLY SORRY TO DISAPPOINT.
"I suppose you're here for me, then?"
A train whistle sounded again, decidedly closer this time.
INDEED.
"You got here a tad early, don't you think?"
YOU COULD SAY THAT. YOU COULD ALSO SAY THAT I WAS ALWAYS HERE.
"Ah. And then the only reason I can see you now is because of the..." Daniel gestured vaguely towards a pillar of steam.
THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE THE CASE.
"And I would assume I'm not...unique in this experience?"
NO.
Daniel thought for a moment.
"So tell me: If only people who are about to die can see you, what do you see when you look in the mirror?"
Death loomed in dreadful silence as the train thundered past, unabated.
INEVITABILITY.