Rob’s eyes Jerked open suddenly. What had that sound been, and where was he? Was this the afterlife? No, that wasn’t right… as the sleepy haze began to subside he recognized the dash of his Chevy Buik. Well, that explained the where, but why? Shouldn’t he be at work? The sound came again and Rob turned to it, realizing someone was tapping on the passenger side window. He took a moment to study the stranger, the sunken eyes and intense features telling the story of a man who’d seen too much. Rob could relate.
The stranger pointed to himself, then to the passenger seat and Rob, not knowing what else to do, unlocked the door and allowed the strange passenger in. There followed an uncomfortable silence as the stranger sat there awkwardly,seeming as if he was compoosing himself. Finally, when the awkwardness got too uncomfortable, Rob cleared his throat and spoke
“So, uh… who are you?”
The stranger seemed surprised “Oh, you don’t recognize me?” He stared at Rob for a moment before realization crossed his face and he nodded to himself, apparently having remembered something. He then motioned his head towards the hood of the buick where Rob could now see an iconic black hood and scythe lay unattended.
“I usually take the robe off. It just freaks people out. As for the scythe, well I dont think we’ll be needing that anyway.
Rob nodded, he got that part right.
“So, are you here to… take me… on?” Rob found he was having trouble finding the words
Death exhaled softly and shook his head “No, actually I’m here to convince you to stay.”
Rob scoffed “You want me to live? You must be the worst Grim Reaper ever.”
Death looked away nervously, “Yeah I uh, I get that alot…”
“So, you do this often?” Rob was shocked when the Grim reaper nodded solemnly.
“Why have’t I heard of this? You’d think someone would mention it?”
“If you choose to stay, you won’t remember most of this. You’ll remember this strange dream you had about a stranger and a decision you didn’t want to make but 90% will fade as soon as you wake up and the other 10% won’t make any sense”
There was a long pause as Rob considered this.
“What’s… What’s on the other side?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why not. It’s not like I’ll remember.”
“I can’t tell you because I don’t know.” Death’s tone became somewhat harsh “I swear I’ll never understand some of the living’s obsession with getting there. I was so terrified of death I fought it every second, litterally in the end. I guess I’m no different from most people in that regard, except unlike most I won and, in doing so, I inherited this full time gig you so elegantly pointed out I’m not very good at. So no, I can’t tell you happens if you don’t turn your car off, you’ll just have to find out for yourself
“Why me?” Rob asked, needing to change the subject.
“I can’t say too much, there’s rules and I can’t to influence your decision much. I will say it’s not supposed to end like this. You’re supposed to live, to create, to change the world. The early termination of your destiny is a travesty I cannot in good conscious allow.
Rob scoffed “Have you seen the world lately? Or do they not have newspapers where you come from? There’s nothing in this world worth sticking around for.”
Death shrugged “So change it. You’re smart enough, and it’s not like you don’t have resources. You know as well as I do that you don’t have to accept this world for what it is.
His pitch complete, death sat back and waited. Finally Rob, having reewched a deicsion turned the keys and removed them from the ignition.
“Okay, you win, I’ll. So now, tell me why you’re doing this.
Death’s smile turned into something malevolent as he replied
“It’s like I said: You’re destined for big things. You’ll invent, create, change history and usher in a new era. And in doing so, you are going to make me very, very successful. Now wake up Dr. Oppenheimer, and get back to work. We have history to make.