[ WP ] You sit alone at a bar , when a man completely clad in black sits down beside you and says , `` The Grim Reaper needs a new protegé . You interested ? ''

The last time Jones went out was years ago. Somewhen during the times he attempted to travel around the world by bycicle. Most of his former friends prefered to hang out with their childhood friends, or built a family. It did n't help that Jones was too greedy to party. He knew that after the third drink he would start liking it, start dancing and regret about it weeks later when he needed the money. The Irish pub was the same that he used to frequent back in the days. He went early to secure a seat before the liveband started playing. Whiskey on the rocks was his choice to start the evening. Beer would have made him tired too early and whiskey had more character and flair, that made him wade through his memories with a smile. From time to time he chuckled to himself as he remembered the pensioneer who partied harder than the young folks, or how he clogged the toilet at his former workplace by trying to flush down his stained underwear after a long night out. 
 
 `` May I give you some company, Jones?'' A black man with eyes the color of a frozen river sat at his table. Jones answered with a smile and a nod. The stranger put an hourglass on the table. Not more than ten minutes were left on the clock. 
 
 `` That's a nice hourglass. It reminds me of a trophy I received when I played football as a teenager. I'd bet it's the same marble and my name was written in the same font.'' Jones said. 
 
 `` He tends to make jokes like that.'' 
 Jones supposed that the stranger was waiting for him to talk. 
 `` Why are the last grains not falling?'' Jones asked, hinting the answer already. 
 
 `` The last one is a heart attack. The old man is looking for an apprentice. He said that he needs a holiday. Whatever that's supposed to mean.'' 
 
 `` I talked with a headhunter before and I really enjoyed negotiating with him, but there does n't seem to be any room for that here.'' 
 
 `` He will make sure that you will get a refill if you decline the offer. Lodging and a horse is granted. You wo n't have to worry about your health anymore. You will get a dagger instead of a scythe though. He does n't want to rush it. You have ten minutes to decide. 
 
 The liveband started playing, bar was full and the only sign that was left from the stranger was the running hourglass. Turning it around did n't have the desirect effect as it ignored every law of physics. The kid in him wanted to know what happened if he drops it, but he figured that it was n't time for jokes like that. He thought about the last years and the future. About all the jobs that he did and how much he detested working and not having a choice because of the stupid money. About how it would go on until the last tiny grain passed through. The hourglass hypnotized him. The grains fell and fell unstoppable like a waterfall. `` That's how it is.'' He mumbled to himself until the hourglass stopped with one grain left. 
 He did n't have to look up and accepted before the stranger could ask him. The same moment that the man stood up, buttoning his overcoat the hourglass vanished. Jones had a hard time following Death's lackey to the exit, who was n't bothered by all the people and just walked through them. `` I do n't want to be rude, but what's your name?'' Jones asked. 
 `` I am sorry, I forgot that you people use names. My name is Athanasius. Jump on. We should n't keep him waiting.'' 
 
 Jones never saw a white horse before. It felt like silk and was whiter than his freshly painted livingroom, as if it was immune to dust. It was strong, elegant and smooth at the same time. _Whoever designed that horse has a lot of style._ 
 He jumped on and off they went. The horse did n't move though. The room around them moved. It was creepy and fascinating at the same time. There was not a sound or a move. The place they had just been seemed so far away until it transcended into complete darkness and a new place appeared around them again. 
 
 ______________________________ 
 
 There is a book about a plot like this from Terry pratchett. It was part of the Death trilogy. I do n't remember the name though. You should definitely check it out. It's worth a read! 

