The farm had stood on the same spot of land for nearly a century. A battered shingle road lined one edge, whilst thick bush lined the other three sides of the property. Living in the house was a father and son. On a gray cloudy day, the son went for a walk on one of the many tracks that riddled the bush. As the son walked along the track, he skipped over a small mountain stream that crossed the path. No more than fifteen minutes had past before the teen saw a dark cloaked figure standing on the path. The young boy called out, but the figure remained motionless. The teen moved closer to the figure, each step lined with terror and trepidation. The boy moved just outside of arms length when the figure turned to face the teen.

The figure was an old man, maybe seventy or so, with skin like crinkled leather and eyes like pools of ice. Stained yellow teeth erupted from blood red gums. The old man looked the boy up and down before raising a single bony finger and pointing it at the teen’s chest.

"I come for you boy" the teen screamed, turned and began running for the house. Step by step, stride by stride, the teen ran down the path. As he ran he began stumbling on roots and ruts on the trail. Moments passed before the teen began splashing through the stream. As he staggered up the other bank, he tripped and rolled onto his back. On the far side of the river, the old man stood, his finger still pointed at the teen.

"I come for you boy" the old man wheezed.

The teen screamed again and ran back home. As he ran his father stepped out of the house. The boy ran up to his father and in between pants explained that death was after him. The boy also asked his father for the keys to the ute, saying he would go into the city and hide there. The son claims that death will not find him there, after a moment his father reluctantly agrees and hands over the keys. The boy runs over to the ute and takes off in a spray of gravel.

The teen’s father turned to look where his son had come from and saw the same old man. The father demanded to know why the old man was chasing his son. The old man looked in the direction of the nearest city and in a voice edged with ice said

"I’m here to claim his soul, for you see he and I have an appointment in the city…"