Oh Muse- Thy name is Deadline

I've discovered something about the way I write. Much better under pressure- I'm talking about planet-sized, crushing, coal-into diamond type pressure.
Otherwise known as a deadline.
Deadline. When you look at that word, it's even kind of chilling isn't it? Makes one wonder about the derivation.
Dead...line. As in (cue crypt-keeper voice)  "After this line is passed you shall be dead....Bwaahahaha." 
So my muse, I've decided is a deadline. Represented in form by something like the ghost of...