Chapter 7: When Your Heart Stops Beating

Momo eventually stopped in front of a park. Several large trees grew in clusters throughout the field, some of them bearing pink flowers. In the distance, Morrigan could see a large lake, fed by a small waterfall.

"This place looks nice," Morrigan said.

"Merrrrow," Momo agreed. He started looking around, but there was no sign of his wife anywhere. It had been two months after all, and in the world of a stray cat, two months could be a very long time.

She asked Noir, "Why does he think she may have come here?"

"He says this is a popular spot for strays. Sometimes the young ones come here in hopes of getting adopted by a human family."

"I see…" Morrigan said as they started walking towards the playground area. "Maybe we can ask another stray if they have seen her?"

"You do realize this is not typically what my job entails," Noir said, annoyance in his voice.

"Well, I didn't ask to be a reaper and I'm not forcing you to help, so quit complaining."

"No, you are not the one forcing me, but I'm not exactly here because I want to be."

Morrigan ignored Noir's complaints when she spotted a cat peeking out of one of the bushes. "Oh look, let's go try asking him."

"Mreeeow," Momo said, then walked over to the bush, Morrigan and Noir following him.

The cat in the bushes had an inky black coat and bright yellow eyes, which contrasted sharply with the surrounding greenery. As Momo approached, the cat cautiously stepped out, his posture erect and tail flicking nervously.

"Mrrrroow?" Momo inquired, his voice betraying a touch of hope.

Noir repeated the dead cat's question to the living one.

The black cat took a moment to answer, then replied with a hesitant meow.

"He says he has seen a grey cat with a white ring on her tail. She was caring for some kittens a few weeks back, but he has not seen her recently."

"So she had the litter, but…" Morrigan's heart sank. "What happened to them?"

Another series of meows. Noir hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "He says that there was talk amongst the strays about the gray cat. Many believed she had died during one of the colder nights."

Momo's body drooped in visible despair. A mournful meow escaped him, echoing the sorrow in his heart.

"Are her kittens okay?" Morrigan asked, dreading the answer.

"He doesn't know," Noir answered. "However, the likelihood of some kittens surviving on their own is quite low."

Morrigan's eyes welled up, and she knelt down beside Momo and reached out to pet him but stopped. "Noir… c-can I?"

"He is already a spirit, you can touch him."

Morrigan softly petted his back as Momo weakly leaned into her touch.

"I'm so sorry, Momo," she whispered.

For a few moments, there was a profound silence. The chirping of the birds and the distant laughter of children playing seemed to be muffled by the weight of what they'd learned.

Momo kept his head down, defeated. His tail drooped, and he closed his eyes as if preparing himself for the inevitable. "Mrrrroow," he softly vocalized.

Morrigan sniffed, feeling a tear roll down her cheek. "What did he say?"

Noir meowed at Momo, but Momo had no response. "Morrigan… I think he is ready. It is time."

"Are you ready Momo?" Morrigan asked, looking at him, but the cat didn't respond. He would not understand her either way. "Noir, please just wait a little longer."

"He's suffering, Morrigan. I know you wish to help, but there is nothing you can do. All you can do is offer him passage to the afterlife where he will find peace."

"What if the kittens made it? What if a human came along and adopted them? That other cat said he was only sure about the mother!"

"Even if that is the case, how do you expect to find them?"

"We can ask around more! You never know! We might be close! If we try just a little harder!"

Noir's deep eyes softened as he took in Morrigan's anguish. "Morrigan, I understand. Truly, I do. But sometimes, we have to make the hard decisions. Being a reaper is not about what feels right, it's about what needs to be done."

Morrigan looked away, trying to hold back her tears. She knew in her heart that Noir was right. But it was difficult to let go. "It's just… I feel for him. He has been searching for so long..."

Noir came over to her, and to her surprise, he rested a paw on her leg. "Momo's spirit is suffering. We have a duty to guide souls like him to find the peace they deserve."

A deep sigh escaped Morrigan. She gazed at Momo, who lay still, the hope in his eyes fading more with each passing moment.

She gently pulled Momo in her arms, holding him close, feeling the weight of his spirit and the love he had for his family. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "I'm so sorry, Momo. I promise, you'll find peace and be reunited with your loved ones."

Taking a deep breath, she let go of Momo and stood. "Ask him if he is sure."

"No," Noir said. "Don't make it his decision. That is too hard."

Morrigan sniffed, brushing away a tear. "Then at least… tell him he'll see his wife in the next life, and if his kittens are there, he'll see them too! If they are not… then that means they found a home, and they are safe and happy." She tried to hold herself together but felt the tears rolling down her cheeks. Looking down at Momo, who laid so helplessly on the ground, she felt her heart breaking. "Please make sure he knows that, Noir."

Noir closed his eyes for a moment, then began meowing. When Noir's speech was done, Momo looked up, making eye contact with her. He let out a few soft meows.

Noir translated. "He thanked you. He thanked you for trying your best, but he is ready to move on. He knows he will see his wife, and is grateful to you for everything." He paused for a while as Morrigan stood still. "Morrigan, it's time."

She nodded and reached to the side, manifesting the scythe. As she grabbed the pole with both hands the light formed the blade at the top.

"One clean swing, Morrigan."

Morrigan's hands trembled, struggling to find a semblance of composure. "I'm so sorry, Momo," she whispered.

She raised the scythe above her head, letting its gleaming blade catch the light. As she brought it down, her tears blurred her vision but she did not hesitate. The blade cut through the air and Momo's form shimmered, dispersing into an ethereal mist before disappearing entirely.

The weight of the scythe vanished from her hands, disappearing just as suddenly as it appeared. Her legs gave way, and she crumbled to her knees. She buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking violently with every sob that ripped through her. The grass beneath her felt cold and uninviting, but she didn't care.

Noir looked at the place where Momo had once been, then to Morrigan, who was now crumpled on the ground. "You did well," he remarked simply, his voice flat and unemotional.

Morrigan's head shot up, her tear-filled eyes blazing with anger. "Well?" she spat out. "I just reaped the soul of an innocent creature who had lost everything! And all you have to say is that I did well!?"

Noir shifted slightly. "I meant that you performed your duty. It's not easy, and you did it."

Morrigan pushed herself off the ground, standing tall despite the tears streaking her face. "Don't you dare reduce it to some performance metric!" she yelled at him. She didn't care if anyone saw her yelling at a cat. It did not matter to her now. "I don't give a damn about your approval on how I performed my duty or whatever the hell this is! I don't want to hear it!"

Noir remained silent for a moment, his deep yellow eyes studying her intently. "Very well," he said. "I was... inconsiderate in my words. I apologize."

Even the apology didn't do much to calm her down, but his next words set her right back over the edge. "Now, can we please start working through your list? Already there are likely souls lingering and—"

"Shut up!" Morrigan screamed at him. "I don't want to hear about your list! I'm not some damn tool that just goes around murdering because a fucking list told me to!"

"It is not murder."

"I'm…" she turned, her voice lowering. She wanted to say, I'm going home, but she wasn't sure if she even had a home anymore. Not while looking like this. "Just… leave me alone…"

She turned away and as she looked up she saw a dark figure hovering nearby. His robes blew in the wind, and his skeletal face shadowed darkly under his hood. Skeletal fingers clutched an ornate scythe—the blade gleaming in the dim light.

"Master…" Noir said, quickly walking over to him and looking up. "I apologize for the delay. Morrigan has been struggling with her duties."

Death, silent for a moment, shifted his gaze from Noir to Morrigan. "Struggles are a part of growth," he responded, his voice echoing like the distant tolling of a bell, cold yet somehow understanding. "Do not worry, I've already taken care of her entire list for the day. There is nothing to worry about, and you have performed your duties well, Noir."

"But master… I…" There seemed to be genuine regret in Noir's voice.

Death raised a skeletal hand, signaling Noir to be silent. "There are times when it's necessary for me to intervene. I have seen many reapers throughout the millennia, each with their own challenges. Morrigan's empathy is both a strength and a vulnerability."

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here," she said.

Death turned his gaze to her. Despite the fact she was staring at a talking skull, there was some kind of warmth in his gaze. It didn't make any sense, as she should be terrified, but she wasn't.

"Morrigan, come with me," Death said, soothingly. "I've completed your list and most of my own today. However, I still have one more reaping to attend to. I would like you to accompany me."

"Why?" Morrigan spoke in a low voice.

"To show you another perspective," Death answered, the hollow voids where eyes should be seeming to search her. "I wish to give you a glimpse into the depths of the duty we uphold. Sometimes, seeing the bigger picture helps one find clarity."

Morrigan hesitated. The thought of watching another soul being reaped so soon was daunting.

Noir's ears perked up. "Morrigan, if you can not trust in me, please trust in my master."

Taking a deep breath, Morrigan nodded. "Alright. I'll come with you."