Reapent: 13 Souls

Nyx Morrigan

Reapent: 13 Souls

CHAPTER 1

“Now, Mr. Stevens, let’s watch together your 7 minutes of your whole life”. I whispered through his ears.

I watched how his face etches with regrets and guilt as his life rewinds in front of him like a movie, leaving him out of breath. 

Oh. My bad. He’s literally out of breath.

“Wh-y? What is happening? Wh-who are you?”

He tried to move his body to reach me but he couldn't. Well, mister, you are paralyzed and dead. 

“Shh. Don’t move, sire. You have to finish watching it so that you leave no ghost of yours behind.” I smiled forcedly. You don't want to freak out your loved ones whenever they remember you.

It’s a rule for the retrieval department to watch thoroughly the 7 minute long clip of someone’s life. If, we somehow skipped even just one second of the person’s past, that another him or the ghost of him will be stuck for a while in that certain time and place of his life. So people who are the closest to the dead for every moment of his whole life will eventually be haunted. Well, just for a short period of time though.

After we watched and judge him, his cinematic records will be collected and delivered to the forensic department. Those in the forensic department will make a summary report and send it to the higher-ups. That will be the second time where souls are judge in the purgatory, whether they are worthy enough to enter the paradise of souls or be reborn again. The forensic department also deals with demons we captured and killed and if we caught one, we have one day off. Yeah, one day. 

After I watched his Life Cinematic Records, I have to write some forms so that he can have his free ticket to purgatory then wait there until the higher-ups will give him his afterlife sentence.

“Boo. What a mediocre life you have but it’s better than sending you out straight to hell.” 

He looked at me with disbelief. He tried to struggle but luckily, he’s in death paralysis. I just invented that word. It’s like sleep paralysis but instead of your brain malfunctioning, it’s a grim reaper who is collecting your soul. Luckily, the higher-ups designed everyone’s body and soul to not move until we send him to the purgatory’s gate. 

“What is happening? Who are you? Goddamnit, answer me!”

“Woah chill there, sire. Don’t be shocked but you are dead. You died from a heart attack while you are being confined in this hospital. To answer your “who are you?” , I am your Grim Reaper. “

Judging by the way he looks confuse and smiling both at the same time, he is a non-believer.

“Grim Reaper? This ain’t a fairytale. I will sue this hospital for waking me up at 2 o’clock in the morning for this prank!”

Who in the right mind has the guts to roamed around the hospital wearing a black robe and a scythe at 2 o’clock in the morning?

Oh, I forgot. We can’t be seen by people around us if we wrap this black robe. The only thing that ruined this get-up is the thick black-rimmed glasses. We use these glasses to see demons and also the remaining time of humans. But of course, we can’t use it anytime.

First, if it’s our turn for daily reaping, we have to go first to the administrative department. They are the ones who keep the weapons for the demons and the glasses. They also provide us our salary. 

That make you raise your eyebrow, right?

Yes, even though we are grim reapers, we also live together with humans. We can’t feel hunger and sleepiness but we still have the same emotional hormones as them. We are also humans before, too. We, grim reapers are greatly aware that this job is a punishment for what we have done. 

I sighed. That frustrated kind of sigh.

“Okay, I’m tired of this sh*t. I just want to rest already.”

For the nth time today, 

“Denny Stevens. 64 years old. Time of Death is 2:15 A.M. due to heart attack. Lived a Mediocre Life with a little to moderate committed sins, I, Nyx Morrigan from the East City Grim Agency is giving him permission to enter the purgatory to judge his soul. You will now ascend.”

Then the sounds of the hospital heart rate monitor, surround my ear. It’s the cue for me to leave now. 

————

“Nyx, are you done with today’s soul quota?” Miss Demi looked at me with her tired eyes as she received my scythe and retrieval list. 

“Can I file a complaint about the retrieval list, again? It really irritates me that it wouldn’t show the whole list of the souls that I will collect then it will just automatically light up when I’m doing something important?” I crossed my arms then raised my chin a little to intimidate her. 

“Some things interfere with fate, Nyx. The name will just only show up if they are already dead. “ she answered and looks at me like I’m the most stupid grim reaper in our agency.

“Can I just have good s*x for once, Miss Demi?”

Oops, I slipped. 

“You know that having s*x with a human can make them crazy!” Oops, she’s really mad right now. I think she was a nun in her past life.

“Having me on top can make them really crazy, Miss Demi.” I teased her more.

“Oh come on, Miss Demi. They will just think that we are some succubus.” I added.

“There is no “we” in that gross activity you are participating and never compared us to that lustful demons.” she then touches her rose-colored rosary.

“I really think you’re a nun in your past life, Miss Demi. It really suits your personality and your face.” she rolled her eyes then look at the ballpen in my pocket.

“I also think that you are a teacher in your past life but you are more naughty than your students, Nyx.”

I felt a pang in my chest when I looked at the ballpoint pen in my pocket. Our trainer in the personnel department once mentioned that the things that we carry in the afterlife as we turned as a grim reaper are the most important thing that we treasured when we are alive. 

“It is so ironic that I don’t look like I’m good at studying but the most treasured thing of mine is a ballpoint pen.” I tried to laugh but I feel really uneasy when this thing is mentioned.

“You’re wasting my time. Fill up already the logbook.” 

“Okay, sister” 

“Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you. The headmistress is assigning you to a new job.” I stopped then look at her nervously.

“Th-the headmistress? Is this a punishment again?” 

She smirked. Oh no, this is bad.

“She’s assigning you to a university. Look’s like you’re gonna collect a lot of souls from this job, Nyx.”