Joel, 25 and dying, lies in his bed surrounded my medical monitors. His mother and two sisters are with him. His cat, Gravy, watches with the usual feline detachment.
His body bucks violently, allowing his soul to escape. It hovers over his body, as though wondering whether to go to Heaven or return to its owner. It finally starts its descent. Gravy pounces on it, catches it, and pins it down.
As his master dies and the ladies weep, Gravy eats his human's soul, replenishing his own life count to nine.