Sevens

Chapter three

I've always expected my reunion with Zachary to be a moment of glory, but this moment is nothing like that. It would have been a momentous occasion had this not been the point where I realize what is happening. I'm no longer in the White room, I'm in the actual Sevens sector of Janlea, the place where any person possessing an excess in one of the Seven Deadly Sins is sent. Abel had most probably left me in the room until I fell asleep so that they could transport me to Sevens without any trouble. My mother is probably shrugging off the loss of yet another one of her children. The government will probably start investigating her for signs of an excess in Sloth due to both of her children being raised poorly. And my life will probably never be the same again.

Zachary looks at me for a few moments before tears start trickling down his face. I, of all people, know that he's always been an emotional person. The first time I saw Zachary let emotion get the better of him was when my father died. The two were never particularly close, which might have contributed to Zach's decision to attempt drugs. Zachary had always been sensitive, but he's never been angry - whilst sober.

The look on his face right now is a storm of emotions. He looks sad, disappointed and angry - all at once.

"Amaro," Zachary says with a calm that completely contradicts the look in his eyes, "Why did they send you here? You didn't have any sins to your name when I left. Why would you ruin your own future like this? What sin are you here for? God, it had better not be Lust. Do you know what they do to you here if you're charged with Lust!"

My attempt at forming actual words are in vain. If I tell Zachary what I was charged for, I'm going to have to explain it. I don't think anyone has ever heard of someone being sent to Sevens for Mercy.

Zachary stares at me with disgust while I play with the only accessory my mother ever bothered to buy me.

"It is Lust isn't it? God, Amaro, you've got no clue what they do to girls who..."
"No, it's not Lust!" I interrupt, "Just listen before you carry on making assumptions. I was charged with Lust. I was never sent here for Lust. When I was at my testing they discovered I had an excess of 'Mercy to a Seven'. I didn't even know that was considered to be a sin Zach! But turns out it's the highest sin of all. A hidden eighth sin I guess."