Regis stood in line for Judgment. Every teenager who turns sixteen gets judged on Cleansing Day. For those who have never sinned in their life, they have nothing to fear. They get sent to the nice, rich capital of Virtue, where they have everything they need, and they receive the highly valued title of Sinless, and may even fall in favor with the High Judge. Things are different for those who sin. The more sins one has committed, the worse a hellhole one gets sent to. For those lucky to have committed a few sins, they can live in the Inner City or the Outer City, but any more sins, and you get sent to some dreaded places. And the worst of all, the Underworld. Where the most sinful people get sent, and one of the poorest and most crime-ridden cities in Judgment.
Children spend most of their lives living up to the virtues, as ten of the corresponding Heavenly Virtues cleanse one Deadly Sin. Those who are more sinless have a higher chance of receiving a boon of the Gods, which is a joyous occasion.
Unfortunately, I have sinned.
I have no idea how much or when, but I felt that I had sinned. My parents believed that their kid was completely sinless, but my gut said otherwise.
And the Judges know when you have sinned.
My best friend Kaizen nudged me and nodded towards the elevated platform before the desk where three imposing figures sat.
"Look! Stacy's getting Judged. She spent all of yesterday bragging about how she was perfectly sinless. Man, I hope she has at least a few sins."
"Never wish sins on someone!" My mother's hand flashed across his face, tousling his long black hair.
"But Ms. Meadows, she is the worst person in the wor-"
His voice was silenced by the Judges, announcing the results of Stacy's Judging
"Miss Stacy Wellgreen, you have been Judged. You have committed one sin, the sin of Pride. You have been sentenced to live in the Inner City. You are dismissed."
Kaizen smiled at Stacy's horror. Her parents glared at her with such malice that not even the Gods could withstand their gaze.
"Wait! WAIT! I can cleanse my sin! Please! Please give me another chance!"
Her cries continued as she was led from the room by two armored guards, leading her to her new home in the Inner City.
"Ha! I bet you that her sin was her boasting yesterday! Good riddance!"
I opened my mouth to speak, but I was interrupted.
"Kaizen Wolken, please advance towards the Judges and prepare to be Judged."
Kaizen gave me a smirk and went up to the stand, where the Judges gazed at his sins. Kaizen looked back at me and gave me a look, where he mouthed 'seven'. I assumed it was the number of sins he committed. After a bit, the Judges spoke:
"Mr Kaizen Wolken, you have been Judged. You have committed seven sins. You have been sentenced to live in the Outer City. You are dismissed."
I was glad that Kaizen was still near the capital. If he had committed a few more sins... and he would have had to be sentenced to The Sinner Lands, where those who sin live. It encompassed all that was outside the City, and was mainly wilderness with many urban towns. Nature is full of dangerous monsters, and the Titans roam the wild as well, making it very dangerous to explore.
I realized that this might be the last time I saw my best friend. After all, I would be Judged, and unless I had ten sins or fewer, it would be difficult to see him again. The same goes for my parents. A chill crawled down my spine, as if I was being watched. In the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a figure, but as soon as I saw it, it disappeared. I went over to check, but the Judges had other plans
"Regis Meadows, please advance towards the Judges and prepare to be Judged."
The voices of the Judges were always the same, the same as when my sister became the first in my family to have received a Blessing of a God and be accepted into the God-force. She went to live in the High Castle of Virtue, and probably forgot all about her family and her little brother. That was seven years ago, and I still miss her dearly.
"Mr Regis Meadows, you have been Judged."
I held my breath. This was the moment that decided my fate, and if I lived past twenty, and if my parents would continue to love me. They expect me to be like them and have zero sins.
"You have committed six hundred and seventy-eight sins."
My heart froze, and time seemed to stop. Six hundred and seventy-eight sins. There was no way that was how much. There had to be a mistake!
"You have been sentenced to live in the Underworld."
'No... it can't be! In the Underworld, I'll last less than a week! If mother doesn't kill me first...'
Kaizen, from across the room, looked at me in horror. All eyes were focused on me, ranging from shock to horror to glee.
"You are dismissed."
Powerful hands grabbed me from behind, and everything turned black.