I stood on the dais facing the tribunal, their red cloaked faces pointed towards me, the long pale fingers all folded over their podiums. I was guilty. Of what, not even I know.

Yesterday I had been a normal young woman living in the pacific states. I went to my assigned job, ate my allotted meals, said my mandated prayers, and spent my recreation time knitting. Yet here I stood because as I walked into the education building (where my job assignment was instructor) under the heaven light I had been bathed in red. We were told the heaven light could see our soul, know our thoughts and intentions, even before they became a fully realized idea. In the eyes of our Lord, all sins are equal, but in the Pacifics, each of the 7 deadly sins is ranked and informs the punishment.

Sloth, gluttony, and envy carry the lightest pushinshments. Those who are guilty of sloth usually are made to work the most physical jobs and their exercise allotment increases. A gluttony charge incures reduced meal allotments, an increase in exercise, and homes are stripped of all but the bare essentials. If you are found guilty of envy you are made to give away your belongings and join the communal house where nothing is yours but instead belongs to the group. If you’ve been convicted of envy, and are found to sin again, the punishment becomes collective to the entire communal house. Wrath holds a heavier fine, you must undergo ‘treatment’ until your anger has disappeared. We call this the breaking, wrath is a sin, but sadness and fear are not.

Lust and greed carry similar punishments - both deal with desire and both are forbidden. To be unmarried and found to be lusting or when you’re married and you lust for someone who isn’t your spouse - you will lose your sight. To be greedy is to lose everything. Your sense of hearing and sight will be removed.

Pride is something we don’t even talk about, except to warn children of it’s dangers. Those guilty of pride live on the streets with no assignments, no allotments, blind, deaf, and mute. To think you are better than everyone is to become no one.

I continued to contemplate my guilt when a man in a blue cloak came forward.

“I’m hear to read the conviction of Louise Marrim, unmarried woman of 27 year old, living in old Bothell of the Pacific Stayes.” He said turning to face the tribunal.

I felt myself bathed in the familiar warmth of the heaven light and the world turned red around me.

“Miss Marrim is found guilty of envy…”

I let out an audible sigh of relief

“…wrath…”

I see the cloaked figures sit up higher in their seats.

“…greed…”

I feel a draft as the doors of the courtroom open and more people stream in to hear my list of charges.

“…and pride.”

Murmurs break out all around including amongst the red cloaks.

“Order, order!” The man in blue bellows.

“Miss Marrim,” he says when things start to settle, “please take a moment to analyze and explain.”

I take a deep breath, “I am guilty of wrath - I rage and the monotony forced upon us everyday. I am guilty of greed - I desire joy, happiness, and freedom. I am proud - proud that while you’ve been hiding in your court room I’ve been sowing the seeds of new thoughts and ideas.“ the sounds behind me increase and I can hear the physical blows of flesh hitting flesh. “I have hope we as a people can bring down the tribunals across the continent that use fear and a false god to control its people. My God does not punish sins but instead forgives. He is a God of grace and mercy. I am guilty of one more sin…” I yell, as the new comers to the court room throw off their rags brandishing weapons pointed at the crimson cloaks, “…revolution!”