Chapter 157

Zarin stood behind his parents' home, hiding in the woods. His heart was going wild inside his chest, and he felt something strange in his gut. It made him want to vomit. 

No, he couldn't do this. He was almost sweating. He was full of guilt and shame that he couldn't even manage to take a step forward. He didn't know how long he had been standing there, trying to convince himself that he could do it. That everything would be alright. 

He would do as Zamiel said. See this as his punishment and make it all up to his parents. But no matter what he said to himself, he couldn't bring himself to walk out of the woods. 

He kept hiding there, thinking of what he would say if he went to his parents. How he would apologize, how he would look at them without wishing that the ground would open up and swallowing him alive.