Michael is thirty-nine and gay. Like his little niece, Kim, who has a learning disability, he is considered a non-citizen under the draconian Normalcy Laws. Kim’s parents quietly arrange to flee to New Zealand, where the Normalcy Laws haven’t been implemented. As Michael has a good job and has been careful to hide his homosexuality, he doesn’t consider going with them. Instead, he remains behind and goes about his business as normal until one morning when he is confronted by two Black Guards. Hooded, Michael is taken to what he assumes is the Department of Law. Once people are taken there, they never see the light of day again. Elimination is the only punishment in the New World Order. There he is interrogated by The Man, a handsome officer of the Black Guards. In a desperately hopeless situation, is there any hope of surviving elimination? No one ever has in the past, but Michael discovers something about The Man that hints at his situation not being as bleak as it appears. Can he dare to hope there is a way out? Or is he so delusional that his fantasies of freedom have clouded his judgment? Under the oppressive Normalcy Laws, nothing is certain.

Forbidden

The taller of the two guards thrust his hand forward. “Identity card.”


Good manners weren’t a requirement for Black Guards.


Michael fished the imprinted plastic card out of his wallet and handed it to the Black Guard, who checked it and handed it back to him. He had barely enough time to return the card to his wallet before the Black Guards grabbed him, one under each arm, and escorted him across to the white van.


“Wait a minute,” said Michael, struggling to free himself from their iron grip. “What are you doing?”


The Black Guards remained silent and since they had all the power there was nothing Michael could do. He certainly didn’t want to make his situation any worse. Although he wasn’t exactly sure what his situation was.


Chapter 8