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

“I wonder now if we can talk openly and honestly with each other.”


“I hope so,” said Michael. “I’d really like to know why I’m being held here.”


The Man sat down next to Michael on the bed.


“Does the name Maxine McGuire ring any bells?”


“Maxine McGuire? Maxie? Yes it does.”


“She came to us earlier this week and made a very serious complaint about you.” The Man was looking straight ahead, not at Michael. “She accused you of being a homosexual. A non-citizen.”


“Apparently she has been working with you for quite some time and during that time she has made several overtures to you which you have rejected.” The Man remained focused on the darkness in front of him. “Maxine is not an unattractive woman and as a single man, Michael, I thought you would have leapt at such an opportunity.”


The Man paused again. Michael suspected it was to give him time to protest, which he didn’t. Nor would he.


Chapter 13