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 sound of the door opening tore him from his thoughts. Footsteps. The Man.


Michael regarded him through narrow eyes. The slight smile on The Man’s face taunted him, made him want to punch The Man in the face, and he was not ordinarily a violent man. Again The Man was freshly shaven. His square jaw so smooth it glistened in the pale light.


“Just ‘Michael’ would be fine. I’m very well aware you know my full name.”


For a moment he couldn’t believe he had articulated his annoyance, but now that he had, he was glad. He held eye contact with The Man, challenging him with his stare.


“Very well, Michael it is then.” He looked Michael up and down. “You could do with a bath. Would you like a bath?”


Immediately The Man turned and left the room. He returned with a Black Guard. While The Man stood at the edge of the circle of light, the Black Guard came directly towards Michael. He raised his hand. In it was a syringe.


Chapter 12