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

Michael knew already why he was being shown these images.


The women began to stroke each other’s faces, gently, tenderly. Their eyes met, and each held the other’s gaze. Slowly they leaned in, their lips connecting for a moment before parting. As their kisses became more passionate, the camera panned out so the viewer could see that one of the women had her hand, busy between the thighs of the other. Inserts flashed up detailing the look of ecstasy on the second girl’s face as her friend pleasured her.


Chapter 14