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

Brenda brought the car to a stop. Immediately they were surrounded by Black Guards.


Michael felt his breathing quicken. “Fuck,” he muttered.


“Keep it together,” Bevan whispered. “It’s just a check.”


“Everyone out of the car. Identification cards.”


The best credits can buy,Bevan had said when he handed everyone their fake identification cards earlier. That knowledge still didn’t stop Michael’s heart from beating a tattoo. He hoped the screaming panic he felt inside wasn’t visible on the outside.


Each of the Black Guards examined an identification card and the face of its corresponding owner. Then taking the cards, they returned to one of the white vans.


“They’re running them though the computer.” Bevan’s voice was barely audible.


“They arealright, aren’t they?” whispered Michael.


“I damn well hope so,” mumbled Brenda.


“What are they doing over there?” asked Rosemary. “No amount of credits is worth this.”


“Shut up,” said Brenda. “Here they come.”


Chapter 23