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 was glad to have a chance to relax, and when Brenda cracked open a bottle of wine she had brought along, everyone cheered.


After dinner Rosemary and Brenda collected their cigarettes, refilled their glasses, and informed the boys they were “going for a smoke.”


Bevan, who was sitting with his back against an old oak tree, gestured for Michael to move closer.


“Scoot over here,” he said, patting his lap. “That’s it. Put your head down.”


Michael rested his head on the firm muscle of Bevan’s thigh. It was warm against his ear and cheek. He closed his eyes and smiled as Bevan began stroking his hair.


“This is nice, isn’t it?” said Bevan. “I never thought I’d ever be doing this with another man.”


“I know what you mean,” agreed Michael, who also couldn’t believe he’d be sharing such intimate moments with a high-ranking official of the Black Guards.


Chapter 24