The Tube

I

Jaquan came too slowly. It was so dark he couldn't see, but he could tell he was seated with his knees to his chest and leaning against a plastic wall. His body shuttered involuntary due to cold,and he became aware he was stripped of clothing.

"Dear Jesus not again," he prayed softly. He realized that he was back in the Tube "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet," a voice spoke into his head through implanted ear pieces. "There is . . ." The twenty-six year old African American caught himself. "My name is Jaquan DePaul," He said aloud. "I am from Charlotte North Carolina. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour." Suddenly the darkness was shattered by a bright pink light that blinded the African American male. He saw he was in an all too familar surrounding. The floor he was sitting on was black plated steel. A clear plastic like substance surrounded him to the height of his eight foot by three foot chamber of torment He lifted his right hand to shield his eyes and felt the wrist shackel and chain. "Come on Omar," a male voice spoke through his implants. "Lets stop this foolishness. Say with me There is no god but Allah..." "My name is Jaquan. I am a Chirstian," he said. The voice sighed.

The captive opened his eyes that were now adjusted to the bright light. He saw once again he was shackled wrist and feet with hand cuffs chained to loops in the metal floor of the tube. His light brown skin had many dark bruises across it. He slowly struggled to his feet. He ran a shakeled hand across his head. All hair had been shaved from his body. He groaned as the message began again and the pink lights started flashing on and off. For five minutes the pink lights operated in a strobe effect as the convert profession and Jaquan's chosen name and identity looped in his implanted ear pieces. Jaquan countered the mental assault by quoting the twenty-third psalm and remembering . . .

II
It was the year 2024. Jaquan was six years old. He was back at the family's home in Charlotte North Carolina. He remembered his father Frank's look of concern as he read the news ticker that rolled across the television set. Three years after what began when Donald Trump was cleared of impeachment charges was now in full affect. The states of Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and California (led by Muslim controlled Democratic governments) succeeded from the United States of America. Sharia Law was quickly established and local and state constitutions were shreded. The national guards and police forces of the states were formed into the new nation's military power.Any resistance was met by swift military courts that resulted in immediate execution by firing squad. Familes would disappear. Any media opposition was surpressed in the same way. Women were forced into the private sectors of life and churches and synagogues were closed and burned. Any nonMuslims were subject to imprisonment, high taxes, or violence by the public.

"Georgia agrees to join the United States of Islam," Jaquan's father almost whispered the statement. "Governor Mike Abrams signed the constitutional amendment abolishing ties with the United States and making Georgia the second Southern State to join the new nation."

Jaquan's memory was interrupted by a loud click. He was startled to find himself in darkness again. He felt his breathing quicken and gasped as his body prepared for what it knew was coming next. Water rushed in beneath his feet. He could feel the cold water swirl around his feet slowly rising causing him to shiver uncontrollably. "Your name is Omar Kdalsa, you are a Muslim. You converted to Islam in the year 2026 after your mother and father." The voice rehearsed the statement again and again as the water rose slowly. His feet were covered followed by his ankles, knees, and waist. "There is no god but Allah, and Muhamid is his prophet. . ." The voice echoed in Jaquan's mind again and again. "My . . .name. . .is. . ." Jaquan stuttered. "Jaquan. . . Jesus . . . Christ. . . Lord!" He thought he imagined it, but he soon felt the water covering his chest and shoulders. Held by the chains he awkwardly floated in the darkness trying to stay above the liquid. It splashed against his cheeks, ears, and head. He took a deep breath as the water rose above his head and held it as long as he could. He lost feelings of his toes, and body. His lungs felt as if they exploded and he released the last bit of air. Water flooded his nostrils and lungs burning as Jaquan slipped into unconciousness.