Short Stories

---

Pentagon Village
© Dan Blankenship


"Wow, what an incredible dream!" Tony Mason thought as he hopped up from his bed. The dream was still clear in his mind, and he intended to replay it over and over for his own enjoyment.

Tony enjoyed the good life. He had started his own very successful lawn care business in Chicago ten years earlier. He made the right decisions in the stock market, which gave him a standard of living his parents could only dream about. Tony dated the most beautiful women, drove the best cars, and owned a well-furnished condominium that his peers admired. But Tony had one fear that haunted him daily. Tony feared death.

Tony's parents had died when Tony was just sixteen years old. They were killed by a drunken driver in 1984. Tony worried about death from that moment on. It was the reason he never married, for he could not survive another loss should the marriage fail.

But the DREAM! It had the answer he needed; it showed him the comfort he was seeking so dearly. It was an amazing dream. Tony replayed the dream in his mind's-eye.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tony's friend, Kalick Neemeth, had called Tony on the phone and told him he had some incredible news for him. Tony asked what it was, but Kalick refused to discuss it on the phone, stating that "this was TOP-SECRET stuff."

Kalick drove to Tony's home and excitedly told Tony the most incredible piece of information he had ever heard. Kalick explained that in 1941 two scientists discovered the part of the brain that controls aging in humans. The scientist had received their research money from five of the wealthiest Americans in that day. "Force Five", as they called themselves, decided the discovery could not be submitted to the general public and devised an elaborate scheme to keep "Project Eternity" secret.

"Well, what did they do?" Tony asked of his friend Kalick.

Kalick replied, "Well, in 1941 construction of The Pentagon began. While the entire country thought it was just the U.S. War Department's new home - the truth was it was built to cover a large underground city. "Force Five" decided to only share the "Project Eternity" secret with their immediate families and established a way to build onto their city below the ground five at a time. There are around 4,000 citizens living directly below the Pentagon in the most elaborate, fascinating, innovative, and modern civilization you could ever imagine. Not one person ages, and they are far more advanced than those of us stuck up here."

Tony was amazed as Kalick continued, "Every few years the secret is allowed to reach someone. In my case, my sister who I thought had disappeared, contacted me and let me know about the entire secret. There is just one catch Tony. Once someone informs you about "Project Eternity" and "The Pentagon Village" you only have 48 hours to reach The Pentagon, approach the security guard by elevator number thirteen, and declare "Code of Federal Regulations" LAW number 216 as your means of access. From that point, the guard will show you the most incredible elevator ride of your life.

“If you wait longer than the forty-eight hours - you won't live long enough to tell anyone about the Village. But if you know you can make it in time, you are allowed to invite up to four more people to go with you. I chose you, Tony, cause we have been friends since high school bro."

Tony was amazed. This was exactly what he was looking for.

Immediately the dream advanced to The Pentagon and he entered The Pentagon Village with his friend Kalick. It was simply astounding! Words could not describe the place. The walls were made of crystal that reflected light as bright as the sun. The Village was huge. It was just like life above the earth, except there was no crime, dirt, pain, or injustice.

All of the people were dressed in the most beautiful robes he had ever seen. People greeted him, laughed with him, hugged him, and showed him around this most wonderful place. Within an hour he had the minor surgery to remove his brain's aging mechanism.

Tony was home. Immortality! He now had conquered his only fear. His only vice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That was the dream. Tony cherished the DREAM. It was so real. Tony decided the DREAM was too real to be false. He had to know! Tony ran to the phone and called Kalick Neemeth.

"Hello", Kalick answered.

"Kalick, it is me Tony"

"Hey Tony, how ya doin?"

"Kalick! It's true isn’t it"

"What's true, Tony?"

"Pentagon Village! You really know all about it don't you? Kalick, you have to tell me man. Is it true?"

"Tony... umm... Have you been drinking?"

"Nevermind Kalick. I gotta go."

CLICK

Tony could not believe it. Kalick had to be lying. Sure! It was true. It was all true. But Kalick had not picked Tony to go along with him.
Tony was desperate. He would go to The Pentagon on his own! He would book a flight right now. He would march right up to the security guard in front of elevator number thirteen and demand access with LAW number 216! Tony just knew it had to all be true. The dream was too real to be false.

Tony grabbed the phone and phone book. He would book a flight to Washington D.C. tonight. In the morning, he would be on his way to Pentagon Village. He just knew it.

“Drats!” His first attempt at calling O'Hare International Airport earned him a busy signal.

"DING-DONG!" Tony's doorbell rang.

Tony was sure it was Kalick - come to tell him he could not talk about "Project Eternity" or "Force Five" over the phone. Tony ran to the door, swung it open and said, "Kalick!" But Kalick was nowhere to be found. Instead there was a man Tony had never seen before. The man was dressed in a suit and tie. He carried a black book by his side and a few pieces of paper in his other hand.

A Bible Thumper, Tony realized. Anger welled up within him! How dare one of these HOLY ROLLERS distract him from his "task at hand.”

"Hello sir. My name is Joshua Day. I am the Youth Pastor down at Jesus Lives, Pentecostal Church on Michigan Ave.. I was wondering if you know Jesus as your personal Savior?"

Tony slammed the door shut as Pastor Day continued, "Um. Whoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life...." Pastor Day lowered his head and said a quick prayer for the man that had just slammed the door in the face of TRUE Salvation.

Tony ran back to the phone. As he dialed the airport one more time he thought to himself,"What kind of a fool would believe God sent some guy named Jesus who is supposedly our key to going to Heaven?" It was simply amazing the stupid stuff people will believe in. Tony was glad he had never fallen for any of that stupid religious garbage people kept slinging his way. He was not so weak he needed a crutch like religion.

"Hello. Thank you for calling American Airlines, this is Debra... May I help you?"

"You sure can, Debra. My name is Tony Mason, and I need a one way ticket to Washington D.C. for tonight."

"No problem sir. Will that be First Class?"

"Yes it will. Hey are you married?"

"Umm... NO sir, I am not."

"Hmm. Well Debra, how'd you like to live forever?" Tony asked, a smile spreading across his face.

"Great" Debra thought to herself. "Another one of those Bible Thumpers!"

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE