Hollow Earth

“The heat is immense in the center of the Earth, not because there’s a molten core, no, because it’s hollow and there’s a second sun down there.” Gerald Nordstrom said, standing at the podium. This was his first chance to speak at the free-for-all section of the Great American Independent Amateur Studies convention.

“That can’t be, there’s proof there’s a molten core, the magnetic fields!”

“No, the Earth is flat, people all around the world know that!”

“How small is that sun to be in the center of a tiny rock planet?”

Immediately, the pressure was on Gerald. The backlashing noise of dissent from the crowd in the room was unbearable. His stomach flopped and he felt dizzy. A few short breaths later, he found himself bolting for the door.

“I’ll show these fools, I’ll show them all. My pappy never lied to me, and I’ll prove it, for him.” 

Leaving the convention, Gerald was surprised to find that it had gotten dark out. He glanced down at his heirloom watch. “9:45 pm already? Where did this disaster of a day go?” He picked up his pace as he made his way through the parking lot toward his sedan.

“Mr. Nordstrom?” said a voice unfamiliar to him.

Gerald spun around. A short man with wrinkled skin and thick glasses was trying to catch up to him.

“Mr. Nordstrom?” the man called out, huffing to catch his breath. “Mr. Nordstrom, if you’d be so kind as to come with me.”

“I don’t even know who you are.”

“Never mind that, son.” the short man said. “I’ve got something to show you, something about this hollow Earth theory of yours.”

Gerald pulled back. “Let me guess, you’ve gotten me an appointment with my psychiatrist. Is this a joke to you?”

“No lad, I’ve got your proof. I traveled there 40 years ago with Vern Nordstrom.”

Gerald blinked in disbelief. “You traveled with my pappy?” No one had brought up his pappy's name in the last 15 years. Even his family tried hiding their shame by burying the memory, when they buried the man.

“Yes. Now please come with me.”

“Yeah, sure. What did you say your name was?” Gerald asked as he walked alongside the elderly man.

“I didn’t. Call me Charlie.” he replied, as he saddled along, seeming to struggle to breathe.

The pair walked over to a classic car, one that Gerald didn’t recognize. It seemed European, a Rolls-Royce possibly, Gerald thought.

“Get in,” Charlie said, hopping into the driver's side, firing the engine up.

Gerald took a deep breath. Was this another cruel joke? Shaking his head, he flung the passenger door open and jumped in. “Where have you been, and how did you find me?”

“Vern and I traveled to the center of the world years ago, and promised to never speak of it again.” Charlie said, driving out of the convention center. “But before his death, he wrote to me telling me he told his grandson, but wasn’t sure if you took him seriously. I’ve been coming to this GAIA convention for years waiting to find you.”

“And where are we going?” 

“Well, I’m going to show you that you aren’t crazy, and Vern wasn’t lying.” Charlie said, focusing on driving

As Charlie drove out of the city, Gerald watched out the window. His heart beat with a thousand sparks of hope. Could he finally put his pappy in a positive light? Would he finally be seen as someone who wasn't crazy by his family?

Charlie drove for several hours in silence with intense focus on the trip. Gerald glanced over several times during the drive noticing Charlie was still trying to catch his breath.

The car rolled to a stop outside an old parking garage. “Here we are, let’s not waste any time.” Charlie said, as he fell out of the driver’s side, landing on his stubby feet. “Make haste, let's go!” Charlie moved into the parking garage out of sight from Gerald.

“Charlie, wait up!” Gerald scrambled to catch up. How could a stout old man that struggled to get around move so quickly now, he thought.

Inside the abandoned structure, Charlie stood in front of a set of vine covered elevator doors holding a flashlight. Gerald rushed to catch up. The doors on the elevator creaked open to reveal an illuminated and immaculately clean interior. 

“All aboard?” Charlie said, motioning inside.

“Against my better judgement,” Gerald said. “What could go wrong?” He stepped inside. “Aren’t you coming on Charlie?”

“Just hit the Ground Floor button, Mr. Nordstrom.” Charlie said plainly, motioning to the side of the elevator with the button panel.

Gerald pushed the button labeled “G”. As the door shut, he watched out, as Charlie waved. Just before the door closed, he noticed the wrinkled old man had sharp jagged teeth. “Hey, Charlie!”

What is up with those teeth? 

Ding!

Gerald felt his stomach do a flip as the elevator began the descent downward. The elevator began rattling and shuddering. The lights flickered on and off several times before four solid blinks. Then, darkness.

“So this is how I go?” Gerald said, falling to his knees. “Tricked by some leprechaun into an elevator grave.” The sparks of hope he felt earlier began to turn into pangs of fear.

Ding!

The descent slowed down, and Gerald could feel the gravity shift within him.

“No crash?” he said aloud. "Am I dead, or…" he trailed off as the elevator began a mechanical groaning noise. 

The doors of the elevator began sliding open and bright yellow light poured into the cabin. Gerald raised a hand to block off the piercing light, as he squinted to see what was beyond him. Stepping out of the elevator, he could feel the warmth of sunlight wash over him. 

"Welcome outsider," a guttural voice said in a welcoming tone.

His eyes adjusting, Gerald noticed a stout and wrinkled looking woman standing before him.

"Welcome to the center of the world!"