Cult of Chronos

Collage by Mitchell Pluto 2026

Two parallel headlights carried a metallic sedan from a dark evening to a bright day in West Desert, Utah. An external gate brought the vehicle to a halt. An old driver opened the gate after slamming the car door. Three people were in the back seat: two men and one woman. Kushim, the oldest man in the world, unrolls the window. There are deep grooves in his simian face.

Kushim’s demeanor was abnormal and made most folks feel unsettled. He confidently claimed to know who Jesus Christ was when asked. Based on the account, he was the oldest man. Kushim understood Epimenides and his writings, saw astonishing water techniques employed by ancient Egyptians, and possessed knowledge of the specific ingredients that led Moses to see the burning bush.

Kushim’s primal, nasal aperture generated unease among people. But Blair was regarded as the most attractive woman in the entire world. Every jury on Earth followed her social platform. She embraced multiple partners, no strings attached, and personal development wasn’t her thing. Getting attention was her thing.

Kushim found Blair uninteresting. In his eyes, she was not Nefertiti nor Nzinga. Blair couldn’t help but notice how much the old man looked like an ape. The common knowledge was that Kushim shared striking primitive traits with a nonhuman being.

Blair was, of course, unaware of her own animalistic traits during meals, sexual activity, and while defecating.

All possessions, including the decimal point, were owned by Wolfgang, the richest man sitting beside Kushim.

Wolfgang looked like a kid next to the oldest guy. His impatience showed his extreme immaturity and passive-aggressive nature. The journey was marked by numerous grievances, yet no remedies were suggested for the problems mentioned. Wolfgang discussed rockets extensively, neglecting to mention the ozone layer. He spoke at great length about the importance of proper breeding, while simultaneously alluding to his own misogynistic beliefs.

Blair didn’t idolize the wealthy man. After five minutes, Wolfgang realized his plan to win over Bekki Blair was pointless.

But their purpose together remained focused.

The aim was to overcome time and discover the assembly index of eternal life.

Despite their dislike for each other, they shared a mutual goal.

Blair heard a rumor circulating on social media, mentioning a silver ball of youth in Utah. Someone placed the radioactive sphere in the center of a cosmic ray. People believed the ray contained abundant amounts of nourishing extraterrestrial particles. Much like heavy metals in a hot spring.

Bekki, Kushim, and Wolfgang believed the beam contained dense isotopes that could slow aging in human DNA.

The folklore, as discussed in several YouTube videos, suggested the Department of Defense alone knew that venturing around the sphere unprotected was lethal. Reports suggested that irreversible progeria, or premature aging, could occur within 45 seconds, accompanied by hallucinatory effects.

Few people succeeded without protective gear. Inside the suit, a simple task felt like a whole day to the researchers. The Defense Department installed a simple gate with a warning sign, deterring trespassers from entering. Several seconds passed once the gate closed.

The driver approached the sphere at high speed.

It was upon the driver’s death that the vehicle’s deterioration first became apparent.

The automobile’s velocity changed, glided, and stopped.

Kushim observed the deceased driver as he leaned forward. His eyes met Blair’s. There was a change in the texture of her skin. The temporal effects became apparent as everyone looked at each other. The oldest man wasn’t feeling his usual self all the sudden.

Blair rummaged through her purse, searching for a compact mirror.

With the most abundant resources on the planet, Wolfgang ran his fingers through his thick hair and was relieved.

An intense urgency and panic overcame Blair to hurry out of the car.

The sphere remained at a distance. It felt like the arrival took forever, even though the actual time was not that long.

Blair and Wolfgang, both in their nineties, showed remarkable dedication by continuing to run.

The spectacle caused Kushim’s defeat, his heart’s rhythm continuing to breathe in the wind even after his body was gone.

Even the longest-lasting, most attractive, and wealthiest individuals did not value time. Their belief in their own exceptionalism fueled an insatiable desire for more.

Their minds conjured an egregore, a shared hallucination. Their last chemical memory observed the loop repeating.

A memory without a name.

Then-

Three black holes collapsed upon themselves and emerged as explosions in different locations across the universe.

With no one observing, the dandelions continued to shift from pappus to yellow petals.

Written by Mitchell Pluto