Butterbeans: Partners in Time

The darkness is absolute. He races into it with reckless abandon. Alex is determined to find Butterbeans. There is silence again, and the floor has ceased shaking. Alex’s foot connects with something in the darkness, and he nearly falls.

He hears the object connect with the wall. Stooping, he uses his hands to search the darkness. Not only did he have a hunch, but also when his hand finds the object, his hunch is rewarded with a bright splash of light. He has found a lantern. One of the others in the team must have dropped it in the…struggle?

As his eyes adjust to the glaring light he tries to understand his unique position. Furthermore, if Butterbeans was in trouble why wouldn’t she be in a frenzy of noise? This is what is unsettling him the most. The eerie silence.

Partners

It almost felt expectant in its entirety. He pans the light around his immediate area. There is no sign of drama. The level appears as it did when they began that morning.

Able to move quicker now, he hurries forward and simultaneously calls out. Also he is no longer worried about giving his position away. He is far more concerned for Butterbeans. Moreover, at this point, he does not understand what happened to the team.

Butterbeans: Partners in Time — Photo by Helena Lopes

It is obvious they are in trouble. However, his call outs are not being answered by humans or canines. He continues forward, as the floor begins shaking again. It is becoming obvious, this level has changed. Furthermore, he had tried to ignore it at first, but it was no longer deniable. This was not the same design they had explored the day before.

Where there were hallways the day before, there were simple walls today. Furthermore, the central corridor was not endless and had had no turns the day before. Hallways had been perpendicular to the central corridor. Now there were far fewer hallways and just the corridor leading off into the darkness.

Moreover, it felt like he was being led along. The floor begins shaking even more as he moves forward. He is suddenly seized by the realization that all these tremors were likely going to bring the whole place down. Where was the team? He feels panic trying to worm its way into his mind.

In Time

Where was Butterbeans?

He trips over something on the floor, and lands sprawling in the corridor. His light reveals the Lieutenant, who is laying unconscious on the floor. He has tripped over her, and now he scrambles quickly to administer first aid. She is breathing, and he feels relief, as he looks for obvious wounds.

As he administers to the Lieutenant, the floor of level 113 begins shaking mightily. And now he feels certain the place will come down on top of them. He tries to shield the Lieutenant from all the falling dust. He is intent on keeping her safe until they can figure all this out.

Within moments he is slammed with a large fury object! He is knocked over, but only from the affection of his partner. Butterbeans has returned, with a heartfelt greeting and a dire warning.