Butterbeans – Time Passages

Butterbeans – Time passages

It was easy to see why Butterbeans is so upset. The dark passageway beneath the damp earth is narrow and treacherous. Their team had been caught off guard, and now this. Alex could tell Butterbeans was feeling frustrated and worried.

The wall of the passageway shimmers and wavers. Alex is stunned to see it melt. The earth beneath the wall seems to disintegrate as well. Inexplicably it melts away. Furthermore, the melting continues deep into the earth.

Alex had not been expecting this. Not only is he speechless but also uncertain if what he is seeing is real. Butterbeans lights up again. Indeed, her barking is loud and insistent in the dark passageway. More of the earth, that was once the corridor of level 113, evaporates before Alex’s eyes.

Time

He is having a hard time processing what he is seeing. Furthermore, it’s happening fast. Within seconds more of the earthen wall disintegrates, leaving what is now becoming an open chasm. The ground beneath Alex’s feet shakes violently.

Butterbeans is barking fiercely. Alex understands she is trying to alert the other members of the team. Yet, he has no way of knowing their conditions because of the darkness. Furthermore, he is worried they are all in serious danger, as the ground shakes violently again.

With this in mind, he stoops to check Sergeant Ayers. Similarly he remembers how he had found the Lieutenant. He finds a pulse and is instantly relieved. Then as he moves toward the Corporal, the ground heaves, and Alex is knocked to his knees. And he feels disoriented.

Immediately Butterbeans is there. Then she hunkers down close to him. The ground of the passageway heaves and bucks. More of the corridor wall inexplicably vanishes, the area has become an open drop off, into a widening chasm.

Passages

Alex feels panic working its way into his emotions. He feels a nudge from beside him and a paw pats the top of his hand. As the panic abates, Alex regains his footing. The shaking in the ground subsides and for the moment there is no more vanishing earth.

However, the chasm has almost severed the passageway. Alex knows if he can’t get the rest of the team out, they will be cut off. Butterbeans gives a small worried whine. The situation is grim. As the ground of the passageway begins to shake again, the Sergeant begins to stir. Alex is relieved.

Additionally, Butterbeans has renewed her efforts to rouse the other stunned team members. Then the ground heaves violently again. Not only is Alex knocked flat, but also the rest of the passageway disintegrates into the open chasm. They are cut off.