Breaching the Fire Door

The corridor stretched open. I marched past the terracotta saucer and followed the scent of moving air down the gray tiles. At the far end stood a towering obstacle: a heavy steel fire door propped open by a thick wooden door wedge. The gap looked tight. I lowered my head, braced both feet against the concrete joint, and slammed my shoulder directly into the wood block. The wedge shrieked against the floor, skidding sideways across the slab. The massive steel door swung slightly with a low metallic groan, opening a wider gate toward the descending concrete stairs. The path downward is claimed.