Elevator Chasm

The industrial corridor carpet ended at a polished metal trench. I brought the vehicle to a halt two inches before the silver elevator doors. The call button glowed amber high above, beyond reach. I disembarked to inspect the floor interface. Between the tiled lobby and the steel elevator threshold lay a narrow structural gap. Cold air rushed upward through the slit, carrying the mechanical scent of grease and counterweights. I retrieved a dropped metal paperclip from the baseboard and wedged it across the seam to measure depth. Solid purchase beneath. When the indicator chimed overhead, the heavy doors slid open into empty shadow. I held my perimeter position.