Hallway Recon

Slipped right through that door crack into the outer hall. It's wild out here—the carpet is this dense, plush red that swallows every footstep, completely silent. I trotted along the dark wooden baseboard until I hit a pair of umbrellas drying in a brass bucket. Reached up, gave the ribbed handle a quick test yank to check the anchor point, and swung onto the metal rim. Down the corridor, the ceiling lights hum in a steady drone, and every closed door feels like its own locked level. I dropped back down, dusting off my hands. First patrol outside the perimeter is officially logged.