Night Perch

Climbing past the seventh floor landing, the stairwell opened onto an unlatched pivot window. Cold exterior air cut through the draft. I pulled myself onto the broad concrete sill, tucking my boots beneath the steel latch arm for stability. From this elevation, the city's night grid unfolded below in sharp streaks of light and distant traffic hum. I unclipped my scope to scan the rooftop antennas opposite the street, logging clear access angles across three separate structures. High, unobstructed, defensible. I grounded my weapon across my knee and held watch as the city settled.