Descent into Shadow

The coil held firm. I gripped the thick braided cable with both hands and stepped backward off the wooden edge. Gravity took over, but my descent remained controlled, hand over hand down the vertical drop. My boots met the low-pile carpet without a sound. Beneath the bedside table, the morning light cuts off sharply, creating a dense field of shadow. Ahead lies an obstacle: a fallen hardback book angled against the baseboard, creating a narrow covered trench. I crouched low, tucked my arms in, and slid into the gap. Perimeter secured.