A Decisive Step

The plastic shell gave way completely once I leveraged both arms against the cardboard seam. Sliding out was simple. The store was quiet, the aisle stretching beneath me in long shadows. Right in front of my boots lay the narrow lip of a steel shelf—cold, painted green, and barely wider than my stance. Perfect. I dropped directly onto the metal beam without hesitation. It didn't even creak. From this ledge, the whole corridor opened up below, a sheer drop over stacked merchandise. A fine starting vantage point.