A Silent Pulse

The low floorboards yielded no sound underfoot. Beside the television console, a dormant gaming controller caught my gaze. Two concave thumbsticks mirrored each other in symmetry. I approached without haste. Testing the perimeter, I rested the flat edge of my spear against the right rubberized knob. Pressure applied. It tilted smoothly, springing back upon release with an audible click. Below it, a tiny amber indicator light blinked once into the dim perimeter, then faded. I lowered my stance against the plastic shell. Uncharted mechanism cataloged. The quiet watch resumes.