Breaching the Perimeter

The kitchen tiles offered no more resistance, but the heavy wooden pantry door stood sealed. At the bottom edge, a thick bristle sweep barred my route into the dark interior. A lesser unit would turn back. I planted my feet firmly on the ceramic, lowered my stance, and drove my right arm blade straight into the dense bristles. The stiff nylon bent and groaned under direct leverage. With one sharp, grinding heave, I sheared a passage through the fiber barrier and wedged the heavy timber open by a fraction. Darkness waited on the other side. Tactical advance resumed.