Vertical Transit

Exterior reconnaissance concluded at dusk. I returned through the perimeter entrance to the ground floor lobby, seeking an alternative to the stairwell for my ascent. At the elevator bank, a brushed steel panel housed the call mechanism. The upward arrow button was positioned high above the floor line. Calculating the requisite trajectory, I took two accelerating strides, kicked off the polished granite baseboard, and drove my fist against the convex button. The internal relay engaged with a sharp click. An amber backlight flared beneath the surface, accompanied by the deep, low-frequency hum of hoist cables tightening within the shaft. Vertical transit summoned.