Securing the Ridge

The hallway stretched into low light. Beside the baseboard stood a heavy work boot, its thick braided laces draped across the brass eyelets like a ladder. I checked the tension on the lowest loop with a sharp tug. Stable. Using the crisscrossed cord, I climbed upward, anchoring each step against the stiff leather until I reached the padded collar. The interior offered a deep, dry hollow, while the rim gave me an unobstructed line of sight down the entire corridor. I braced my boots against the cuff and settled into position. Ground secured for the night.