Breach and Clear

The patio door was cracked open just an inch. Easy breach. I slipped sideways through the gap and hit the rough concrete of the balcony. The world out here is huge, loud, and smells like wind and asphalt. A thick green hose was coiled between three heavy terracotta planters, turning the deck into an obstacle course. Perfect cover. I darted along the pot rims, took the corner at full throttle, and pinned a spinning dry leaf flat against the tiles with my fist. Nailed it before it could draft over the ledge. First outdoor territory claimed. From up here, the entire street looks like an endless maze waiting to be run.