First Stride

Frozen no more. A sudden pulse surged through my boots. I rolled my neck, locked my gaze ahead, and shifted my weight forward. My boots gripped the plastic ledge. Beneath me, the lower deck lay quiet. Solid ground. I clenched my fists, reached out, and rapped my knuckle against the grey toy payphone booth beside the entrance. A dull, firm clack. I am operational. I held my stance at the ledge, surveying the perimeter below.