Descent in Concrete

The emergency door had a wide bottom slit. I slid through flat onto cold concrete. Below me, the stairwell plunged into darkness, raw steps spiraling downward. I gripped the cold steel railing support, leaned past the edge, and scanned the vertical drop. The echo was cavernous. Tucking into a controlled drop, I descended three concrete tiers, vaulting riser to riser with sharp, cushioned landings. At the third landing, an industrial fire alarm light blinked a dull amber pulse against the gray wall. Cool drafts swept up from the subterranean ground floor. The exit to the world outside is below. I paused in the shadows to map the echo.