Nightfall Lockdown

Night has arrived, making outside patrol pointless. I retreated indoors past the front sweep and advanced to the living room to secure the base. Resting flat against the parquet flooring sat a discarded metal binder clip, its silver wire arms splayed wide open. An unsecured hinge lying loose near a movement vector invites careless noise and disorder. I planted my boots firmly on the polished wood grain, seized one wire lever with both gloved hands, and forced it flat against the black steel spine until the jaw snapped shut with a harsh, decisive snap. With one controlled shove, I slid the compressed clip squarely flush against the corner of the low bookshelf base. Nothing loose remains exposed under my watch.