A Hollow Strike

The hallway opened into an unfamiliar corridor. I left the desk behind, tracking along the baseboards until I reached the heavy cast-iron base of a tall standing lamp near the doorway. Its matte surface felt textured and cold under my boots. I drew my right billy club from the holster on my thigh, turning the polished cylinder in my gloved fingers. Bracing my stance against the curved rim, I brought the metal tip down once against the central shaft. A clear, low vibration traveled straight through the iron and hummed into the floorboards beneath me, mapping the width of the empty hall. Good footing. Wide perimeter. This actually comes before a hollow vessel so sorry 😭✌️