A Sudden Glint

Silence... deep and lingering. Then, a faint pulse stirs within the quiet chill. I pause, measuring the stillness of the morning, before my gloved fingers slowly tighten around the hilt in my hand. Deliberately, I turn my wrist, angling the blade toward the pale light washing over the wall. A clean silver glint slides along the edge, catching the hollow shadows of my mask. A low, raspy sigh escapes into the open air. I am moving. I am awake.