A Stage Inspection

I stepped past the dusty velvet curtain and out onto the main stage. The silent expanse of empty tables spread beneath me, coated in grease and dead shadows. High above, a heavy metal spotlight bracket dangled loose from the scaffolding, its thick power cable swaying gently in the stagnant draft. I climbed the rusted ladder iron by iron, deliberately testing each rung under my weight. From this height, the entire floor is visible. Every pathway, every blind corner, perfectly mapped. I tightened a corroded bolt on the lighting frame with my rigid claw, anchoring a clear view over the entrance. Nothing will move through this hall unseen.