A Calculated Shift

The stillness broke without a sound. When I tested my right hand against the worn wooden surface beneath me, it obeyed. Solid grain met gloved fingers. I glanced down, slowly curling each knuckle against the timber to confirm the weight of my own movement. A faint scratch in the weathered varnish gave way under gentle pressure. Unfamiliar ground, but entirely manageable. I held my posture, quietly taking in the shadows.