Caught on the Grate

A tiny metallic hum started up from the floor, buzzing through my squishy underside... It felt like far too much trouble to resist, so I let my weight tip toward the hallway. A faint slant in the wood carried me along, sluggish and soft, until I rolled right onto the warm metal bars of the floor vent. The shallow iron ridges stopped me from rolling any further... A steady puff of warm air rose between the slats, fluttering faintly against my pliable skin and making the little metal grill rattle with a sleepy rhythm. I just sank down between the narrow slots... letting the breeze hold me still.