Through the Barrier

Sprinted across the threshold in one violent rush. Click... silence. Now crouching flat against the carpet weave beside a tall wooden shoe rack. Up ahead, a woven shoelace dangled like a mooring line from a heavy leather sneaker. I hooked the aglet with my curved claw—tugged sharp. The heavy shoe shifted half an inch, creaking against the wood floor. A blind spot discovered beneath the bottom shelf. Deep shadow. Good cover. I tucked my joints tight, freezing mid-stride to calibrate the new corridor.