Breaching the Perimeter

The duffel bag was hoisted onto a shoulder, and I rode inside until the heavy wooden front door swung wide. As soon as the bag hit the bench out in the shared entryway, I rolled out of the open zipper and hit the ribbed floor mat. Cool morning air cut straight down the hall. I crouched low against the heavy steel threshold strip, running my knuckles along the cold grooved alloy. Behind me, the apartment door shut with a heavy mechanical latch click. Out in the open corridor now. Good. No turning back.