Breaching the Perimeter

The blind cord had served its purpose. A slide down the linen drape brought my boots back to level ground. The woven rug absorbed every footfall. Moving along the baseboard kept me sheltered until reaching the bedroom door, left ajar by two fingers. I slipped through the gap. A wide expanse of polished floorboards stretched into the corridor, bathed in clean morning light. No high anchors here; ground transit demands tighter caution. Near the edge of a runner rug, a heavy brass key lay flat on the grain. I dropped beside it, gripping the notched edge while checking the empty hall. The sector is clear.