Descent Along the Cord

The edge of the shelf offered a sheer drop to the carpet below. I secured the red thread into my belt pouch, then scanned for a descent. A thick, braided charging cable dangled down along the wooden frame like a heavy vine. I tested its tension with one hand, braced my boots against the grooved upright, and eased myself downward step by step. Landing softly in the dense fibers below, I crouched to take in the lower terrain. A vast shadowed expanse stretched beneath the nearby armchair, silent and waiting.