The recent morning rain had soaked the forest floor, making the surrounding trees slick and muddy. James searched the clearing for anything he could climb, but the fallen branches were too rotted to support his weight. Refusing to give up, he used his pocket knife to cut a thick, sturdy limb from a living pine tree. He dragged the heavy branch over, jamming one end into the soft mud and leaning the top against the stone wall.
It was an unstable setup. The improvised ladder creaked under his weight, and his wet hiking boots slipped against the bark as he began to ascend. With every foot he gained, the branch bent dangerously. James kept his eyes fixed on the iron bars above, his heart pounding against his ribs.
He reached the top of the branch and stretched his arms out, gripping the cold iron bars to stabilize himself. Balancing precariously on the narrow wood, he pulled his face close to the opening and peered into the darkness. He expected to see a dusty, empty shell of an abandoned construction project. Instead, the sight inside made his breath catch in his throat…