Chapter 1: The Corpse of Steel(8)

At each new floor I would look out through the opening and find nothing other than crumbled remains without signs of life. Every dozen or so rungs would be missing or half collapsed on one side, odds that seemed favorable at least for now. As I climbed floor by floor I couldn't help but wonder if this was what it felt like to be a rich, healthy child with a tree-house before the fall; this elevator shaft leading to these kids' secret clubhouse which they'd thought was safe.

As safe as things come in the outskirts, I suppose.
Finally, I find myself at an opening that has some life to it. 5 sets of cable wires were looped around the nearest steel beam and bundled up haphazardly on this floor. They likely used this climbing gear on the way up, which begs the question: how many more are in this building? None have used the cables to descend, but at least two have taken a short-cut to the ground floor.