She crouched, feeling around the edges. It was real. Heavy, sealed tight. No latch. Just the ring. She stared at it for a long moment, suddenly aware of how quiet the barn had become. No wind. No creaks. Just her breath and the soft tick of a nesting bird in the rafters.
How had she never noticed this? Even as a kid, she’d run back and forth across this floor hundreds of times. Played tag through the stalls. Built forts out of hay bales. This corner had always just been… storage. Her hand tightened on the metal ring. But she let go.