Breaking the ice
Adrian asked, his hands pausing on his laces.
"Let me see your left foot." Ethan gently gripped the toe of Adrian's boot, tilting it toward the harsh fluorescent light. He pointed to the structural seam. "Look at this. The locking mechanism is completely loose. If you take a hard turn on the ice, this blade is going to snap right out of the holder."
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. He reached down and gave the steel runner a firm tug. With a sickening click, the blade wobbled loosely in his hand. If he had stepped onto the ice, his ankle would have snapped the moment he crossed the blue line.