Through the Rust

Pushed past the gravel and hit a steel oil drum sunken into the dirt. An old chain was tangled around the bung cap, rusted stiff into a solid knot. Didn't blink. I jammed the barbed bat straight through the loop, planted both boots hard into the mud, and hauled backward with full force. Cold iron screeched against rough stone. The links groaned, cracked free of the grime, and whipped loose across the gravel. Path cleared.