“Holy shit!” She ran over, skidding to a stop on her knees in the dirt. She grabbed the trap and tried to pull it open. It jostled around its bone like a rabid dog but remained clamped shut. He wailed in a different tone.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she babbled, trying from a different angle, only to jiggle it some more.

“Stop, stop, stop!” He swatted at her. “Listen, just listen to me.” He took a minute to catch his breath.

“There should…be a spring.”

“A spring?”

He pointed down at the half circle of metal clamped around his leg. “On either side. Either side!”

“Okay, stay still.”

“Where the hell am I going to go?” He was trying to look away, but the wound kept pulling his gaze back. His pants were ripped, and through the holes were oozing circles of blood, the metal tips buried in his skin.

“Gimme one second,” Rose said through her panic. “Just one minute to find them…ah, there. Got ’em.”

“Push them down.”

“Both of them?”

“Yes, at the same time.” He gritted his teeth in anticipation and turned his upper body away.

Rose pushed, and Derrick tensed, mouth open with no sound coming out, but neither spring budged. She pushed harder, and the teeth tore bigger holes where they had found purchase.

“Jesus, be careful!”

“I am!” She shook out both her hands as if she’d touched something hot. “They’re stuck.”

He looked down at her, his whole face bright red and sweaty. “They can’t be stuck. The trap wouldn’t have sprung.”

“Okay, well, Mr. Trap Expert Who Somehow Got Caught In A Trap, they are stuck.” She put both thumbs on the springs again and pushed out her breath in a small puff. “Alright, here we go.”

This time she pushed with all her strength, ignoring the pressure of the metal against flesh.

“It’s not working!”

“Keep pushing!” Derrick shouted through his teeth.

After what seemed like forever, the trap snapped, and the springs gave way. The teeth stayed where they had bitten, but the pounds of pressure were gone.

“Done!”

Derrick collapsed to the ground, holding his leg at an odd angle. “Oh Jesus. Oh God.”

They were on their backsides in the dirt, now watching not the injury but the shattered quiet of the forest. If anyone was near, they would have heard. If they had heard, Rose and especially Derrick were done for. This potential was more painful than anything else.

“Derrick,” Rose whispered.

“Yeah?”

“We gotta get it off.”

“I know.” He closed his eyes.

“Now.”

“I know, I know. Just give me a minute.” He worked to make his breath even.

“No, I mean, ASAP. Look at it.” She motioned with her chin to the trap.

It was rusted to a jagged edge, rusted to a burnt-orange finish, rusted to death.

“Rose?”

“Yeah?”

“Did you bring any antibiotics?”

She shook her head. They pulled themselves up quick.

“Okay, I’ll grab this side,” Derrick said, placing his fingers carefully around the left side. “You take the other. Watch your hands.”