The aircraft roared down the runway.
Faster.
Louder.
Unstoppable.
---
The icy ground trembled beneath its accelerating mass as turbines screamed to life, cutting through the frozen silence of the Arctic night.
This was it.
---
Reyes stood frozen for just a second.
Watching.
Thinking.
Realizing.
---
If that aircraft left the ground—
It was over.
---
Not just for them.
For everyone.
---
"Kade—stay with me," Reyes said quickly, dragging him toward cover.
---
Kade coughed, gripping his side. "Forget me… stop that plane."
---
Reyes shook his head. "Not happening. You're not dying here."
---
Kade grabbed his collar, pulling him closer.
---
"Reyes."
---
His voice was firm.
Serious.
---
"Mission."
---
That word hit harder than anything else.
---
Reyes froze.
---
Because that was Voss.
That was what he would've said.
---
Mission first.
---
Reyes swallowed hard.
---
Then nodded.
---
"…okay."
---
He gently lowered Kade behind a supply crate.
---
"Don't die," he said quietly.
---
Kade smirked weakly. "I'll try not to."
---
---
Reyes turned.
---
And ran.
---
---
The aircraft was nearing takeoff speed now.
Wheels skimming over the icy runway.
Engines screaming.
---
Inside the cockpit—
---
The creature moved with unnatural precision.
---
Its hands adjusted controls it had never used before—
---
But already understood.
---
"…flight mechanics… acquired…"
---
---
Outside—
---
Reyes sprinted toward a maintenance truck parked near the edge of the runway.
---
His mind raced.
---
Think.
Think fast.
---
No access to systems.
No time to board.
No way to reach the cockpit.
---
So what was left?
---
He reached the truck.
Jumped in.
---
Turned the ignition.
---
Nothing.
---
"…come on…" he muttered.
---
He slammed the dashboard.
---
Then—
---
The engine roared to life.
---
---
Reyes gripped the wheel.
Eyes locked on the accelerating aircraft.
---
"…last chance…"
---
---
He slammed the accelerator.
---
The truck surged forward.
---
Straight onto the runway.
---
---
Malik's voice crackled over the radio.
---
"Reyes, what are you doing?!"
---
Reyes didn't answer.
---
Because there was only one move left.
---
---
The aircraft lifted slightly—
---
Just inches off the ground.
---
---
Reyes pushed harder.
---
Faster.
---
Closer.
---
---
Inside—
---
The creature's eyes flicked toward the runway ahead.
---
Calculating.
---
Predicting.
---
---
"…interference detected…"
---
---
It adjusted the controls.
---
Preparing to lift fully.
---
---
But Reyes didn't slow down.
---
Didn't hesitate.
---
---
"Come on…" he whispered.
---
---
The truck sped directly toward the aircraft's landing gear.
---
---
Impact distance—
---
Closing.
---
Fast.
---
---
The creature saw it.
---
Understood it.
---
---
And for the first time—
---
It hesitated.
---
---
"…unexpected…"
---
---
Reyes screamed—
---
And drove straight into the landing gear.
---
---
The collision was violent.
---
Metal screamed.
---
The truck crumpled.
---
The aircraft lurched violently to one side.
---
---
Its balance shattered.
---
---
One wing dipped—
---
Scraping across the ice.
---
---
Sparks exploded outward.
---
---
The aircraft slammed back down—
---
Hard.
---
---
Engines roared out of sync.
---
Systems failing.
---
---
Inside—
---
The creature struggled to stabilize control.
---
---
"…system instability…"
---
---
Outside—
---
Reyes crawled out of the wreckage.
---
Bleeding.
Shaking.
---
But alive.
---
He looked up—
---
And saw it.
---
The aircraft—
---
Still moving.
---
Still trying to recover.
---
---
"…no…" he whispered.
---
---
It wasn't enough.
---
---
Then—
---
A new sound.
---
---
Heavy.
---
Mechanical.
---
---
From the far end of the runway—
---
A massive fuel tanker truck roared into view.
---
---
Kade.
---
---
Reyes's eyes widened.
---
"You crazy—"
---
---
Kade grinned through blood and pain.
---
"Told you…"
---
---
The tanker accelerated.
---
Faster.
---
---
Straight toward the aircraft.
---
---
The creature saw it.
---
Analyzed.
---
Calculated.
---
---
But this time—
---
There were too many variables.
---
Too many unknowns.
---
---
"…error…"
---
---
Kade tightened his grip on the wheel.
---
---
"For the Captain…"
---
---
He didn't slow down.
---
---
The tanker slammed into the aircraft.
---
---
And everything—
---
Exploded.
---
---
Fire consumed the runway.
---
A massive blast tore through the frozen air, lighting up the Arctic night like a second sun.
---
The aircraft was engulfed.
---
Shattered.
---
Destroyed.
---
---
Reyes was thrown back by the shockwave.
---
Rolling across the ice.
---
---
Silence followed.
---
Broken only by the crackle of flames.
---
---
For a long moment—
---
Nothing moved.
---
---
Reyes pushed himself up slowly.
---
Eyes locked on the burning wreckage.
---
---
"…Kade…"
---
---
No response.
---
---
The fire raged.
---
The aircraft was gone.
---
Reduced to twisted metal and ash.
---
---
Reyes stood there.
---
Alone.
---
Breathing heavily.
---
---
"…we stopped it…"
---
---
But deep inside—
---
He knew something.
---
---
Something terrible.
---
---
This thing…
---
Didn't just die.
---
---
It learned.
---
---
And somewhere—
---
Somehow—
---
It would return.
---
---
The flames burned into the night.
---
---
And beneath them—
---
Something shifted.
---
---
Not gone.
---
---
Never gone.