As Sally worked on the plane, Ralphie hovered nearby, keeping a watchful eye on Jerry while lending a hand where he could. As the sun lowered close to the horizon, the plane’s battered fuselage and wings resembled a grimace of pain. Sally’s brow furrowed in concentration as she worked.

“That’s it,” she said, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. “She’s ready to fly.”

Ralphie felt relief. He turned to Jerry, steeling himself for the creature’s reaction.

“We’re all set,” he said, his voice betraying none of the trepidation he felt. “But there’s only room for two. You’ll need to find another way to Boston.”

Jerry’s featureless head swiveled towards him.

“Unacceptable,” Jerry growled, his voice taking on a menacing tone. “I refuse to be left behind,” the creature said.

Before Ralphie could react, Jerry moved with blinding speed, his elongated limbs lashing out and in the blink of an eye, it crossed the hangar and was atop Ralphie and Sally.

“Take me with you,” Jerry snarled, pressing a finger into Ralphie’s chest.

Ralphie’s heart hammered in his chest as he raised his rifle, his finger pulling the trigger, but the only sound was a hollow click.

“We can’t take you with us,” she said, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. “The plane’s too small. But we’ll find another way to get you to Boston. We’ll come back for you.”

Jerry let out a keening wail that set Ralphie’s teeth on edge. “Your promises mean nothing to me,” he spat. “You will not deny me when I am so close to regaining my humanity,” he declared.

With a speed that belied his size, Jerry lashed out, his massive limb sweeping through the air like a battering ram. Ralphie dove to the side, avoiding the blow, while Sally opened fire, the thunderous report of her gun echoing through the hangar.

The bullets had little effect on Jerry. Ralphie scrambled to his feet, raising his rifle and squeezing the trigger, hoping to slow the creature’s advance.

Jerry let out another ear-splitting wail, the sound reverberating through Ralphie’s bones and causing him to falter. In that split second, Jerry struck, his elongated limb slamming into Ralphie with the force of a freight train.

Ralphie’s body was flung across the hangar, and the impact knocked the air from his lungs as he fell atop the broken concrete. Through the haze of pain, Ralphie watched in horror as the creature leaped on Sally. Jerry’s attacks were relentless, his inhuman strength and speed was nothing that Ralphie had ever seen. With a sickening crunch, Jerry’s fist slammed into Sally’s stomach, she doubled over, crumpling to the ground in a motionless heap.

“Sally!” Ralphie croaked.

Jerry turned his hollow gaze towards Ralphie. A wave of fear overcame him. He scrambled backward like a hermit crab, his fingers scrabbling for purchase on the smooth concrete as Jerry advanced.

This creature’s going to kill me!

The roar of the plane’s engines sputtered to life. Sally was in the cockpit.

“Get in, Ralphie!” she shouted.

Ralphie hauled himself to his feet and sprinted towards the plane, ignoring Jerry’s wails of angiush. As the plane cleared the hangar doors Jerry slammed into the plane with the force of a wrecking ball. The plane hopped on the runway, but Sally kept it steady. Ralphie picked up his pace, running faster than he thought possible. His lungs burned as he raced toward the open door dangling door. With a final, desperate leap, Ralphie flung himself into the plane, slamming the door shut behind him just as another projectile slammed into the fuselage with a bone-rattling impact.

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“Hold on!” Sally shouted.

The plane surged forward, its wheels kicking up dust and debris as it sped across the runway. Jerry’s towering form growing smaller in the distance, his enraged wails fading into the background. Sally’s face was a mask of concentration as she fought to keep the battered plane aloft, her knuckles white on the controls. Ralphie could see the strain etched into her features, the toll of their harrowing escape taking its toll.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

Sally gave a tight nod, her eyes never leaving the horizon. “I’ll be fine,” she said through gritted teeth. “But we’ve got a problem.”

Ralphie’s stomach dropped at her words. “What kind of problem?”

Sally gestured towards the control panel, where a warning light was blinking. “The starboard flap is jammed,” she said, her tone grim. It must have been from one of Jerry’s projectiles. I’ve made a temporary adjustment, but it won’t last.

The plane drifted to one side as Sally compensated for the malfunction. Ralphie felt a surge of dread wash over him. After everything they’d been through, to come so close only to be thwarted by a mechanical failure seemed like a cruel joke.

“What can we do?” he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

Sally’s expression was grim as she fought to keep the plane level. “There’s only one option,” she said. “You need to go out there and dislodge whatever’s causing the jam.”

Ralphie’s heart skipped a beat as the implications of her words sank in. She was suggesting one of them exit the plane mid-flight, a prospect that seemed nothing short of suicidal.

“Are you insane?” he blurted out. “We’ll be torn to shreds!”

Sally shook her head, her jaw set in a determined line. “It’s our only chance,” she said, her tone brooking no argument. “I’m the only one licensed to fly, so that leaves you.”

Ralphie opened his mouth to protest, but the words died on his lips as he met Sally’s steely gaze. She was right, as much as he hated to admit it. They were as good as dead if they didn’t get that flap fixed.

With a trembling hand, he reached for the canopy release, his heart hammering in his chest. “Tell me what to do,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sally’s expression softened, just for a moment. “The flap is on the starboard wing,” she said, her tone taking on a clinical detachment. “You’ll need to go out there and see what’s causing the jam. Dislodge it, or remove it if you have to.”

Ralphie nodded, his mouth suddenly dry. “And if I can’t?”

Sally’s gaze was unwavering. “Then we go down together.”

Those words hung in the air, heavy with finality. Ralphie swallowed hard, steeling his resolve. He had come too far, endured too much, to let it all end like this. Spotting a chest at the plane’s rear, he inventoried its contents: flares, a portable raft, and a duffle bag with a long strap. He removed the strap, located a hook, and tied one end to his left hand. He hoped the makeshift rope would be enough if he slipped.

With trembling fingers, he pushed open the door. The rush of wind tore it from his grasp and it slammed against the plane.

Here goes nothing!

The roar of the engines was deafening, the wind whipping at his clothes and threatening to tear him from his precarious perch. Ralphie clung to the fuselage with white-knuckled desperation, his eyes squinting against the onslaught of air and debris. Inch by agonizing inch, he made his way towards the wing, his muscles screaming in protest. The ground blurred beneath him, a dizzying tapestry of greens and browns that threatened to overwhelm his senses.

Keep it together, Ralphie.

At last, he reached the wing, his fingers scrabbling for purchase on the smooth metal surface. With a herculean effort, he hauled himself onto the wing, his body pressed flat against the unyielding surface as the wind threatened to tear him away. Ralphie heard the flap’s creak and groan, a piercing sound amidst the roaring engines and howling wind. He inched his way towards the source of the noise.

As he drew closer, he could see the problem—a twisted hunk of metal, one of Jerry’s projectiles, wedged between the flap and the wing. He pulled at the metal object in an attempt to dislodge the obstruction. The wind buffeted him mercilessly, threatening to tear him from his precarious perch with every passing second.

With a grunt of effort, he managed to grip the twisted metal, his muscles straining as he pulled with every ounce of strength he possessed. Nothing! He braced himself on the wing, then started kicking at the metal object. For a heart-stopping moment, it refused to budge. The flap groaned in protest. After a few more kicks, the obstruction came free and with a sudden lurch, tumbling into the void below. Ralphie nearly lost his grip, his body sliding perilously close to the edge. The motion of the plane stabilized and he said a silent prayer as he entered the plane.

“Are you okay?” Sally asked.

Ralphie nodded and gave her a thumbs up.

“Good because we’re running out of fuel. I’ll try to find us a good landing spot.”

Why was nothing ever easy?