Things That Fall Have Wings (1)
Clunk.
Go Cheon-su immediately set down the supply box and opened it.
"This is...?"
The item inside was a bit different from what he'd expected.
It wasn't a parachute, though it was similar.
"Ah, damn it."
Inside was a wingsuit. A gliding suit that let you soar like a flying squirrel.
"You're kidding."
Wingsuits usually came with parachutes attached, but this seemed to be just the pure gliding suit.
"I spent 10 Zen on this."
Go Cheon-su made a baffled face before speaking up.
"This isn't just any wingsuit, right? It must have some features."
"Stop laughing."
Go Cheon-su sighed.
Jumping with a wingsuit minus the parachute was basically suicide. Sure, better than free-falling flat, but for a safe landing, he needed something more.
'The axe had hidden functions too.'
Supply box items didn't come with full shop-style explanations, but each one had top-tier capabilities.
'Come to think of it, that one too...'
The flashlight had been useful against that thing that showed up if you lingered too long in one spot—and after all the crap he'd been through getting here, it'd gotten lost. He'd need another eventually.
"Guys, do supply boxes ever drop the same item twice?"
He asked on a whim, and the viewers answered right away.
The last bit nagged at him a little, but whatever. The real issue was what to do with this wingsuit.
"Whew..."
Put it on or not? Only one real choice.
No other options. He'd suit up and see what happened.
"...What're you doing?"
"Gah!"
The sudden voice made Go Cheon-su jolt in shock, tumbling sideways.
"Y-You okay?"
"Ow, shit..."
Halfway into the wingsuit, he'd tripped and slammed hard. Go Cheon-su groaned on the floor, brow furrowed, then cracked his eyes to look ahead.
'A kid...?'
A young boy stood there.
"I-I didn't mean to scare you."
He looked maybe mid-teens at most. The kid stepped closer to help him up.
"Lemme help."
"I'm good."
Go Cheon-su waved off the hand and sprang up fluidly, like a maggot rising.
"Whoa."
The kid's eyes went wide in admiration.
"That's awesome!"
"Not really."
"Guys, seriously."
Go Cheon-su sighed and turned to the kid.
"I was just doing my thing. Go back to your seat."
He had enough headaches without babysitting.
"You planning to glide down in that?"
The kid ignored him and asked anyway.
Go Cheon-su stared blankly.
"Why do you care?"
"Uh, well... Can I come with?"
Ridiculous question. The wingsuit was one-person.
"Maybe a parachute, but this? No way I'm taking you."
"Oh..."
"Just sit tight. Don't worry about me."
He'd been curt on purpose, but the kid just fidgeted.
Go Cheon-su finished suiting up, pondered a moment, then pointed to the seat next to the middle one nearby.
"Bored? Sit there if you want."
He had time until shit hit the fan anyway.
"Not bored, but..."
Still, the kid plopped down where he'd pointed.
"Who'd you board with? Family?"
The kid shook his head at Go Cheon-su's question.
"Nah, just me."
"Hm."
"Both got snatched by monsters."
Go Cheon-su scratched his head. He hadn't meant it like that.
"How'd you end up here then? Got lucky with the soldiers?"
"Yeah. Air force guys saved me."
"Gotcha."
Go Cheon-su had boarded in a rush, so he knew little about the military. Asking outright in this confined space might bite him later, so he stayed cautious.
"They seem like decent folks to you?"
Might be pointless, but worth noting.
The kid nodded at him.
"Yeah. They saved people but got grabbed by monsters a lot instead."
"Sounds solid enough."
Unlike 7.5 Division ditching the bus to head for the airport.
"Hear anything else?"
"Else?"
"Air force talking to other units or whatever."
Good to know if any proper military remained. If the air force was linking up with anyone besides 7.5 Division, that was useful intel—something to counter them with.
"Dunno much, but I saw a high-up calling someone 'Division Commander' on comms."
"Division Commander?"
Division meant larger than a division—a corps-level tactical unit.
'Then...'
Unlikely the full forces survived, but the chain of command might not be totally broken. Lt. Col. Jin's attitude earlier suggested the 7.5 Division encounter wasn't planned. Whoever the air force commander called—with that title—was probably someone else, not 7.5's top brass.
"Thanks."
Go Cheon-su ruffled the kid's hair.
"Got what I needed."
"Ack."
The kid flinched away.
"I'm not a kid."
"What're you talking about?"
Go Cheon-su blinked in disbelief.
"You are a kid."
"I style my hair. With wax."
Come to think of it, the hair was shaped decently.
Styling his hair amid all this? Weird, but kids gonna kid. Maybe denial over his parents' death making him act out.
"Fine, whatever. Won't touch it."
It bugged him, but no more chitchat. Bonding too much was risky.
'Not much time left.'
Gimpo to Jeju was barely an hour by plane. Cheongju to Pohang Airport? Even quicker.
'It's about to go down.'
Something was coming. He had to prep.
"Bro, you good?"
Go Cheon-su leaned back, eyes closed, so the kid asked curiously.
"You too. Lie down. Sleep's better."
Last courtesy.
Woof!
He hardened his face at Heukgu, who'd sidled up.
"Heukgu, under the seat."
He made space between chairs for the dog to crouch.
Go Cheon-su swallowed dryly. If he could, he would—but wingsuit was solo. No way to fly properly hugging a dog.
"If push comes to shove, gotta leave him. Better for Heukgu too."
If he could fly right, no dilemma—but this sucked for the pup. No choice, though. Hope the kid and Heukgu both make it.
Bam!
Thanks for understanding? Or not—trouble hit fast.
Thud!
The plane shook wildly again.
"Bro!"
Go Cheon-su whipped around at the yell, flinching.
"Damn, startled me. Thought you were Min-cheol."
"Who's Min-cheol?"
"Someone."
He scanned the situation.
Thud!
Something was hitting it. Not turbulence.
"Buckle up. Gonna shake more."
The kid fastened his belt and asked,
"What about you, bro?"
"Me...?"
Couldn't say he might jump anytime—no belt.
"Doesn't fit me right."
"Huh?"
"Just go with it."
Best survival in a crash was braced in seat. He pressed the kid down low and peered out the window.
'Now...?'
Flight time checked out. Near Pohang Airport maybe—not sure, but timing fit.
Bam!
"Bro...!"
The kid sounded scared. Screams erupted from up front.
Crunch!
Ominous noise. Go Cheon-su winced—
Crack!
Wall near him half-collapsed.
"No way...!"
Boom!
Instant. Another hit on the weakened spot punched a hole big enough for two or three people.
Whoooosh!
"Ah, shit!"
Go Cheon-su's body lifted, sucked toward the gap.
He gripped his seat, holding on.
"Wha...?"
Stronger suction than expected jolted him—
Woof...!
Familiar bark, and something flew out the hole.
"What...?"
He glanced over. The black shape between seats was gone.
Heukgu was gone.
Go Cheon-su blinked in confusion.
"Guys, where's Heukgu?"
"Where'd Heukgu go?!"
Sucked out too easily. Go Cheon-su could only gape.
'Did he jump on purpose?'
No way. Even a dog wouldn't do that.
'What the hell!'
Way too easy. Absurd.
Viewers yelled; he stammered, caught his breath. Dog or not, self-preservation first. But he wasn't mentally ready. Never jumped from this height.
"Bro!"
The kid, oxygen mask on, tried handing him a belt.
"Bro, put it on!"
But Go Cheon-su was already lifting off his seat. Mask grabbed, one hand on seat—he'd fly out if he let go.
"Bro, hurry!"
Bam! Boom!
More hits. No need to guess what—Maple Flies swarmed through the holey wall.
Engines gone? Altitude plummeting.
Everyone, prepare for crash! No landing zone—attempting emergency water landing in reservoir...
Late warning. Time to bail.
He checked around. Tail section—low odds of fuselage hit if he jumped.
"Hey! Listen up!"
Go Cheon-su yelled at the kid.
"Even if you survive the crash, smoke'll choke you out!"
Most died post-crash from fire fumes.
"No water? Spit on your sleeve, stay low, move! Got it?"
If he survived, anyway. Kid near emergency exit bumped odds a bit—small mercy.
"Don't forget!"
All Go Cheon-su could do was wish him luck.
Clunk.
Plane accelerated downward.
He gauged it. Sudden drop meant pressure diff—yank mask now, blackout risk. Needed stabilization first...
Whirr.
Descent slowed. Pilot fighting to hold it.
Wind eased; Go Cheon-su dropped to the floor, seat-gripping his way forward.
Could jump now, but one thing first.
'To guarantee survival...'
Boost the odds. Not 100%, but better than nothing on a doomed flight.
Whoooosh!
Approaching the hole, fierce wind assaulted his ears.
"Ngh...!"
He peered out. Swarms of Maple Flies. Some already smashed into the plane, tumbling down.
'Bingo!'
Go Cheon-su eyed the spinning flies dropping slow like dandelion seeds.
'Knew it—no instant deaths!'
Games favored players. Breakthroughs everywhere, anytime.
"Hoo."
Before leaping, he paused.
"..."
A faint hope flickered, but no—too risky. Could kill them both.
"Hey! You have to survive!"
Final words to the kid, then he hurled himself out.