P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

The Airstrip

When they arrived at the private airstrip, the rest of the Pogues climbed out of the twinkie, approaching the fence to watch what was happening.

"Stay right here," JJ warned.

Cory shrugged. "Couldn't make it far even if I wanted to."

She watched through the windshield as her friends watched Cameron's plane being loaded. Cory heard vague screaming at one point.

And after several minutes of sitting and watching, John B turned, sprinting to the twinkie. He climbed into the driver's seat, and immediately started the car.

He put the car in drive and slammed his foot on the gas.

Cory could hear the others yelling at him outside.

"John B!" Cory yelled. "What's going on?"

Ahead of them, the fence was approaching. But John B wasn't slowing down.

"John B," Cory muttered. "John B!"

CRASH.

They went straight through the fence, cracking etching themselves across the windshield.

"John B!" Cory tried to warn.

She stepped forward, trying to get his attention by putting her hand on his shoulder, only for him to take a tight turn and knock her back down.

"What are you doing?" she heard JJ's voice calling after the twinkie.

Then John B was turning onto the runway. And there was Ward Cameron's plane.

"John B," Cory muttered, looking up at the massive plane as they began to pass by it.

"Hey, it's okay, it's okay," John B said to Sarah, who was leaning out the plane window, tears streaming down her face. Now Cory understood the sudden compulsiveness.

"Get off the runway!" Suddenly Ward's voice was screaming at the twinkie. "Get off!"

John B only pressed harder on the gas, getting ahead of the plane.

Then, once he had put enough distance between them, John B pulled on the brake, twisting the twinkie so it was covering most of the runway.

They looked up at the incoming plane, fear taking over their minds.

"John B," Cory said, her voice shaking.

"He won't hurt us," John B said. "I know he won't."

But the plane only continued barrelling towards them.

"I'm not so sure about that!" Cory yelled, her voice raising.

The plane continued down the runway at full speed. In the window, Cory could see Sarah arguing with Ward.

Then, he pulled the brake, and the plane came to a halt, only inches from the twinkie.

"Sarah!" John B yelled, popping open the door.

Cory scrambled across the twinkie, grunting as she attempted to pull open the back door. It would open from the inside, but there was a reason they usually tried to pull it open from the outside.

"What are you doing?" Ward yelled. "You trying to kill her?"

"I need the gold!" John B yelled.

Then, Sarah was there. "No, no! John B! John B, you're okay."

"Get away from him," Ward snapped.

"No, don't touch me!" Sarah yelled. "And don't tell me what to do."