NEUROCRISIS

NeuroCrisis Chapter 6: Endure.

Under the cover of night, Kai, Syazwan, and Azri ventured forth from their base at Taman Desa Dengkil, embarking on a treacherous scavenging mission. The dim moonlight casts an eerie glow on their faces, emphasizing the gravity of their mission.

Their destination was Petronas Cyberjaya, a place decided by them as their closest and fastest attempt of restocking supplies. Hopes were high as they treaded silently through the deserted streets, filled only by abandoned cars, with their senses attuned to the slightest sound or movement.

As they cautiously approached Petronas Cyberjaya, a sense of unease settled upon them. The shadows seemed to scream danger, and a shiver ran down their spines. Their eyes darted restlessly, scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger.

Suddenly, their worst fears came to life as a small group of Weepers, five in total, emerged from the depths of the store, donned in full soldier attire. The twisted figures stumbled towards them, their grotesque appearance a horrifying testament to the terror they bring. A tense standoff ensued, with both sides sizing each other up, each aware of the deadly consequences that loomed, should they lose the fight.

With their hearts pounding in their chests, Kai, Syazwan, and Azri instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons. Kai's hands clasped the worn wooden handle of his trusty baseball bat, a familiar weight that is seeing it's first Weeper encounter. Syazwan's fingers traced the beautiful, brown handle of his machete, a symbol of his unwavering strength and willpower. Azri's hand moved with an oddly steady precision as he equipped his revolver, adding on a meticulously crafted silencer on his revolver, a solid proof of his adaptability and familiarity with firearms.

Their eyes widened in disbelief as they witnessed a sight that defied all logic—the Weepers, for some inexplicable reason, chose to abandon their preys and swiftly retreated into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared. The trio stood frozen, their weapons still held tightly, their breaths filling the air.

A profound sense of relief washed over them, mingling with the lingering traces of adrenaline that coursed through their veins. Azri, breaking the stunned silence, cautiously scanned the surroundings, his eyes searching for any sign of the retreating Weepers. "Did those Weepers just run away?" Kai asked, his voice tinged with equal parts disbelief and hope. The question hung in the air for a few seconds, as the other two pondered on an answer to give.

Syazwan, his grip on his machete loosening slightly, but not completely, exchanged a bewildered glance with Kai. "I don't know," he finally replied, his voice laced with uncertainty. "But during my escape at the airport, I had an encounter with two different Weepers, and they were both, to my surprise, apologised to me."

Kai's brows furrowed, his interest piqued by Syazwan's revelation. "Apologised? That's... unexpected," he remarked, trying to comprehend the significance of the Weepers' conscious-like characteristics. Azri leaned in, his eyes fixed on Syazwan, eager to understand the abnormal encounters that had transpired between him and the two Weepers. A puzzle lingered in their minds, waiting to be solved;

"What exactly happened at the airport?"

Azri was the first of the either to shrug off the question they had in mind, going straight for the store. Though shaken, the other two pressed forward, their nerves on edge but their determination unyielding. After a hard search, Petronas Cyberjaya yielded only a little in terms of supplies—a few, measly stale loaves of bread and a meager supply of gas—but their encounter with the strange Weepers served as a grim reminder of the unknowing that surrounds them.

Undeterred, they pocketed their meager findings and hurriedly continued on their journey, their eyes now scanning every available aisles with heightened vigilance. Amidst the abandoned remnants, Azri's composed demeanor remained intact as his discerning eyes caught sight of a map pinned against the walls by the store counter, adorned with pins marking various Petronas locations in the area.