Under the weight of Kai's recounting, Azri and Syazwan fell silent, their minds filled with a mix of empathy and contemplation. A few fleeting exchanges passed between them, their unspoken support evident in their shared glances.
Feeling the weight of their limited time, Azri broke the silence, his voice infused with a sense of urgency. "We must get going, time's running out," he declared, urging the trio to embark on their final glimmer of hope—the Petronas Presint 18 gas station store. Syazwan and Kai nodded in solemn agreement, fully comprehending the gravity of Azri's words.
Drawing from their past experiences, they knew better than to pin their hopes solely on the store's barren shelves. Instead, they focused their sights on the storage room—an enclave of possibility and potential. Anticipation filled the air as they stepped into the dimly lit chamber, their gaze sweeping across its surroundings, excited for any signs of salvation.
"Now, this is what I'm talking about!" Kai exclaimed, his excitement shown as he took in the treasure trove before them. The assortment of items stirred anticipation within them, especially Syazwan and Kai. Amidst their remarkable discoveries, they stumbled upon bundles of razor wire, immediately capturing Azri's serious gaze.
Understanding the potential for a modification, Azri's mind raced with possibilities. "This could be it, Kai," he stated, his voice laced with confidence. "With this razor wire, your bat will give a massive damage to those monsters. It'll become a formidable weapon." Kai's eyes lit up with anticipation, while Syazwan couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy, "I wish I'll get to modify my machete soon too," He muttered to himself quietly as he look through the supplies available.
The storage room also yielded an abundance of food supplies, including canned goods and again, loaves of bread. "These can feed the entire sanctuary for weeks!" Syazwan exclaimed, happy with their findings. Kai nodded in agreement, appreciating the significance of their discovery. With haste, they filled their duffle bags, grateful for the supplies that would fuel the sanctuary's efforts.
Meanwhile, Azri's serious gaze fell upon a worn leather jacket. It was a welcomed find, offering protection against the harsh winds and the bites of the Weepers. "Suits you, Azri," Kai remarked, earning a nod of approval from his companion. In a separate corner of the storage room, Syazwan uncovered a pair of sturdy military boots. Their resilience instilled in him a powerful sense of strength.
As they thought their luck had turned, a shocking turn of events left Syazwan and Kai paralyzed in fear. A Weeper, cunningly concealed, ambushed Kai, holding him hostage with a menacing grip. Their hearts raced in terror, but before the Weeper could unleash its monstrous deed and rip Kai's face off, Azri swiftly silenced the threat, a single shot from his silenced-revolver finding its mark through a narrow gap in the racks of supplies. "Watch out for the smart ones," Azri calmly cautioned, his voice resolute and unyielding.
Shaken by the encounter, the other two urged Azri and quickly left the storage room, their minds racing with questions about the Weepers' terrifying intelligence. However, their focus soon shifted when they emerged from the gas station store, only to find a horrifying sight awaiting them. The five militarized Weeper soldiers had returned, accompanied by hordes of their kind. Bewildered by this unexpected turn of events, the trio hurriedly made their way to the old pick-up truck, their escape plan suddenly jeopardized.
"Holy shit, the engine's dead..." Kai muttered in disbelief, his frustration mounting as he tried to bring the lifeless pick-up truck back to life. Memories flooded his mind, revealing the truth that he had been oblivious to all along. The engine had been emitting those ominous noises ever since he made it to the airport and saved Syazwan. It has also been making sounds when they first arrived at the sanctuary, and even during their initial harrowing run to Petronas Cyberjaya.
A sense of regret washed over Kai as he replayed those moments in his head. The signs were there, and yet he had failed to realise them. "How the hell did I not realise?" he berated himself, a tone of disappointment.
"I'll keep them occupied! Kai, you FIX the truck! Azri, modify the bat NOW, we'll need all we can!" Syazwan's voice screamed with urgency as he took a firm grip on his machete, preparing himself for the impending onslaught.
The air grew thick with desperation as they desperately tried their best to make an escape against the relentless assault of the Weepers. Syazwan valiantly swung his machete with unwavering determination, his every strike a testament to his fierce resolve; a fierce authority shown by Syazwan, one on par with Reze. Kai, struggled to repair the truck, his hands shaking with adrenaline and anxiety, while also shielding Azri from harm.
Amidst the chaos, Azri worked feverishly, his focus unwavering, even in the face of the Weepers. Each movement of his skilled hands slowly, but surely transforms the baseball bat into an instrument of terror, a weapon that exuded a sense of horrifying power and survival. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead as he channeled every ounce of concentration into the task at hand.
"Stay strong! Don't lose yourself!" Syazwan's voice echoed above the clamor, injecting a surge of adrenaline into their veins. Time dwindled rapidly, but Azri persevered, his modifications nearing completion. Finally, with a triumphant exclamation, he caught Kai's attention.
"Kai!" Azri's voice resonated with seriousness, commanding attention in the midst of chaos. With precision and conviction, he launched the modified baseball bat towards the young teen, unaware of the lurking danger creeping up behind him. Unbeknownst to Azri, a cunning infected soldier had managed to cautiously slip into his blind spot, evading his typically cautious gaze. The weeping sound of the infected soldier have been purposely concealed.
It was as if time was slown, as Syazwan's breath filled the air, his mind empty as corpses laying all over him, some Weepers still behind his back. One sentence crossed his mind.
"Azri!" Kai's voice echoed in a desperate plea, his heart pounding with the realization that he couldn't reach Azri in time. But just as despair threatened to consume them, a miraculous sight unfolded before their eyes.
Time seemed to slow as Syazwan's breath permeated the air, his mind honed to a singular focus. Corpses lay scattered around him, remnants of his fierce battle, with a few Weepers still lingering in his wake. In that moment, a singular thought came back in his mind, one he had long forgotten.
"I'm the best archer in the world," he muttered, his voice carrying an air of confidence. And in perfect synchrony, an arrow gracefully departed from its origin, piercing through a car with unparalleled precision. Its trajectory was unwavering, finding its mark in the head of the Weeper lurking behind Azri, a stunning display of Syazwan's unwavering skill.
"What the HELL was that?" Kai exclaimed, his astonishment evident as he witnessed Syazwan's inhuman display of archery skill.
"I knew it was you," Azri murmured, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Syazwan bin Muhammad Azman, Sabah's Representative, Young Archer of The Year," he continued, his voice filled with recognition. "You were that boy."
Syazwan stood in silence, his gaze fixed on the fallen Weepers at his feet. With a swift and deadly motion, he sheathed his machete and executed a flawless 180° turn, slicing through the throats of three approaching Weepers. The eerie weeping of the creatures had become all too familiar to him.
As Syazwan's back faced his comrades, he tilted his head, revealing a scar above his left eyebrow. His voice carried a hint of curiosity as he spoke to Azri, "That means you must've noticed this, no?" His question hung in the air, leaving Kai stunned by this revelation.
In that moment, the true depth of Syazwan's skills and experiences began to unfold, casting a mysterious aura around him. The scar on his brow served as a visible reminder of his past. The trio is now faced with a new layer of complexity, as they grappled with the enigma that was Syazwan bin Khairuddin. As they stood there, captivated by the enigma that was Syazwan bin Muhammad Azman, a question echoed in their minds, unspoken but painfully obvious:
"Just who is Syazwan, and what secrets does he hold?"
YOU ARE READING
NEUROCRISIS
Mystery / Thriller"How the hell did this happen?" The man muttered to himself, his tired voice laced with frustration, as he desperately panted to catch his breath... In an exhausting, relentless trial of survival, our main character, Syazwan embarks on a fateful jou...
