The truck rattled forward, its engine sputtering weakly after Hossam's quick-fix. The oppressive silence hung heavy between Tobi and Hossam as they drove deeper into the night, the encounter with the hounds lingering in their minds like a phantom.
Tobi rubbed his temples, his head pounding. The rush of power he had unleashed felt like a distant dream, leaving behind exhaustion and an unsettling sense of loss.
"That was some stunt back there," Hossam said, breaking the silence. "I've seen some crazy things in my time, but you? You're something else."
"Something else," Tobi muttered, staring at his trembling hands. "I don't even know what I did."
"You don't need to understand it right now," Friend chimed in from his perch on the dashboard. "You just need to survive long enough to figure it out."
"Helpful as ever," Tobi shot back.
Hossam tightened his grip on the wheel, his jaw clenched. "Well I think we've got a bigger problem than I thought. The raiders are bad enough, but if the corrupted are after us too, we're sitting ducks."
"Don't tell him.. But " Friend said, his tone uncharacteristically grave. "The hounds weren't after the relics, Tobi. They were after you. Your power."
Tobi's stomach churned. He had known, deep down, that his life had changed the moment he awakened. But hearing it out loud, framed as a target on his back, made the reality impossible to ignore.
"We can't stop here," Hossam continued. "We'll push through to reach the safehouse quickly. It's the only place we'll have a chance to regroup."
"Safehouse?" Tobi asked.
Hossam nodded. "A contact of mine runs it. It's out of the way, fortified, and—most importantly—off the radar. If anyone can help us figure out what's going on, it's her."
Friend perked up. "Her?"
Hossam rolled his eyes. "You will know when we get there."
As the hours dragged on, the truck's engine began to sound like a death rattle. The scenery outside shifted from barren wasteland to dense dark forest, the trees towering overhead like silent sentinels.
Tobi's eyelids grew heavy, his body desperate for rest. But every time he closed his eyes, he saw the glowing eyes of the hounds, their snarls echoing in his ears.
"Get some sleep," Hossam said, his voice softer now. "I'll wake you when we're close."
Tobi nodded reluctantly, curling up in the passenger seat. Friend hopped onto his lap, his small body warm and comforting despite his sharp tongue.
"You're handling this better than I expected," Friend said quietly.
"Am I?" Tobi asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Because I feel like I'm falling apart."
Friend tilted his head. "You're stronger than you think. But strength doesn't mean not being afraid. It means standing up in spite of it."
Tobi didn't respond, the weight of Friend's words settling over him as he drifted into an uneasy sleep.
When Tobi woke, the truck had stopped. The light of the truck filtered through the trees, casting a golden glow over the clearing they had pulled into.
"Wake up, kid," Hossam said, shaking his shoulder. "We're here."
Tobi blinked groggily, taking in the sight before him. The safehouse was more of a fortress than a house—a sprawling compound surrounded by high walls and reinforced gates. Guards patrolled the perimeter, their weapons gleaming in the morning light.
"Who exactly is this contact of yours?" Tobi asked, climbing out of the truck.
"You'll see," Hossam said, smirking.
As they approached the gate, one of the guards stepped forward. She was tall and imposing, her sharp eyes scanning them with suspicion.
"State your business," she demanded.
"Hossam," he said, holding up his hands. "Tell Hiki I'm here."
The guard frowned but nodded, disappearing through a side door. A tense few minutes passed before the gates creaked open, revealing a woman striding toward them.
Hiki was nothing like Tobi had expected. She was petite but carried herself with an air of authority that made it clear she was in charge. Her hair was cropped short, and her piercing blue eyes seemed to see straight through him.
"Hossam," she said, her voice cool and clipped. "You've brought trouble."
"Trouble tends to follow me," Hossam replied with a grin. "But this time, it's worth it. Hiki, meet Tobi. He's... special."
Hiki 's gaze shifted to Tobi, her expression unreadable. "Special, huh? We'll see about that."
She turned and gestured for them to follow. "Come inside. We need to talk."
The inside of the safehouse was a labyrinth of corridors and rooms, filled with people moving with purpose. Some were armed, others carried strange devices that hummed with energy.
Hiki led them to a small room lined with maps and charts. She motioned for them to sit, then crossed her arms.
"All right, Hossam," she said. "What's the story?"
Hossam leaned forward, his expression serious. "We were transporting a relic. Raiders ambushed us, but that's not the problem. The real issue is him." He nodded toward Tobi. "He awakened."
Hiki's eyes narrowed. "Awakened?"
"Big time," Friend piped up, hopping onto the table. "He's got enough raw power to light up a city—or attract every nasty thing for miles."
Luckily, no one noticed or heard Friend talking except Tobi.
Hiki focusing on Tobi. "Is this true?"
Tobi hesitated, then nodded. "I don't know how it happened. It just... did."
Hiki studied him for a long moment before letting out a sigh. "If what you're saying is true, You are in danger. Awakening isn't rare these days but yet people keep vanishing. but you have to be careful, you need to be cautious. and it's not just the corrupted you should worry about."
"What do you mean?" Hossam asked.
Hiki's expression darkened. "There are factions out there, powerful ones, who've been hunting people like him for the last few years. If they get wind of this, they'll come for him. And they won't stop until they have him—or he's dead."
The room fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in.
"So what do we do?" Tobi asked, his voice trembling.
Hiki looked at him, her gaze unyielding. "You learn to fight. You learn to survive. Because if you don't, the world will swallow you whole."
##
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