Chapter 14: The Devouring Power

The truck rumbled through the darkened outskirts of the city, the steady hum of its engine drowning out the distant echoes of patrols and shifting metal. Karima remained wedged between the crates, her heart hammering in her chest, every fiber of her being attuned to the movement outside. She was safe, for now. But she knew that could change in an instant.

The weight of the ring pressed against her finger, cold and unmoving. She had spent the last hour focusing on it, trying to understand its purpose, its hunger. It had absorbed energy from her fallen enemies, filling her with strength that wasn't hers to claim. And yet, it hadn't faded. The power still thrummed within her, restless, waiting.

A sudden lurch nearly threw her forward as the truck slowed to a stop. Voices. Muffled but firm.

Karima held her breath.

Another checkpoint.

She pressed herself further into the shadows of the cargo, tucking her legs beneath her. Through a small gap between the crates, she saw two guards approach the truck, their rifles slung across their shoulders. One of them knocked against the metal side.

"Inspection," a gruff voice ordered.

The driver groaned, stepping down from the cab. "Again? We already went through two of these tonight."

"That's not our problem," the second guard snapped. "Anything suspicious gets reported. Open it up."

Karima clenched her fists. If they searched the back, they'd find her in an instant. Her mind raced for options, but before she could act, the ring pulsed.

Heat spread through her veins, slow and insidious. It wasn't painful, but it was consuming, curling around her muscles like an unseen force ready to be unleashed. Her breathing became shallow as she felt something stir within her, something that hadn't been there before.

She swallowed hard. Not now. Not here.

The truck's back latch rattled, the metal creaking as the guards pulled it open. Light flooded the interior, illuminating the crates around her. Karima pressed herself into the smallest crevice she could find, her heartbeat deafening in her ears.

Boots thudded against the wooden floor as the guards stepped inside, their flashlights sweeping across the supplies. One of them kicked over a crate, checking for hidden compartments.

Karima knew she had seconds before they found her.

Then, a distraction. A shout in the distance, followed by a loud commotion.

The guards froze. "What was that?"

The driver, still standing outside, glanced back toward the road. "Probably just another patrol handling some idiot trying to sneak past."

The first guard hesitated before nodding. "Fine. Move along. But don't stop again until you're clear of the next sector."

The truck doors slammed shut, and a few seconds later, they were moving again.

Karima exhaled sharply, wiping the sweat from her forehead. That was too close.

She flexed her fingers, trying to push away the lingering effects of the ring's pulse. The power was still there, waiting beneath her skin, demanding to be acknowledged. She wasn't sure how much longer she could ignore it.

An hour later, the truck finally came to a full stop, the engine cutting off. Karima listened for any sounds of movement before cautiously pushing the nearest crate aside. A sliver of moonlight filtered through the cracks in the wooden panels, revealing an empty dirt road ahead.

She moved quickly, slipping out the back and into the cool night air. The driver remained in the cab, oblivious to her presence. With a final glance at the vehicle that had carried her this far, she disappeared into the surrounding forest.

The ground was soft beneath her boots, the scent of damp earth filling her lungs. She had no idea where she was, but it didn't matter. She needed to get as far away from the city as possible.

But as she moved deeper into the wilderness, the hunger inside her grew.

Her body still held the energy stolen from the fallen enforcers. She could feel it pressing against her skin, demanding release. The ring hadn't just absorbed their life force—it had stored it, waiting for the right moment to use it again.

Karima stopped, leaning against a tree as nausea churned in her stomach. The sensation wasn't just unsettling—it was terrifying. The power didn't belong to her, and yet it was hers to command.

A rustling in the distance snapped her out of her thoughts. She tensed, reaching for her dagger. The forest was quiet, but something was out there.

A figure emerged from the shadows. Tall, draped in dark clothing, moving with careful precision. Karima's grip on her weapon tightened.

Then, the stranger spoke. "You shouldn't be here."

The voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. Karima didn't lower her guard. "Neither should you."

The figure stepped closer, and the moonlight caught their features. A woman, her eyes sharp and knowing, her stance neither aggressive nor passive. There was something familiar about her, something that made Karima's skin prickle with unease.

"You felt it, didn't you?" the woman continued, her gaze flicking to the ring on Karima's finger.

Karima hesitated. "Felt what?"

The woman tilted her head. "The hunger. The way it pulls at you. It's only going to get stronger."

A cold wave of realization washed over Karima. This woman knew what the ring was. More than that—she understood it.

"Who are you?" Karima demanded.

The woman gave a small, knowing smile. "Someone who has seen what that ring can do." She paused, then added, "And what it will do to you if you let it."

Karima's breath hitched. She had spent the last few hours trying to push away the truth, to convince herself that she was still in control. But deep down, she knew the woman was right.

The ring was changing her. And if she didn't learn to control it, it would consume her.

"Come with me," the woman said. "If you want to understand what you've taken, you need to learn what it means."

Karima stared at her for a long moment, torn between fear and curiosity. Then, finally, she nodded.

Because she wasn't just fighting the Council anymore.

She was fighting herself.