Coming Through The Door Blasting!

In the quiet of his apartment, Arslan found a moment of peace as he indulged in his meal and the entertainment flickering on his TV screen. The taste of the burger brought a rare pleasure, far superior to the fast-food fare he was accustomed to serving at work. As he luxuriated in the simple joy of the meal, a sudden knock at his door stirred him from his reverie, prompting him to set aside his burger and investigate without hesitation.

Upon opening the door, Arslan's nonchalant demeanor remained unchanged as he returned to his abandoned meal, leaving the visitor unattended in the doorway. Ryder, his friend, entered, depositing a bag in the corner before joining Arslan at the table.

"So, you brought it with you?" Arslan inquired casually, resuming his seat as Ryder settled beside him.

"Yeah, everything's there," Ryder confirmed before helping himself to a few of Arslan's fries. "Now, what's the plan?" he probed between mouthfuls.

"I was thinking about planting it on Marco and Tony to get rid of them once and for all," Arslan remarked, dabbing his mouth with a tissue after finishing his burger. "It's a more strategic approach than engaging in a direct turf war and the heat that might come with it." 

Ryder's expression twisted into a mask of disgust as he regarded his friend, Arslan, who was taken aback by the intensity of his reaction. "What's with that face?" Arslan inquired, puzzled by Ryder's visible disdain.

"You dirty bastard," Ryder spat, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and concern. "Even though we may not be good with them, going through with your plan will have a lot of problems for us in the future," he admonished, acutely aware of the potential fallout. If Arslan proceeded with framing Marco and Tony, their reputation would be tarnished, branded as Rats in the streets, with trust becoming a hard commodity for them to gain.

Arslan maintained his conviction, unwavering in his belief that framing Marco and Tony was a strategic move. "It's a good plan to deal with them, taking out two problems in one fell swoop," he asserted, his tone reflecting his steadfast commitment to the plan, despite Ryder's opposition.

"I don't know, man," Ryder pondered, reclining back on his arms and gazing up at the ceiling. "Crossing that line... it's like stepping into territory you can't come back from," he expressed, his concern evident as he grappled with the potential fallout that could tarnish his reputation.

Arslan challenged him, seeking to understand his friend's perspective. "So, you'd like to end a man's life rather than see someone imprisoned?" he questioned, searching for clarity in Ryder's convictions.

"100%," Ryder affirmed without hesitation, adjusting his position as he spoke. "Being locked up, that's a fate worse than death for anyone," he explained, drawing from his own past experiences of confinement as a juvenile. The memories of captivity and the loss of freedom still lingered, shaping his belief in the harsh realities of life behind bars.

Arslan let out a heavy sigh, the weight of Ryder's words causing him to reconsider his plan as he reached for a blunt to ease his mind. "Now that you put it that way..." Arslan trailed off, his thoughts interrupted by an unexpected knock at the door, prompting a puzzled glance towards Ryder. "Did you invite someone over?" he questioned, a hint of confusion in his voice.

Ryder simply shook his head, engrossed in the television program as Arslan rose to investigate the disturbance at the door. "Who is it?" Arslan called out, maintaining a slight distance from the entrance, only to be startled by the sudden appearance of a red screen that flickered before his eyes, widening them in shock.

=Warning!=

=An Attack is Imminent=

= Take Cover!=

The crimson glow enveloped the room, casting an eerie hue that momentarily bewildered Arslan. Reacting swiftly, he dashed back, urgency lacing his voice as he shouted, "Take cover!" to Ryder before seeking refuge behind the bed, heart pounding in his chest as danger loomed in the air.

The room reverberated with the deafening roar of gunfire as bullets tore through the wooden door, a relentless onslaught unleashed by Marco and Tony in a frenzied attempt to eliminate their target, confirming Arslan's presence within the surrounded apartment.

The two emptied their clips, the rhythm of gunfire echoing through the room, before forcefully kicking open the splintered door, the metallic clang of reloading weapons underscoring their ruthless determination.

"You think you can steal from me, bitch, and live?" Marco's voice dripped with malice as he meticulously combed through the cramped apartment, his gaze sweeping the shadows in search of any trace of Arslan, who remained concealed from their sight.

As the intruders meticulously cleared the space, their guns poised to strike, they fixed their sights on the only concealed spot left, the bed, prepared to unleash further violence in their relentless pursuit of retribution.

But Ryder, hidden in the shadows of the kitchen cabinet like a phantom, emerged suddenly, catching Marco and Tony off guard. With a swift and calculated move, he unleashed a few shots from behind, his shots finding their mark as Tony staggered, a pained cry escaping his lips as his shoulder bore the brunt of the impact, forcing him to drop his weapon in agony.

"You Motherfucker!" Marco's enraged shout filled the room as he spun around, aiming to retaliate. However, Arslan sprang into action, leaping from his hiding spot behind the bed with lightning speed. He swiftly overpowered Marco, swiftly bringing him down to the ground and disarming him before he could unleash more shots at them.

"What the fuck are you doing, dumbass!" Arslan's voice thundered through the room as he lashed out at Marco, his frustration boiling over. A swift, powerful strike with his elbow left Marco reeling, blood trickling from a wound on his head.

Grimacing in pain, Marco retorted defiantly, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and defiance. "Agh, you think I'll let what you did slide?" he seethed, his resolve unyielding despite the injury.

In a tense stand-off, Arslan swiftly retrieved his gun, his gaze unwavering as he aimed it at the two prone figures before him, the room fraught with tension and the imminent threat of further violence.

"You don't scare me with that gun, bitch," Marco defiantly spat out, attempting to rise before a swift kick from Arslan sent him crashing back to the ground, silencing his defiance.

"Stay the fuck down!," Arslan demanded, his voice firm as he kept a watchful eye on the injured Tony, who winced in pain, clutching his wounded shoulder.

Turning his attention to Ryder, who stood poised with his own weapon, Arslan's expression hardened. "There's no turning back now," he declared before swiftly knocking out the two with a decisive blow with the back of his gun, rendering them unconscious.

Seizing the moment, Arslan swiftly retrieved the bag of cash, passing it to Ryder with a sense of urgency. "The police will be arriving soon. Hold onto this," he instructed, as Ryder nodded in understanding, prepared to make his exit. However, Arslan's next words halted him in his tracks. "Give me your gun," he said, his tone brooking no argument.

Ryder quickly gave his gun to Arslan just before he made his hasty exit, determined to secure the bag entrusted to him that held all of Arslan's money.

Alone in the apartment, Arslan wasted no time, his senses on high alert as he sprang into action. With efficiency, he stripped Marco and Tony of their clothes, dressing them in the attire worn during the stash house job. Placing Ryder's mask on Marco's face, he arranged the scene to mimic their previous criminal activities as he used his gun to shoot a few bullets around, before strategically positioning the guns nearby and securely tying up the incapacitated duo.

After meticulously staging the scene and hiding the discarded clothing, Arslan calmly reached for his phone calling the cops, even though he knew that the inevitable arrival of law enforcement was imminent, given the rain of gunfire that had echoed through the building. 

Settling beside his bed, a sense of eerie calm settled over him as he awaited the arrival of the authorities.

True to his expectations, it was a matter of mere minutes before the police descended upon his apartment, their weapons at the ready, poised for any eventuality as they responded to the urgent call reporting gunshots.

The police officers issued stern commands to Arslan, instructing him to raise his hands and turn around. With a sense of resignation, he complied fully, allowing himself to be cuffed and secured to the side as the officers proceeded to detain the other individuals involved. The apartment was meticulously cleared, and medical assistance was summoned to tend to the wounded.

Following the chaotic events, the officers returned to Arslan after collecting all the evidence they had, reading him his Miranda rights before commencing with their inquiries. "What happened here?" the officer inquired, directing his gaze towards the subdued figure of Arslan, seated by the door, his hands bound, as the investigation unfolded.

"I was chilling here by myself enjoying some food and watching TV, when these people barged in and started shooting through my front door," Arslan recounted with a convincing tone, his words flowing smoothly as he relayed his version of the events to the attentive officer, who diligently recorded his statement before proceeding with further questioning.

"Were these the only two who were involved in shooting up your place?" The officer asked Arslan who shook his head immediately. He knew there were more than one type of casings inside there as the guns that were used were more than two 

"Yes, they had two others with them, but they ran out as soon as I managed to subdue one of them and shoot the other" Arslan responded confidently, prompting the officer to swiftly broadcast this crucial detail over the radio, initiating a search for the potentially armed and dangerous third party.

"Do you know these two?" the officer inquired of Arslan, who nodded without hesitation. "Yes, these are Marco and Tony. They're known to hang around the neighborhood together," Arslan replied, confirming his familiarity with the individuals in question.

The officer's gaze bore into Arslan with a subtle intensity before posing the question, "Do you have any idea why they attacked you?" The officer's probing inquiry aimed to elicit further details, sensing the underlying complexity of the situation. The officer harbored suspicions that this seemingly targeted attack on a modest apartment was far from a random act of robbery, hoping that Arslan's response might unveil valuable insights into the motive behind the assault.

Arslan simply shook his head and offered a nonchalant shrug. "I have no idea," he replied stoically to the officer's probing question, maintaining his composure under the scrutinizing gaze of law enforcement.

As the questioning proceeded, Arslan deftly navigated each inquiry, providing responses that carefully skirted any implication of involvement. The officer, after a few moments of contemplation and noting Arslan's composed demeanor, made the decision to uncuff him and release him, acknowledging the lack of evidence tying him to the incident. Arslan left the scene, his expression unreadable as he walked away from the tumultuous events that had unfolded in his apartment.

The officer's directive to visit the station the next day for a statement and to find a safer place to stay resonated with Arslan, who nodded in acknowledgment. Gathering a few belongings from his apartment, he made a swift exit, recognizing the pressing need to distance himself from the hazardous environment.

Descending the stairs, Arslan's steps halted as he caught sight of Marco seated in the back of the police car, a smirk playing on his lips. A surge of satisfaction flickered in Arslan's gaze as he locked eyes with Marco, who, consumed by rage, lashed out futilely against the car window, his muffled tirades falling on deaf ears. With a casual wave, Arslan turned away, striding purposefully from the scene, leaving behind the chaos and conflict that had unfolded in the building.

As he walked towards a new refuge, Arslan made a silent vow never to return to the apartment building, opting instead for a haven where he could find solace and safety, far removed from the events of this fateful night.