Missing Chapter: Chameleon Part 1

 Timeline:1969

Dmitri Smerdyakov, the illegitimate son of the patriarch of the Russian Kravinoff family and a servant, endured a childhood filled with cruelty and rejection. Both his father and his half-brother Sergei, the legitimate heir, treated him with contempt and brutality, making him feel like an unwanted and unlucky child.

His father's disdain for him was evident in every interaction, as he viewed Dmitri as a reminder of his own indiscretions and shortcomings. Dmitri's presence served as a constant reminder of a mistake he wished he could erase.

Sergei, fueled by his status as the favored son, saw Dmitri not as a brother to be cherished, but as prey to be hunted. He relished in the power dynamic that favored him over his illegitimate brother, delighting in the opportunity to exert control and dominance over Dmitri.

As Grand Duke Nikolai Kravinoff strode into the room where his two sons, Dmitri and Sergei, both thirteen years old, were present. As he laid eyes on Dmitri, his expression soured, viewing him with disdain and contempt.

"Tsk," he muttered under his breath, his tone dripping with disdain as he regarded Dmitri as if he were nothing more than a mere inconvenience.

Turning his attention to Sergei, the legitimate heir and favored son, Grand Duke Nikolai addressed him warmly in contrast to his treatment of Dmitri. "My child, let us depart," he said in his thick Russian accent, his tone affectionate towards Sergei.

Sergei, reveling in his favored status, smirked at Dmitri, his eyes gleaming with malice. "See you later, brother," he said with a sinister smirk, relishing in the power dynamic that favored him over Dmitri.

As Grand Duke Nikolai and Sergei exited the room, leaving Dmitri behind, a wave of relief washed over him momentarily, grateful for the temporary respite from their cruelty.

Alone in the room, Dmitri's facade of stoicism crumbled, and he succumbed to tears, his heart heavy with the weight of his father's scorn and his brother's cruelty. "Why? Why, God? What have I done in my past life to deserve this torment?" he cried out, his voice filled with anguish and despair as he grappled with the injustices he endured.

Driven by a desperate desire to escape his suffering, Dmitri dashed towards the rooftop of his family's grand house. His heart felt unbearably heavy with despair, and the thought of putting an end to his pain offered the only glimmer of relief in his torment.

As he reached the rooftop, panting heavily. his breaths coming in ragged gasps, Dmitri paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the vast expanse of the sky above. It seemed so peaceful, so endless, A stark contrast to the turmoil raging within his troubled soul.

"What a wonderful sky," he whispered softly to himself, his voice tinged with a mixture of bitterness and resignation. "And wonderful day to end this suffering."

Tears welled up in Dmitri's eyes, glistening in the sunlight as they trickled down his cheeks, His tears showed how much he was hurting. In that fleeting moment of contemplation, the weight of his existence bore down upon him, and torn between choosing to live or to end his suffering.

As he stood there, lost in thought, Dmitri didn't notice someone else had joined him on the roof until they spoke up. "Hey! I'm trying to sleep here and the first thing I see is someone trying to die," said an American boy with tousled blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.

Startled by the intrusion into his dark thoughts, Dmitri turned towards the voice and asked defensively, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

The American boy rolled his eyes at Dmitri's reaction before responding sarcastically, "Can't you see I'm sleeping here? What do you expect me to do - masturbate?"

Feeling frustrated by this stranger who seemed intent on provoking him further into anger rather than sympathy or understanding for his plight, Dmitri sighed heavily as if exasperated by yet another person not taking him seriously ."That isn't what I'm trying to ask," he said firmly. "I just want to know why are you here? You could be a thief or something."

The American boy, not bothered by Dmitri's annoyance, replied casually, "Relax, dude who's never been with a girl."

Dmitri exclaimed, "You!!!!" with a sense of frustration.

Ignoring Dmitri word, the American boy persisted, his curiosity evident. He continued said "Anyway, are you really trying to die?"

Dmitri's demeanor shifted, his expression growing stern, his eyes sharpening with resolve. "I won't tell you," he declared firmly, his tone conveying defiance.

"Okay.... Well I was also thinking of dying too back then," the American boy revealed, his voice carrying a weight of shared experience.

Dmitri, caught off guard by the unexpected confession, could only muster a puzzled, "What?"

The American boy continued, his tone somber yet resolute. "Um...I was thinking of dying back then, but then I realized, why should I die? Because of those fuckers? If I died, they would be the winners. So that's why I'm trying to live, to make sure I'm not the loser and they are not the winners." A smile graced his lips as he spoke, extending a gesture of solidarity to Dmitri.

Then Dmitri, his mind flooded with memories of his father and half-brother's cruelty, felt tears welling in his eyes. "(Hick) I... I just want to end this once and for all," he choked out, his pain raw and palpable. "I don't want to live anymore in this accursed world."

Feeling empathy towards Dmitri's anguish, the American boy offered a reassuring yet firm response. "Hey, don't be a baby."

Dmitri, taken aback by the unexpected comment, protested, "What? You don't know what I've been through."

The American boy's gaze drifted into the distance, a sense of resolve coloring his voice. "I may not know your pain, but you don't know mine either," he remarked, turning back to Dmitri.

Then, with a wisdom that seemed beyond his years, he offered a profound insight. "If your story feels like it's going to be shitty, then rewrite it. Be the protagonist, and Be the star of your own destiny. Shape your narrative to suit your desires, and maybe,"

he paused, meeting Dmitri's gaze with unwavering sincerity, "you'll find happiness."

Dmitri, who was deeply moved by those words, experienced something entirely new—a sense of belonging, a warmth he hadn't felt since childhood. Gathering courage, Dmitri asked, "What's your name?"

The American boy, with a grin that seemed to radiate warmth, replied, "Me?" He pointed to himself before stating, "I'm Joe Cord."

"Dmitri," he introduced himself, a faint smile playing on his lips.

That day marked the start of a profound bond between Dmitri and Joe, blossoming into a friendship that Dmitri's closest family and his absolute best friend.

..

Timeline:1984

Fifteen years had passed, and Dmitri had carved out a path to success as a prominent businessman, with Joe Cord standing beside him as his trusted partner.

Examining the records and documents closely, Joe Cord remarked, "Looks like someone's eager to challenge our business." 

Dmitri chuckled confidently, "Let them try. They won't stand a chance against us, especially when we're together.

Joe Cord's smile mirrored Dmitri's certainty. "Damn right, partner." Their shared determination fortified their bond, ready to face whatever obstacles lay ahead. 

.....

Meanwhile, in another setting, Grand Duke Nikolai Kravinoff and the Grand Duchess Anna Makarova Kravinoff engaged in a tense conversation.

Anna voiced her concerns, saying, "Your illegitimate son is starting a business, and it seems like he's gaining momentum. Our own business could be threatened soon!"

Nikolai reassured her, saying, "Fear not, my dear. I've already dispatched my men to handle the situation. Dmitri will be taken care of, I assure you."

....

As Dmitri and Joe drove home, a sudden gunshot shattered the evening calm, causing their car to lurch and come to an abrupt stop.

Joe, seated at the driver's seat, exclaimed, "What was that?"

Dmitri, equally alarmed, replied, "I don't know."

Joe, resolute, said, "Let me take a look."

Dmitri protested, "Are you crazy? I heard a gunshot, and they might shoot you too."

Joe, determined, responded, "If I don't get out, we're both going to die."

Dmitri gulped, fear evident in his voice. "I'll come with you," he said, not wanting to leave his friend's side.

Joe nodded, and with a shared look of resolve, they cautiously opened their car doors to assess the situation. They scanned their surroundings, tense and alert. Joe quickly noticed that their tires had been shot.

"Shit, they shot our tires. We can't drive," Joe muttered, frustration lacing his words.

Suddenly, Five masked men emerged from the shadows, their dark figures looming ominously in the dim light.

Joe, alarmed and trying to hide his fear, demanded, "Who are you?"

Dmitri, eyes fixed on the masked figures, echoed, "Who?"

One of the masked men stepped forward, his voice cold and detached. "No offense, Dmitri, but someone ordered us to kill you."

Without warning, the masked man raised his gun and fired at Dmitri. In a split second, Joe's instincts took over. He threw himself in front of Dmitri, taking the bullet in his back. "I can't let you die," Joe declared, his voice strained with pain.

Joe crumpled to the ground, and Dmitri, in shock, screamed, "Wha-what? No, no, no! Joe, Joe!" as he knelt beside his fallen friend, cradling Joe's wounded body in his arms.

Joe, barely clinging to life, whispered, "You have to live, Dmitri. You have to live."

Dmitri, tears streaming down his face, pleaded, "No, no, no, don't leave me, Joe. You are the only family I have. Please, don't leave me." His voice broke, each word a desperate plea.

Joe, with a faint, reassuring smile, managed to say, "Don't worry, I'll be watching you." He gently touched Dmitri's face, his hand trembling. "I'm sorry I can't be with you anymore," he added, his voice growing weaker with each word. With one final, labored breath, Joe closed his eyes and succumbed to his injuries.

Dmitri, cradling his friend's lifeless body, felt a deep, aching emptiness engulf him. "No, Joe, please don't leave me," he sobbed, tears streaming down his face. The only family he had ever known was gone, leaving him alone in a world that had always been cruel.

Then Dmitri cried out in anguish, "No!!!" His scream echoed in the still night, filled with raw pain and loss.

The masked man, seemingly unfazed by the emotional scene, said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Dmitri," and aimed his gun at Dmitri. The cold metal of the barrel glinted in the dim light, a stark reminder of the imminent danger.

Dmitri, still holding Joe's lifeless body, looked up at the masked man, his eyes blazing with a mixture of grief and defiance. The world seemed to slow down as he processed the loss of his only friend and the impending threat to his own life.