Chapter 3: The Abyss Part 1

Before Arias could even comprehend what was happening, the situation had gotten far worse. With a rifle pointed directly at him, there wasn't much he could do. So he carefully picked up the glass and started moving it closer to his mouth.

"That's it, be quick about it, will you? I still have to thank Craig for warning me about this attempt on my life. To think a bottom feeder would actually get so close—I'll hand it to you, you're far more capable than others at your level… a shame you decided to bite off more than you could chew," Eric mockingly said, pointing the gun at Arias.

However, something unexpected happened as Arias prepared to raise the glass to his lips.

*Crack!*

Dmitri suddenly grabbed a bottle off the table and slammed it into Eric's face.

"Argh!"

Eric screamed in agony as pieces of broken glass sliced across his eyes and face.

"Run!" Dmitri urged Arias as he stood up and kicked one of the two big men blocking their way.

Arias also grabbed a bottle and hurled it at one of the big men before using the commotion to flee.

"Dammit, we need to leave!" Dmitri urged them to hurry down the stairs leading to the V.I.P. lounge because their pursuers were already close behind.

"Kill them! Catch them! I'll make you both pay for this!!" Eric's loud shouting echoed in their ears as they went down the steps.

Thankfully, the loud music on the first floor drowned out the chaos on the second floor. Without even turning around, the two dashed through the crowd and boldly left the club.

Once outside, Arias noticed a police car with a smiling officer enjoying a cigarette across the road. When the officer turned to face them, he expressed surprise at seeing Arias. This only lasted for a moment before he reached for the pistol slung across his hip.

"Dammit, this way!" Dmitri noticed this and quickly pulled Arias, who appeared bewildered by what had just happened.

*Ba!~* 

*Ba!~*

They fled along the pavement outside the club, dodging bullets behind parked cars as they heard gunshots.

"Get in now!"

Dmitri halted when he reached a white Porsche parked at the club's corner. Arias didn't hesitate, and the two sped off, leaving the sounds of gunfire in their wake.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! Arias, what the hell is going on? You're a hitman? And of all people, Eric Valentine? Shit! I'm fucked, you're fucked, we're all fucked!" Dmitri spoke in a frantic and agitated tone while driving. The madness of the situation seemed to have fully sobered him up.

"It's a long story. I had few options open to me," Arias said through clenched teeth, the fury on his face obvious, but Dmitri wouldn't have it.

"Then summarize it! You were an A+ student, great at sports—what few options? My family was always open to helping you with money. You know my dad liked you as a son too. I'm not buying that bullshit, Arias. Be real with me because we might both die after today," Dmitri demanded, occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror to check for oncoming traffic, his eyes beginning to redden.

"Your father is the one who paid me to disappear!"

Dmitri had to stop the car after Arias yelled out in rage.

"What?"

Dmitri questioned blankly as his hands started to shake.

"It was that day when I came over so we could make plans for my birthday. Remember when I went downstairs to get us some drinks? Well, when I passed by your father's room, I saw him getting intimate with your aunt. I fled as the door creaked, assuming he hadn't noticed me."

Dmitri gritted his teeth and dipped his head.

"I remember that day. You said you needed to leave right after bringing up the snacks because you didn't feel well…"

Arias nodded and sighed.

"Your father took me into his office and made me an offer as I was leaving. He placed a stack of money in front of me and told me to disappear, then placed a gun next to the money and said, 'or else.' The look in his eyes showed me he was dead serious. It didn't help that he was drunk and not in the right state of mind. So, without thinking, I took the money and ran."

"With no parents or close relatives, I didn't have many options of where to go, so I just ran away. He probably wanted it to appear as though I had just left on my own. The orphanage wasn't going to press a rising big name like him over my disappearance after visiting his home. After all, Gotham is a dangerous place where people go missing frequently."

Arias gave Dmitri a stern look as he turned to face him again; nothing about him suggested that he was exaggerating what he had just said.

Dmitri was too stunned to respond right away, but his phone rang before he had a chance. Dmitri hesitated before picking up the phone, but when he did, it was clear that he was angry by the look on his face.

"Dad…"

"[Dmitri, thank goodness you're safe. Where are you? This situation can be talked over. Just come home; no one can touch my son.]"

"Did you cheat on Mom six years ago?" Dmitri inquired, breathing heavily and displaying a frustrated look.

"[Dmitri, this isn't the time for something so pointless. We're already divorced, and you're a grown man. Don't act like you don't sleep with women left and right. This has nothing to do with the current situation.]"

"It has everything to do with this! How dare you send away my closest friend! You wanted to kill him because you couldn't keep it in your pants!? Fuck!"

"[Watch your tongue, Dmitri. I understand your rage. I wasn't okay that day, and I took things too far. Why do you think I spent so much money looking for him? It's okay to be angry, but you still need to respect me as your father. I gave you a life that many in Gotham would kill for. Don't throw that away for some childhood playground buddy.]"

"A little too late for that, Dad. You made your choice. I've made mine. I hope you burn in hell."

Dmitri hung up the phone, hurled it out the window, and screamed into the steering wheel.

"Fuck! I'm so sorry, Mom and Arias. I've been holding the wrong people responsible for the depressing direction my life has taken all this time, not knowing it must've been harder for you all."

After giving Dmitri one last chilly look, Arias sighed and shook his head.

"If it makes you feel any better, you were too dumb to know any better back then. In any case, my life was miserable even before your father sent me away. More importantly, we need to—"

The sound of distant sirens was heard by Dmitri and Arias before Arias could finish speaking.

"We have to get out of Gotham."