Rite of Passage
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
9:50 PM, March 30, 1979
Coney Island, NYC
Ash quickly ducked into an alleyway as the sirens drew near. Seconds later, the familiar blue lights flashed past the alley and down the street, turning right at the stop and roaring away. The paranoia of being arrested was always in his head, ever since his brother was nabbed during a robbery. As the wailing sirens droned out of earshot, Ash peeked out from behind the corner and surveyed the street. No one was out at this hour, not after dark. Not since the Warriors started patrolling West Coney. Shopkeepers made sure to pay up each month and lock up each night.
Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jeans, the young man began to walk down the sidewalk once more. He was supposed to be at the corner of 38th & Carnival, by the payphone, at 10 o?clock. It was almost time, he thought. Rounding the corner, he leaned against the door of the phone booth. Minutes passed, and no Warriors. Out of boredom, Ash picked up the thick New York phonebook and flipped through it. On the inside of the cover, etched in red paint that looked almost like blood, was the phrase ?TROUBLE: 911?. On the opposite page, in the same paint, was a large ?W? which filled the entire page.
While he was immersed in the phonebook, someone tapped on the glass. Ash jerked, and turned to face two guys in red leather vests. Warriors. One of them, wearing a black cowboy hat, spoke:
?Hey, you Ash??
Ash looked them over for a split-second and answered, ?Yeah.?
?Cool. Follow us.? The Warrior said, then he and his friend started down the street.
Ash looked around, shuffled in his jacket and followed them. After a few minutes of walking, they hopped a fence and came to what looked like a large caged-in arena, with a trailer forming one of the walls. Several others in the same red vests were standing on top of the trailer, including Cleon. Ash had been hanging out with Vermin and some other Warriors for about two months, and the Warlord had taken notice. The day before, he had been told by Cleon that if he wanted in, he would have to prove his worth. Ash had jumped at the chance and eagerly agreed. Now, as his escorts shoved him into the caged area and chained the gates shut, Ash looked up at the maybe twenty Warriors atop the trailer.
After a few moments of silence, Cleon stepped forward, ?You been hanging with the soldiers for a while now. Some of my guys have said a lot of good things about you. But that only got you an invitation. You want a vest, you gonna have to show me you deserve it.? As he spoke, three of the Warriors jumped down and formed a loose triangle around Ash. ?If you can bop with these cats and come out standing, then we?ll talk some more.?
?No problem, Warlord.? Ash answered with a smirk, looking around at his three opponents.
One Warrior, a black man with sideburns almost to his chin, rushed forward and took a swing at the potential recruit. Ash ducked from the punch and spun around clockwise, bringing his leg to connect with the attacker?s shin. The man tumbled down, and Ash fell back to drive his elbow into his ribs. One down. By the time Ash was on his feet, the remaining two Warriors had scavenged some weapons. One held a short metal pipe, and the other wielded a 3 foot length of chain. Ash backed up a bit, only to be followed by the man with the chain. The metal rope swung towards his right side, and slammed into his shoulder. In pain, Ash clenched his teeth and sidestepped. As his attacker continued to run forward, Ash was moving to the right and grabbed a handful of his shirt. Ash jerked him backward and brought him down, then released a flurry of punches on his face and chest. One more to go.
Before Ash could get up, he felt the pipe come down hard between his shoulder blades. He rolled over, just in time to see it coming down again, this time hitting his other shoulder. Dodging the next blow, Ash rolled to the left and brought his Adidas shoe up to the Warrior?s groin. Ouch. The Warrior dropped to his knees, letting the pipe drop. Ash plucked it up from the ground and swung it hard, hitting the Warrior flat across the stomach. He fell forward on top of the weapon and began mouthing curses. Ash held his arm and looked up to Cleon, who was visibly chuckling.
?Alright, young-blood, come with me??
Cleon jumped down and led Ash across the alley from the fight pen, to the bottom of a metal fire escape bolted to the wall of a two story building. A few Warriors were hanging out on the steps, and one tossed something to Cleon. The Warlord unfurled the parcel and handed it to Ash. It was a Warriors vest, embroidered red leather; on the back was the proud Warrior logo, an Indian head flanked by tall flames.
?Go ahead, put it on.? Said Vermin, who had come up behind Ash and nudged his arm.
Ash removed his jacket then slowly, as if savoring the moment, put on his vest for the first time. His expression brought laughs and cheers from the surrounding Warriors, even the three he had fought in the pen. When the noise died down, Cleon spoke up again:
?Okay, you got your vest but I still need to see if you can handle yourself in strange territory. Get on the train and head up to Bensonhurst. Now, there?s two gangs up there. The Saracens?ll grant you safe passage if you keep your cool, but the Jones Street Boys don?t like us Warriors too much. They japped one of our scouts a while back and we never took revenge?until now. I want you to go up there and trash their hangout. If it breaks, I want it broken! Now get goin?.?
?You got it my man, that place?ll be a landfill by morning!? Ash said, punching his fist into his palm.
The group of Warriors then walked up the fire escape and into their hangout, leaving only Ash, Vermin, and Fox outside.
?Here man, take this with you.? Vermin said, handing Ash a blackened steel crowbar.
?The JSB place will probably be empty, they?re throwing a big party in another part of Brooklyn, so you should be home free. If you run into any Saracens, stay on their good side. We got good relationship going with them.? Fox said.
Clutching the crowbar, Ash took in all the info Fox could give him then headed towards the train station. Next stop...Bensonhurst.
To Be Continued?
