I have fought many foes in my lifetime, and have overcome some impossible odds, but the one battle that tested me to the limits was the battle of Harlington fields. It was a grey afternoon, a short time after Guy Fawkes night I believe and the promise of rain seemed distant. I was visiting relatives near the park, where my crew waited. I spent quite a time there, talking mainly family gossip and past incidents. I left there after a few questioning texts off of Jimmy. I hit the field and crossed to where they were, smoking local grade and sharing a bottle of gin. We sat there for a while, organising our plans for the night, until Tetron noticed a small group of local hoods at the other end of the field. We ignored them, carrying on with the conversation at hand. I kept glancing back at them, weary of unknown crews near us. A car pulled up near them, and a few more kids joined them. Then more cars pulled up, spewing more hoods. This wasn't looking good. The others noticed it as well, so we started to pack up and head towards the side entrance. But we couldn't pass. Several more guys blocked our route out. Intel mentioned something about entrapment. I knew what he meant. It has been known when one crew has been outflanked by rivals, and were nigh on slaughtered. Hell, even the Angels used such tactics before. We headed back the way we came, trying for the main entrance of the park. The now larger group were heading towards us. Shit, I thought. I made a heada count of the gang heading up. Roughly thirty of them, not including the group at the side entrance, to our thirteen. I was not liking the look of it and said as much to Jimmy. He agreed, and spoke to the group as a whole.
"Angels, pull your blades, this is going to be a messy fight."
We did. The gang, coming from both sides now, were boxing us in. In front of us, we had the bulk of the enemy, to the right, the rest of them. To the back and left, a thick, tall hedgerow and stell security fencing. The crew that faced us stopped at the wooden fence surrounding the children's playground we took refuge in. One of them spoke to us, and I knew the guy as Charlie, the main who Intel and I done a disposal job for a few weeks back.
"We want Azrael. Give us him, and we let you go free."
"And if we don't?" Arch shouted out.
"You will die."
"Fuck you! You ain't having him!" Made replied, holding his cleavers ready.
"Then so be it," Charlie said, pulling a switch blade from his pocket. "Get them!"
They Charged us, climbing over the fencing and rushing through the gate. As they were after me, the Angels formed a defensive ring around me, but it wasn't enough. A few broke through the protection, swinging their weapons at me. I ducked out, rolling on the floor, rising up and slashing at a groin. Blood poured, a man's screams roared out. I rose up to stand, punching the other attacker to the floor. I slammed my boot into his neck, and turned to face another. He carried an axe, swinging the heavy blade for my head. I dodged again, aiming a stab for his gut. It connected, driving deep into his stomach. Pulling out, I looked for K in the onslaught. I saw her fall, a tyre iron clipping her head. I saw red from there, and went into a frenzy. I jumped onto her attacker, slashing and stabbing at him. I took him down, turning on anyone who dared to get at me.
I can't remember much else, the rest of the battle being a blur. I remember flashes of steel, blood spray splashing on my leather jacket, an axe I picked up, cutting into a leg. The screams of those that were down, both theirs and the Angels. A glass bottle stabbing at my face, nicking my chin. Tame body, never been felled in a fight before, dropping at the slash of a cleaver. Lil'Jim tackling a guy, while Tetron stuck a knife in the opponents chin. It felt like hours, slashing, stabbing, punching kicking, anything to repel the attack. They never gave up, pushing us further towards the corner. Bodies were everywhere, many writhing in pain, some weren't.
I locked eyes on Charlie, and I lunged for him, swinging for his neck. He parried, slashing his switch blade at my back. I felt the steel cut through my jacket, opening skin, drawing blood. I roared in pain, but kept going. The image of K dropping burned in my mind, my anger, my hate, every emotion boiling it's way out. I threw the axe I had found at him, and it connected with his arm, digging into his wiry frame. He fell, screaming at the site of his blood. I looked around, hoping for another target. There weren't any.
Out of every person that was in the fight, only six remained, including me. Four Angels, two attackers. The last two were soon dropped, and I called for the four still standing, Arch, Tetron, and Lil'Jim, to grab the others. I found Lady K, out cold from the blow to the head. I grabbed her, picking her up and slinging her over my shoulder. Tame, dazed from the blood loss, trying to stand. I pulled him to his feet, telling him to find the others that fell. We rounded up the others, grabbing anything else that we could find. Weapons mainly, some ours, many of them theirs, plus a few valuables that were scattered during the battle. I stopped at the sight of Charlie, trying to make phone call. I rested K on Arch's shoulder, and said to everyone to head for the cars. I went over to Charlie, kicking his phone away.
"What do you want from me?" I asked him, my venom clear for him to see.
"You destroyed my brother, you cunt!"
"What? When?" I had my foot on his bad arm, applying pressure when I said those words. He yelped in pain.
When we last met, you prick! You broke his back! He can't walk any more!"
"So you wanted blood? Huh, fair enough. I you want it, then here it is." I wiped my finger across my cut chin. I wiped it across his face, eye to lip.
"Here's your blood." I kicked him in his face, knocking him out. I jogged back to the others, taking K on my shoulder, and lifting a bloody Jimmy up to support his weakened frame. He went to speak but I silenced him.
"We will talk when we get to safety."
We got to the cars, piling the wounded into the back seats. Arch and Lil'Jim drove us back to Jimmy's place. The ride was quiet, no one wanted to say anything. We got there, carried the wounded out into the living room. We looked a sorry state. Everyone bore wounds, blood spatter covered our clothing. I got Tetron to help me work on the more serious wounded. It took a while, binding wounds, stitching those that wee too open to leave. It was well into the night by the time I had finished, and I desperately needed a drink. I went out into the garden, and Jimmy was there, resting from the work I had dome on his face. He had cuts all over his face, plus a deep wound in his forearm. He was smoking a cigarette, and offered me one when I sat down with my glass of water I grabbed.
"Colin, what the fuck was that about?" I hated it when he calls me by my real name.
"Remember the job me and Intel done a few nights back? Well, the guy we got the gear from wanted revenge for me breaking his brother's back."
"You what?"
"yeah, That whole mess, all that blood spilt today, was in the name of family honour."
"Fuck, and he pulled that many people? Damn, he must be popular."
"Well, there are big families out in Harefield, I wouldn't be surprised if they were related to him in some way or form."
"Hmm, could just well be."
I finished my cigarette in silence, allowing the adrenaline rush that flowed through my body for the best part of the day. I didn't stop moving for a good eight hours, trending to wounds, checking the others out for any other injuries. I still hadn't woken up yet, and I was getting worried. So I went back in to the living room, and check on my Lady. Her face, covered in blood, looked so peaceful at that moment. I gently shook her, hoping for a sign. She stirred, and I felt relief. She started, her version of events coming into focus. She looked around at the familiar surroundings, seeing the Angels, tattered and torn from the fight. She looked at me, holding a cloth to wipe her face with. She smiled, taking the cloth to clean up.
"Ouch, my head hurts."
"You took a blow to the head babe, I almost lost you out there."
"Oh, how's the others?"
"They're OK, a lot of them are out of it, but they'll live."
"Hmm, you been playing doctor ain't you?"
"Well, you were out of action, someone had to."
"Nice one. You done good Az, and thank you for all that you done tonight."
"Heh, no problem."
I gave her a kiss and told her to rest up. She obliged, though it took a while. She's the mothering type, making sire everyone else is good before her. I checked on the others, carried a few upstairs so they had somewhere more comfortable to rest in, and went down to clear up, and go through what we had found. A few axes, more knives and blades, a bit of cash from the wallets we got, a few phones, and some jewellery. Other than that, not a lot. I went out to check on Jimmy. He fell asleep on the chair. I left him to it. I went back to the living room. Everyone else was asleep too. I sat next to a sleeping K, and dropped myself.
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