Project Eleven: Malefica Obscura

The community of Lambeth, after the 1981 Brixton riot, did not trust the Metropolitan Police, with many people but mainly those from African-Caribbean population upset about the institutional racism of the police department.

Twenty-one-year-old Michael Groce was one of six children born to Dorothy "Cherry" Groce, who had migrated to the area from Jamaica when she was in her early teens. From aged six much of his life was spent in residential care, brought up in Tinworth House, on a rough housing estate in Vauxhall.

Michael was involved with street gangs, and had been exposed to guns during his childhood. He spent time in and out of prison throughout his life, and by 1985 had accrued 50 convictions and 15 different spells in prison.

After being released from prison two months before, whilst out on license, Michael became concerned with a turf-war between local street gangs.

Subsequently, given a gun for protection by a friend, a few days before the riots Michael was in an argument with his girlfriend at his mother's house, and in a fit of anger fired the gun into a wardrobe. Shortly afterwards, he heard a knock on the door and went down to answer it, finding a police officer enquiring if he was Michael Groce. He attempted to close the door, but after the police officer would not let him, Michael put the gun into the officer's mouth. After the officer left, Michael cleaned the gun and placed it in the house, then fled to his sister's home.

One week later, The Broadwater Farm riot occurred on the Broadwater council estate in Tottenham, North London.

The events of the day were dominated by two deaths. The first was that of Cynthia Jarrett, an Afro-Caribbean woman who died the previous day due to heart failure during a police search at her home.

It was one of the main triggers of the riot, in a context where tensions between local black youth and the largely white Metropolitan Police were already high, due to a combination of local issues and the aftermath of the 1985 Brixton riot which had occurred the previous week, following the shooting of a black woman, Cherry Groce, during another police search. The second death was the murder of Keith Blakelock, the third police officer since 1833 to be killed in a riot in Britain.

There was a demonstration the following day outside Tottenham police station by a small crowd of people.

Violence between police and youths escalated during the day. Riot police tried to clear streets using baton charges. The youths in the conflict used bricks and Molotov cocktails, resulting in many injuries as well as extensive damage to property and vehicles.

Many policemen that were involved of the riots spread too thin. Resulting into violent tactics to keep order in the city. The majority of those who had to use such brutality was proud of it. Especially one man in particular that had to use brute force to save another policeman.

The political and racial culture that was a powder keg during that time, was the last thing that was on his mind. It was about survival, nothing more and nothing less. It was at a time when they had to be monsters and become the true opinion me of what we civilians in Bristol demonized them to be.

Mercifully for one police officer, all he wanted to do was survive the night. But he did any other night where he had to take up his baton and shield.

But still, it was better being in the front lines in Kuwait or Morocco…

After they successfully restored order in Bristol, most of the men who weren’t injured sent home.

In police headquarters, a young man with short blackish blue hair and green eyes was having a tough time taking off his riot gear and getting himself showered in the locker room. He could still smell the burnt rubber in the air with his ear covered in blood and soot.

He just stared at it as it was a stark reminder of what he has become.

It took him a couple of hours to finally get dressed. He was then greeted by a young woman with long white blonde hair and green eyes, and she was with her two little girls--one wearing a green dress while the other one is wearing purple--inside the lobby that looked identical to her. The two little girls ran up to the man and gave them a hug.

Of course, this made his day a whole lot better, “there goes my young ladies!” He said as he hugged the two of them. The woman took her time as she sauntered towards him and gave him a passionate kiss.

Lovingly, she looked at him in his eyes with a smile, “Still alive, my dear Leonardo!”

“Still alive, my beautiful Sagittarius!” The man named Leonardo said as he picked up both of his daughters.

The little girl in the purple dress hugged and kissed her father on the cheek, “I know, you miss me, Charlotte. Daddy is fine!” Leonardo said.

But the little girl in the green dress almost put him in a choke hold, “Oh, no! Little Maria got me in a death grip!” Leonardo joyfully played off as he laughed.

Her mother was peeved at this, “Maria! Stop horsing around!”

“Oh, it’s fine, Sagie!” Leonardo said as he placed his two girls on the ground. “I was the same way with my cousins growing up.”

Their mother Sagie rolled her eyes at the thought, “Yeah, well… She may be a little bully in the making.”

Leonardo scoffed, “well, that is why I’m entrusting you to make her a proper lady.” He teased.

Sagie playfully punched his shoulder with a smile, “you letting me do all the raising and you do all the fighting.”

With a sad smile he slightly nodded, “if only…” He didn’t want to admit it.

So they finally left the station and into the parking lot.

However, they followed Leonardo somewhere different as it wasn’t where he usually parked. Instead of is car, there was a huge tour bus parked on the side of the building.

Of course, Sagie was confused.

To make matters worse for her, Leonardo rushed to the tour bus and presented it like he was a showgirl, “surprise!” He joyfully shouted.

“What in the world is this thing?!” Sagie questioned.

“It’s a bus, mommy!” Little Maria lazily stating the obvious.

Sagie looked down and glared at her, “I know what it is, you smart Alec…” She uttered to her, “but why is this thing parked all be out here?” She said to Leonardo.

“Now, hear me out.” He tried to explain. “I know a buddy who is doing European security for major recording artists. So what he did is hook me up with few people who sells celebrity tour buses!” He went over to the tour bus and he opened it. “They even help me customize it for all of us. We can go in!”

Charlotte ran to the tour bus and climbed inside and up steps while Maria took her time doing so, leaving their poor and confused mother behind to comprehend such a huge purchase.

“I thought we were going to get a house!” Sagie wondered.

“That’s being taken care of as well!” Leonardo proudly stated with a broad smile.

Sagie staggered towards the tour bus, “but how in the world are going to afford this?!”

“All paid for. Through silent auctions. You know how the celebrities spend out of their noses and can’t pay for it. So the federal creditors usually seize these things, and they can’t just sit on these assets forever. They have to sell it off, no matter what.” Leonardo explains.

“Again, I don’t even want to know how much this thing cost!” Sagie complains as she reluctantly got in.

To say that it was a celebrity tour bus, was an understatement. It was very spacious and roomy to be inside of the bus. It even had a small little living room with a little TV, kitchen and a couch that could fit five people. She even went further into the bus and there were two bunkbeds. There was even a little bathroom to take a shower or to relieve yourself. At the back of the bus, was built like a master bedroom. It even had a little minibar for drinks.

Sagie was very stunned as she sat on the plush bed, with her family joining her. The smiling Leonardo even took out a couple of Pepsi cans and gave one to the stunned Sagie. He even sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders while sitting next to her.

However she can be happy, as she stared at the can of soda, “how much did this cost--?”

“It was enough for me to buy it, Sagie. This is ours.” He reassured. “This is the first step!”

She glanced at him, “the first step of what?! You can’t be making enemies like this! If they see this they will go after you! I know those two will…”

The once jovial Leonardo, rarely showed his anger at times. But in this instance, this was necessary. “Those two will never touch you as long as I’m alive. My brothers will make sure of that.”

The fearful Sagie looked up at him with tearful eyes, “Leonardo, please--”

“The only way for us to beat this thing--”

“there is no other way--”

“The only way for us to beat this thing is to keep our heads down, dig in our heels and keep grinding, moving forward and faith in Gon and in ourselves!” Leonardo assured. “This ‘military order’ is a bunch of bull crap, and everyone knows it!”

Sagie just put her head down and shook her head.

“They’re not even killing these ‘demons’ or whatever they’re calling them now. All they are doing now is just killing human beings and calling them ‘sympathizers’ to push their agenda because the real thing knows better not to make themselves public!” He ranted. “As far as your ‘father’ and your ‘brother’ concerned, they know better not to even speak your name anymore. They are not ever fit enough to speak the gospel. I’m not going to let any of them touch you, Mrs. Leonardo Montague. You have a family now who is ready and willing and able to fight alongside you.”

Sagie wanted to believe him, but she knew her own family very well. He was already dead, and he doesn’t even know it yet. And her two daughters she loves very much, God only knows what fresh hell is coming their way.

All she can do is cry and pray for what is about to happen.

Leonardo couldn’t help but see the love of his life in such fear and trepidation, only to be powerless to nothing about it. He will then look over his shoulder to see the girls, Maria and Charlotte, looking back at them with their innocent eyes.

All they can do the smile back at them, “your mother’s just scared, kids. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will show us the way.”