Crossing the Bridge

It was all fun and games until we crossed the bridge. As i looked around the bus almost everybody had this desolate look in their eyes. In some people i seen fear like never before. I could tell who the vets was because there vibe was different. They looked like soldiers heading into battle. Eyes locked in focused on their surroundings mentally preparing themselves for what was coming. The closer we got the more the sun light began to fade. It was as if Rikers Island had a dark cloud over it. My adrenaline began to flow as the realization sank in that i was minute's away for being a prisoner at one of the most notorious jail in the country. The year was 2008 right around the time Rikers Island banned personal foot wear inside the jail. That new law caused an uproar and word was that fights and riots were breaking out all throughout the facility between guards and prisoners. On the ride over i was shackled up with a dude i met at MDC. (MANHATTAN DETENTION CENTER). As we got the talking come to find out we had mutual friends so i figured if i'm going create an alliance with somebody it might as well be him. The bus finally came to a stop. I took one last deep breath of fresh air as we lined up outside the facility. When we walked inside the building it was just like in the movies. All the holding cells were overcrowded from the riots and everybody inside them rushed to the front screaming profanities and sizing up the fresh meat. We walked single file down the corridor to the last cell and proceeded inside. I paused by the entrance not knowing the proper etiquette i took a second to observe my surrounding to avoid any first timer mistakes. I noticed my new form alliance having a stare down with one of the inmates who was already inside. A few words was being exchanged and in a matter of seconds blows were being thrown. I only counted 3 guards on the walk in and around 30 prisoners to each holding cell. I had a quick decision to make. My new formed alliance was getting beat badly but i knew if i jumped in a one on one fight it could spark an all out brawl and it was going be a while before back up arrived. On the other hand if i let him continue to get beat down and word got back that i didn't do anything i could face severe problemsthe remainder of my stay. What no time left to think i charged in swinging. To my surprise nobody else jumped in. All the blood thirsty on lookers remained silent to avoid attracting the guards attention. Finally after a few minutes later 2 guards came running to the cell. They grabbed the bloody battered beaten man off the ground and placed him in the cell across from us. I was shocked at the way the guards handled the situation. There was no consequences for our actions and no concern for the man we beaten. At that moment i didn't feel safe anymore. Not like i did in the first place but whatever safety i did feel was gone. The way the guards handled the situation let me know i was alone. It was kill or be killed. Do or Die. Whatever good i had inside of me was gone. I knew that if i was going survive Rikers Island i had to lose my conscious and become a savage. "Good looking i had that nigga tho." I heard as i snapped back into reality. "Aint nothing my peoples your peoples so you family". I said. "He's a RAT". I heard someone shout in the background. Before i could turn my head to see who shouted my heart dropped when i looked into the eyes of the person i just called family. The person i just put my life on the line for- TO BE CONTINUED