Bucket of Blood

In the heart of a gritty, lower-class neighborhood stands a notorious establishment known to locals as the "Bucket of Blood." This unassuming hole-in-the-wall club and juke joint has seen better days. The exterior, with its faded sign and peeling paint, blends into the dilapidated surroundings, giving little hint of the turbulent energy within. Inside, the dim lighting barely masks the worn-out furniture and sticky floors, remnants of countless wild nights.

The Bucket of Blood primarily caters to adults and the local alcoholics who stagger in nightly, seeking solace at the bottom of a bottle. The bar, with its cracked countertops and mismatched stools, is manned by a bartender infamous for turning a blind eye to underage patrons. This lax policy has made the club a magnet for students from the nearby predominantly Black high schools, who flock here for the easily accessible alcohol.

Despite—or perhaps because of—its ramshackle condition and poor management, the Bucket of Blood has become a hotspot for teenage rebellion. The club's reputation for lawlessness is well-earned. It is a common sight for large fistfights and knife stabbings to break out, adding to the establishment's grim nickname. These violent encounters often stem from simmering tensions between students from the two newly merged high schools, which have brought together rival factions under one roof.

In the absence of caring adult supervision, the Bucket of Blood has evolved into an unofficial battleground for these young rivals. It’s a place where grudges are settled and scores are evened, often with brutal consequences. The air inside is thick with a mix of sweat, smoke, and anticipation, as every night holds the potential for another explosive confrontation. Here, amidst the clinking of glasses and the murmur of hushed conversations, the youth of the neighborhood come to claim their territory and assert their dominance, making the Bucket of Blood both a refuge and a danger zone in their high school experience.