Forgotten Squib in a Wizard's War

I trailed down the swift thoroughfare in a glum state. I turned left on to a side street and leaned against the dark brick wall. I took out a piece of gum and slowly unwrapped it, revealing a speckled, peppermint taffy. I rarely did this. In fact, the only times I remember ever chewing gum were when I was depressed or melancholy. I knew my relationship with him was passé, but did it have to hurt so badly? While dwelling on my own selfish tribulations I heard a faint knell from deep within the darkness that crept beside me. A dark brown glass beer bottle rolled slowly toward me from the shadows of the passage.

I stood stalk still. I heard a soft, satisfied cackle and then mumbling. Then the distinctive sounds of a scuffle. The cacophony was dwelling far too deep inside the pass to see or hear clearly. Apprehensively, I followed the sound deeper into the grotto, perplexed but intent on ascertaining the motive to the cryptic commotion.

Two blood-curdling minutes later, I was still creeping towards where I was sure I had head the commotion. My feet cracked loudly on the garbage-strewn floor. Rats scuttled for cover as I slowly passed. All too soon I approached the lineament of a tall figure. I stood against the brick apartment building mortified, willing it to fabricate me into its filthy domain. I knew this man was malignant by nature, the simple essence of him I found oppressing. Next to him stood a puny man, a disgrace of a man. A balding head and malevolent eyes told me all I needed to know. I wanted to turn but something called me back. What had the fight been about? A homeless man slouched in the corner of the alleyway, a trickle of blood running down his temple. I made to turn back, to run for the police, but an invisible force sought me there, dragging me forth to gravitate me to one spot. I needed to go, to run, this was dangerous. And he hadn't seen me, not yet.

Suddenly, the air was full of apoplectic popping noises. Seven men appeared in the vacant space between the wall and the giant. "What!" I thought, "But no," Déjà vu undulated about me as I gawked at the foul circle of friends. Comprehension dawned across my face and I understood. I broke down. Since I was born, the rudimentary rule was this man, the man who had brought a loss to living. I was taught what to do in this exact situation. And I now found myself astonished that I had not recognized the signs. Every person in that world was taught to fear this man at all costs, to even speak his name would be suicidal. But now I discover myself in the precise dilemma we had all sworn to ourselves would never emerge to us. I must get to the authorities, now! But how, where was I to find them? I had long since denied any association with that crowd. And now I was no better off that the homeless man in the corner. I had no talent for these conspiracies.