This was a sticky situation.

I had known I was being followed after leaving the underground, but now they had stopped being subtle about their intentions. They we're running at me at top speed, and I was fleeing as fast as I could. They couldn't do magic in the crowded street, but then again, I couldn't fight them there either.

I wove my way in and out of the mass of people, while the two Magical Law Enforcement officers simply shoved people aside, I could hear the grunts and yells of the shoved Londoners as they past.

Eventually, I saw an abandon ally way and raced into it.

"Stupefy!" I heard one yell. My years of Military training had my reflexes honed quite well when under fire. I dove to the ground and rolled behind a dumpster as a jet of red light smashed the wall to my right. I was close to a door, and I kicked it open.

The door led into an unused stage, the kind that plays and musicals were performed on. I was to the curtains on the other side when I heard one of the MLE's yell to me.

"FREEZE!"

I didn't have to turn around to know that his wand was pointed at my back. I looked around at my options. Judging by their footsteps they were halfway across the stage. There was a control panel to my right. If I was really lucky...

"Obli..!" one managed to say before I smacked the panel, pushing every button I could in one swing. Neither of them got to say anything else, because right after that, trapdoors fell out from beneath their feet, and they fell below stage.

I considered my options. It would only be a few moments before they would teleport up to me. The door was to far away to run, and I couldn't just stand here. I ducked behind a large wood board shaped like an old shack. A second later I heard twin "pops" as the two appeared back on the stage.

"He can't have gotten far" one said in a low voice. "He must be hiding. You go that way, I'll check over here."

As he walked toward me I drew my pistol. He walked right past the shack without spotting me. Quietly as I could, I rose and crept up behind him, turning my gun in my hand.

WHACK

I smacked him in the back of the head with the butt of my gun, causing him to collapse on the floor in a heap. I looked around. His partner hadn't heard, and was currently searching through some boxes. Pulling him behind the door, I waited.

"Alfonse?" called the other MLE. I waved the wizards arm. The other wizard walked over, as I propped Alfonse up so that I was hiding behind him.

"Alfonse, what..." he said as he turned the corner. I threw his partner at him, and while he pushed him aside, I was cocking back my fist. I hammered him square in the nose, he toppled backwards, off the stage, and I leaped after him.

He rubbed his nose briefly and then made to swing his wand at me, only to find himself staring down the barrel of my gun.

"Don't even think about it" I growled.

The wizard chuckled.

"You think your, how do you say it? Gun, will be a match for a fully trained wizard."

I had had enough wizard arrogance of late, so I pressed my gun hard against his forehead.

"Tell me buddy: is a fully trained wizard faster than a bullet? I doubt it, but if you want to prove me wrong keep being a high and mighty jack-ass about it, and we'll put it to the test."

With some satisfaction, I saw the smile fade off his face. He tried to swing his wand at me, but I grabbed his wrist and twisted hard, causing him do drop it. Now he wasn't nearly so cocky, I could see him slowly turning white.

"Now" I said, "I have some questions, and I'd really like to get some answers."

I suppose that I should let you know the events leading to this encounter. It all started a few weeks ago...