It always sounds the same, that echoing chant, those pounding feet and snarling faces; look, look! See what you have done, see the crimes you have committed against Decency, against the People, against everyone who sought you out to ask for what you offered.
How horrid, how criminal! How dare you.
It's almost like you wanted to be punished, to be destroyed; almost like you craved the lashing whips of You Are An Acceptable Target and the flensing knives of You Deserve Everything We Do To You.
Because you do.
Because the fire needs fresh fuel.
Because it feels so very nice to whip the world into a frenzy, to watch the storm crash against someone who went a tiny bit too far.
Because this is the only power left to be claimed as we rush headlong into ruin.