>>10210347>>10210366>>10210383>>10210403>>10210417>>10210423Colby flinches when M.Alice holds up the bottle. Her cheeks grow hot as she regrets the moment of weakness that had made her take that drink, and dread rises in her at M.Alice's intimidating presence. But at her final rejection, something else breaks through her fear: anger.
>"No? ... NO?? You're going to come into this arena, single me out by description if not by name, and when I call you out to confront you about it, you tell me NO?"Part of Colby is terrified, but this slight has set off her temper.
"I'm sorry that I don't rise to the lofty heights of Lo Cawder, to have earned a spot in the ring with the mighty M.Alice, after your MANY accomplishments... but obviously you had enough feelings about me to mention me in the first place. So don't TELL me I'm too insignificant for you to wrestle."
>"The preachers back home in Arkansas couldn't scare me away from believing and doing what was right by telling me lies about hell and damnation, and neither can you.">"I was going to say that behind all of the power and darkness, you're just a THUG... but thugs tend to back up their threats physically when they have to, don't they? So if you're not going to back it up, what DOES that make you, M.Alice?"The anger fades in Colby as she expresses it, leaving her fear to rise again. When M.Alice walks away, Colby is relieved - and also, disgusted with herself for feeling that way.
>"I-I guess we're done here....."