“Stop!” wails Christina as Molly pulls her foot back to kick again. She holds out a hand. “Stop! I’m…” She coughs. “I’m done.” (…) Eric walks toward the center of the arena, his movements slow, and stands over Christina with his arms folded. He says quietly, “I’m sorry, what did you say? You’re done?”
Eric shoves Christina against the railing. “Climb over it,” he says. “What?” She says it like she expects him to relent, but her wide eyes and ashen face suggest otherwise. Eric will not back down. “Climb over the railing,” says Eric again, pronouncing each word slowly. “If you can hang over the chasm for five minutes, I will forget your cowardice. If you can’t, I will not allow you to continue initiation.”
Eric shoves Christina against the railing. “Climb over it,” he says. “What?” She says it like she expects him to relent, but her wide eyes and ashen face suggest otherwise. Eric will not back down. “Climb over the railing,” says Eric again, pronouncing each word slowly. “If you can hang over the chasm for five minutes, I will forget your cowardice. If you can’t, I will not allow you to continue initiation.”
(c)