How we cite our quotes: (Poem Title, Stanza)
Quote #4
And it occurred to me for one uneasy moment that every move I had made lately might have started a landslide. What if I couldn't go back? What if I died in the crash? (I Hid Out in My Room Until Dinner.5)
We know that Kristina's unfortunately right, but her brief fear being unable to return to the way things were isn't enough to keep her from making the decision not to stop.
Quote #5
Why had I gone? What had I done? Who would want me now? How could I deny the state of my being or my part in its disintegration? No way to elude the bitter bite of blame. (Brain Waves.3-5)
Okay, so let's just be super clear about one thing: Kristina is blaming herself for Brendan raping her here, but no matter how terrible her decisions were leading up to that moment, it is absolutely and completely not her fault. No one chooses to be raped.
Quote #6
Now you might think an experience like that would serve as a stern warning, make a person do a quick about-face and sprint in the other direction.
Didn't happen like that for Robyn.
Didn't happen like that for me. (Now You Might Think.1-3)
Are you sensing a pattern here? The lure of crank is so intense that it literally seems to suspend typical human logic. Under normal circumstances, Kristina and Robyn might respond to being sexually assaulted by steering clear of the crank scene and returning to the straight and narrow path. But being with the monster isn't normal circumstances.