save for the squeak of her sneakers on the hardwood floor. When she reached the edge of
the mat, Vance gestured for her to step onto the canvas. She did so tentatively.
"Look at this posture," Vance sneered into the mic, circling her like a shark. "Shoulders
slouched, eyes downcast. This is the posture of a victim. In the real world, this is prey."
Maya kept her face neutral, but inside, her heart pounded. She had faced bullies before, but
never in front of an audience of hundreds. She remained silent, refusing to give him the
satisfaction of tears or anger.
Vance continued his tirade, using Maya as a literal textbook example of weakness. He
instructed her to throw a punch at him. When she refused, stating quietly that she didn't
want to fight, he laughed—a harsh, grating sound that amplified through the speakers.
"She won't even defend herself!" Vance crowed to the audience. "This is what happens