Frank retired early that night leaving his three workers alone in the lab. "You may not sleep until all of this work is done! You too Columbia. You got yourself into this mess so you get to work yourself out." Columbia whined and threw a glass container she was holding on the floor. "No fair! I don't care about this thing you're building. I'm tired and I want to go to bed!" Frank turned to face her sharply. "If you so much as think about leaving this room until all is done, there will be severe consequences to pay. Magenta! Clean that up!" Magenta rushed over to the mess and cleaned quickly as Frank stormed out of the room. As soon as she was sure her master had left, she got up and hugged the now crying Columbia. "Why does he do this to us? He used to love me!" Magenta heard Riff laugh behind them, and she shot him a stern look. "I don't think Frank loves any of us. Here, let me help you." She went to stand next to her brother and started to help him with the many dangerous potions he was forced to play with.
"Magenta!" She looked up from her work and saw Frank, now dressed for bed, walking back into the lab. They had only been working for about 10 minutes since he had left, and he was already back. She felt her brother's hand give her an encouraging pat on her shoulder and she went to her master. Columbia quickly stood near Riff Raff to avoid being anywhere near Frank. "What are you still doing here? I could hear the three of you talking from my room! Get to bed now!" Magenta looked back at her brother. "I was going to help them. It will take them all night if I can't help." Frank laughed. "My dear, you have done your work now go to bed." She couldn't just leave them. Columbia had no idea what she was doing, and it was too much for her dear brother to do on his own. "Please master! Please I'll-" Frank pointed his finger to the door. "Now." Hanging her head, Magenta obediently left the room.
She stayed up hours waiting for the return of her brother or Columbia. She lied in bed with the covers wrapped up to her neck on that cold night, wondering how much longer they would be. She longed for her brother to wrap his long arms around her, and to whisper into her ear until she slept. She wanted to hear Columbia's annoying voice telling her stories about her day, but there was no there to help her sleep that night. She brought her legs up to her stomach to keep warm, and fell asleep in that fetal position.