The Luna Choosing Game

One of the soldiers dragged Boss out into the dining room. He was whimpering, begging them to let him go.

“I didn’t know. How would I have known?”

In the center of the dining room, the soldier dropped his hold on Boss and he crumpled onto the floor.

My attention flicked up to the television screens, which showed a replay of the selection process, displaying names, one after the next.

The 25(th) and final name was my own.

I didn’t understand. I never sent in an application.

“I had no idea she might be a future Luna,” Boss said, clutching his head. “If I’d known, I never would have –”

“For this slight against the royal family, this establishment will be shut down until further notice,” the head soldier said, cutting Boss off. Then the guard looked at me. “Some of us will escort you home, miss, so that you can gather your personal belongings.”

“How long will I be staying?” I asked. I felt like I was in some sort of dream. Any moment I’d wake up and be in that kitchen.

I never wanted to step foot inside of there again.

The soldier gave me a quizzical look. “Everything should have been made clear on your application.”

The application. Right. The one I hadn’t sent in.

I didn’t want to ask any more questions and risk drawing unwanted attention to myself, so I nodded. “Of course.”

A handful of soldiers near the entrance beckoned me to them. I followed them and they drove me to my apartment. When we arrived, I asked them to wait outside.

They complied, though one stationed himself right outside the door. “To help with luggage,” he explained.

I wasn’t used to that kind of care, so I looked at him strangely for a moment. He maintained a military stance, not seeming to mind my stare.

This was all too weird.

I opened my apartment door and walked inside. Anna excitedly met me just inside the door. Elva, not quite as excited, was still on the couch, playing with her dolls.

“Hi, Mommy.”

Anna, who seemed ready to bounce straight

chosen! Can you believe

from it, I still kept my voice soft so the soldier outside wouldn’t hear. “I didn’t even put in an

Anna quickly glanced away.

“Anna.”

in an application on

“Anna!” I whisper-yelled.

belong in this town, Piper, and certainly not in that job

can’t believe this. What

held hands out, palms up.

“If I go there, I’m going to be humiliated.

If you go and they disqualify you, you come back here and nothing will have changed.

“That will never happen.”

can get a free vacation to the Capital. Elva’s never seen it.” Anna

a

has a lot of pretty dresses,” Anna said. “And so

doe eyes up

from Anna. How

can see

cheered, I gave Anna a

just smiled. “You’ll thank me

mistake. I couldn’t say that, of course. To dispute the judgement of the royal

was take Elva into the palace to see the dresses, and then politely withdraw

pulling into a long circular entryway. Carrying Elva, I followed the soldiers to a room to prepare for the

He seemed less surprised this time. At the

Elva into the nicest outfits we had brought. We matched in simple sundresses. I brushed Elva’s hair up into curly pigtails.

begun to gather. Their dresses were much more

and then the next, like she didn’t

mimosas and parfaits. I ushered Elva over there and handed her a parfait and a spoon. Her eyes,

the sneers and sideways glances the two of us were earning simply by being

and I lowered