The Luna Choosing Game

I awoke the next morning to the sound of thunder outside my window and pounding on my bedroom door. I’d barely gotten out of bed when the door burst open and a slew of Joseph’s guards flooded in.

“Mommy!” Elva shouted as she hid under the covers.

“At least let me get dressed,” I said, holding up my hands.

The guard closest to me shook his head. “Orders are orders.” He grabbed me roughly by the arm and

dragged me toward the door.

met

In the hallway, Joseph’s guards were arguing with Nicholas’s. Mark was running toward me.

“Mark!” I called to him. “Elva’s in there!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll watch her!” he called back. He tried to come closer to me, but one of the guards roughly

shoved him. “Hey!”

“Mark, please.” I was worried he might start something. “Elva!”

Mark grit his teeth, but stepped backwards, letting the guards and me pass.

“Keep her away from this! Please!”

“I will,” he promised.

In my nightgown, I was dragged through the hallways. It was early, just before dawn, but many of the

girls peeked their heads out of their doors to see the spectacle.

were nowhere to be seen. Likely this was

to see.

near the back door,

I said, hoping to appeal to her sense of decency. If I went out into the storm

it would soak

“You should have thought

would I have had the time? Somewhere between being startled awake

I knew talking back to her would get me nowhere. I had no

They forced me down to my knees in the

of them warned. Then

palace. I

was better though, I reasoned, looking out at the flowers

rain pelted down on me like tiny, frozen daggers. After only a few minutes, my nightgown was entirely damp, clinging to me like a

I wrapped my

do

growing chill.

long I kneeled there. The cold had

nearby tree and I

them. I was cold and

1. up.

what they wanted me to do. They hoped I would give up

I couldn’t. Elva needed her medicine.

trade. And Nicholas…

Nicholas yesterday. The way he smiled. His kindness