The Luna Choosing Game

“9?” someone gasped.

I agreed, that seemed like so many people to be eliminated all at once!

“9,” Nathan confirmed. “When you are eliminated, you are to pack your bags and immediately vacate the premises. There will be cars waiting to escort you home. There will be no arguments or reconsiderations.”

A rising mumble roused again, as the girls whispered to one another.

Many of them turned to look at me.

“The first one to go…”

||

I tried to ignore them.

Soon, they stopped paying attention to me, and instead cast their dagger eyes at each other.

After Nathan’s announcement, many ‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently happen amongst the

candidates.

Spilled drinks. “How clumsy of me.”

Tripping. “You should really watch your step.”

Torn dresses. “Didn’t you notice that nail sticking out there?”

It seemed that with the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had begun to turn on one another.

Olivia and Linda were the most vicious, though neither seemed to take any action themselves. Rather, they relied on their alliances to defend them and carry out acts of subterfuge. Yet it was clear who the

masterminds were.

Fortunately for me, no one took me seriously, and they didn’t even bother hiding it.

One girl had been ready to ruin my dress with an opened lipstick case, until she realized it was me.

Sorry, Piper.”

“It’s fine.” I was happy to be considered unimportant enough to be left alone.

The next night, a banquet was held. Yet before we had even sat down, the fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling point. Though they never raised their voices, their sniping at each other had

turned lethal.

“Is that a new dress, Linda? I’m sure I saw it on sale last season.

“Oh, Olivia, you must have trouble telling the decades apart, which would explain your hairstyle.”

Olivia and Linda smiled tightly at each other.

Then, Olivia ‘tripped‘ and spilled her red wine all down the front of Linda’s mauve gown.

“Oops. How terribly clumsy of me.” Olivia held out a tissue. “This might help.

Linda’s face turned red. “Why, you!” She moved to slap Olivia, but Olivia ducked out of the way just in

time.

just behind her. That slap

Nicholas caught Linda’s wrist, stilling her.

way to

absolutely

are embarrassing yourself,” he said, and

to form coherent words. Instead, she just stormed

out of the room.

made soft noises of excitement,

here she was, losing

herteme

she might drop far enough to

at me. I was about to thank him

he

more aware

Did he just imply

said, snidely, making it clear I was not thankful –

his eyes at

exactly when Julian cut in, stepping between us. “Piper, will you sit beside me

he looked at Julian like he was trying

1. uh. The sudden question made my head spin. I already sat across from Julian. Why would he ask

me to move closer?

motioned to the chair I would be moving to.

sight of the Luna

me two chairs as a buffer. And one of those

at Nicholas. “You don’t have a

his cuffs. “Why

know.” Julian

“9?” someone gasped.

like so many

bags and immediately vacate the premises. There will be cars waiting to escort you home. There will be no arguments

mumble roused again, as the

turned to look

first one to

||

to

stopped paying attention to me, and instead cast their

‘accidents‘ seemed

candidates.

“How clumsy

“You should really

you notice that nail sticking out

with the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had begun to turn on

were the most vicious, though neither seemed to take any action themselves. Rather, they relied on their alliances to defend them and carry out

masterminds were.

took me seriously, and they didn’t even bother hiding

ruin my dress with an opened lipstick case, until she realized it was

Sorry, Piper.”

I was happy to be considered unimportant enough to be left

before we had even sat down, the fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling point. Though they never raised their voices, their sniping

turned lethal.

Linda? I’m sure I saw it on sale

have trouble telling the