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.

behind her. That slap was

it could reach me, Nicholas caught Linda’s wrist, stilling her. Her eyes went wide, her

the way to the tips of

absolutely

yourself,” he said, and threw her arm

but never managed to form coherent words. Instead, she

out of the room.

the girls made soft noises of excitement, and

was typically considered a front–runner, but here she was, losing her temper enough to

herteme

poor showing, she might drop far

at me. I was about to thank him for

he spoke

more aware of your

just imply being almost slapped was my own

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

narrowed his

between us. “Piper, will you sit beside me

at me, he looked at Julian like he

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

me to move closer?

moving to. My previous spot had put

sight of the Luna

one of those chairs would be filled by Julian himself, who could easily

at Nicholas. “You don’t have a problem with that,

his cuffs.

know.” Julian

“9?” someone gasped.

many people to be eliminated all

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

as the girls whispered to one

them turned

first one

||

tried to ignore

to me, and

‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently happen amongst

candidates.

“How

really watch your

dresses. “Didn’t you notice that nail sticking out

approaching elimination, the girls had begun to turn

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

masterminds were.

me, no one took me seriously, and they didn’t

ruin my dress with an opened

Sorry, Piper.”

to be considered unimportant enough

held. Yet before we had even sat down, the fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached a

turned lethal.

that a new dress, Linda? I’m sure I saw it on

Olivia, you must have trouble telling the