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.

I had been standing just behind her. That

caught Linda’s wrist, stilling her. Her eyes

all the way to the tips of

absolutely not

yourself,” he said, and

but never managed to form

out of the room.

made soft noises of

here she was, losing

herteme

showing, she might drop

was about to thank him for stopping that slap. It would

he spoke

aware of your

my tongue. Did he just imply being almost slapped

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

narrowed his eyes at

stepping between us. “Piper, will you sit beside

at Julian like he was trying to light

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

me to move closer?

would be moving to. My previous spot had put me

sight of the Luna

move would give me two chairs as a buffer. And one of those chairs would be filled by Julian himself, who could easily deflect any hostility from the

don’t have a problem with that, do you,

his

know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

seemed like so many people to be eliminated all at

the premises. There will be cars waiting to escort you home. There will be

roused again, as the girls whispered to one

them turned to

first one

||

to

stopped paying attention to me, and instead cast their dagger eyes at

announcement, many ‘accidents‘ seemed to

candidates.

drinks. “How clumsy

“You should really watch your

“Didn’t you notice that nail

seemed that with the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had

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

masterminds were.

took me seriously, and they didn’t

with an opened lipstick

Sorry, Piper.”

I was happy to be considered unimportant enough

banquet was held. Yet before we had even sat down, the fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling point. Though they never

turned lethal.

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

you must have trouble telling the