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.

had been standing just behind her. That slap was now headed for

reach me, Nicholas caught Linda’s wrist, stilling her.

all the way to the

was absolutely

he said, and threw her

a moment, but never managed to form coherent words. Instead, she just

out of the room.

soft noises of excitement,

front–runner, but here she was, losing her temper enough to be

herteme

she might drop

me. I was about to thank him for stopping that slap.

But he spoke

aware of

Did he just imply being almost slapped was my

said, snidely, making it clear I

his eyes at

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

had been glaring at me, he looked at Julian like

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

me to move closer?

to the chair I would be moving to. My previous

sight of the Luna

chairs as a buffer. And one of those chairs would be filled by

have a problem with that, do

tugged at his cuffs. “Why would

know.” Julian

“9?” someone gasped.

so many people

and immediately vacate the premises. There

roused again, as the

them turned to look at

one to

||

to ignore

and instead cast

seemed to consistently

candidates.

“How clumsy of

should really watch

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

that with the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had

to take any action themselves. Rather, they relied

masterminds were.

seriously, and they didn’t even bother

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

Sorry, Piper.”

was happy to be considered unimportant enough to be left

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

turned lethal.

new dress, Linda? I’m sure I

telling the decades apart, which would explain your