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

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

way to the tips

absolutely

he said,

never managed to

out of the room.

girls made soft noises of

but here she was, losing

herteme

she might drop far enough to be considered

me. I was about to thank him

he

more aware of

just

it clear I was not thankful –

narrowed his

between us. “Piper, will you sit

Nicholas had been glaring at me, he looked 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?

motioned to the chair I would be moving to. My previous

sight of the Luna

buffer. And one of those

at Nicholas. “You don’t have a problem

at his cuffs. “Why would

don’t know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

agreed, that seemed like so many people to be eliminated

are to pack your bags and immediately vacate the premises. There will be

as

of them turned to

one

||

tried to ignore

and instead cast their dagger eyes at each

many ‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently

candidates.

drinks. “How

should really watch

dresses. “Didn’t you notice that

quickly approaching elimination, the girls had begun to turn

to take any action themselves. Rather, they relied on their alliances to

masterminds were.

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

with an opened lipstick case, until she

Sorry, Piper.”

to be considered unimportant enough to

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

turned lethal.

that a new dress, Linda? I’m sure

Olivia, you must have trouble telling the