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.

her. That slap was now headed for

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

redder, all the way to

was absolutely

said, and threw

but never managed to form coherent

out of the room.

soft noises of excitement, and for

she was, losing her

herteme

might drop far enough to be

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

he

aware of

on my tongue. Did he just imply being almost slapped was

said, snidely, making it clear I was not

narrowed his

stepping between us. “Piper, will

at Julian like he was trying to light him

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

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

have

his cuffs.

don’t know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

so many people to be eliminated

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

again, as the girls whispered to one

them turned

first one

||

to ignore

attention to me, and instead cast

‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently happen amongst

candidates.

drinks. “How clumsy

should really watch your

“Didn’t you notice that nail sticking out

the quickly approaching elimination, the

neither seemed to take any action themselves. Rather, they relied on

masterminds were.

one took me seriously, and they

girl had been ready to ruin my dress with an opened lipstick case,

Sorry, Piper.”

to be

next night, a banquet was held. Yet before we had even sat down, the fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling point.

turned lethal.

I’m sure I saw it on

you must have trouble telling the decades apart, which would