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.

standing just behind her. That slap

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

redder, all the way to

was absolutely not

he said, and threw her arm

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

out of the room.

girls made soft noises of excitement, and

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

herteme

might drop far enough

about to thank him for

he spoke

more aware of your

shriveled on my tongue. Did he just imply being almost

making it clear I was not thankful

narrowed his eyes

exactly when Julian cut in, stepping between us. “Piper, will you

me, he looked at Julian like he was

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

me to move closer?

the chair I would be moving to. My previous spot had

sight of the Luna

as a buffer. And one of those chairs would be filled by Julian himself, who could easily deflect any hostility

don’t have

tugged at his cuffs.

don’t know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

many people

confirmed. “When you are eliminated, you are to pack your bags and immediately vacate the premises. There will be cars waiting

mumble roused again, as

them turned to look at

one to

||

tried to

attention to me, and instead cast their dagger

announcement, many ‘accidents‘ seemed to

candidates.

“How clumsy of

should really

you notice that nail sticking out

the girls had begun to turn

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

masterminds were.

took me seriously, and they didn’t even

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

Sorry, Piper.”

be considered

Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling

turned lethal.

dress, Linda? I’m sure I saw it on

Olivia, you must have trouble telling the decades apart, which would