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 was

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

the way to the

absolutely

are embarrassing yourself,” he said, and threw her arm

a moment, but never managed to

out of the room.

made soft noises of excitement, and for good

a front–runner, but here she

herteme

might drop far enough

to thank him for

he

aware of your

Did he just imply

making it clear I was not

his eyes at

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

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?

would be moving to. My previous

sight of the Luna

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

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

his cuffs. “Why would

don’t know.” Julian

“9?” someone gasped.

many people to be eliminated all

vacate the premises. There will be cars waiting to escort you home. There will be no arguments

rising mumble roused again, as the girls whispered to one

them turned to look

first one to

||

to

to me, and instead cast their dagger eyes at

many ‘accidents‘ seemed to

candidates.

drinks. “How clumsy

“You should really watch

notice that nail sticking

elimination, the

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

masterminds were.

seriously, and

had been ready to ruin my dress with

Sorry, Piper.”

be considered unimportant

the fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached

turned lethal.

that a new dress, Linda? I’m sure I saw it on sale last

you must have trouble telling the decades apart, which would explain your