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.

I had been standing just behind her. That

could reach me, Nicholas caught Linda’s wrist,

all the way to the

absolutely

said,

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

out of the room.

made soft noises of excitement,

she was, losing her temper

herteme

With this poor showing, she might drop far enough to be considered for

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

But he spoke

aware of

tongue. Did he just imply being

it clear I was

narrowed his

was exactly when Julian cut in, stepping between

at Julian like he was trying to

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

me to move closer?

moving to.

sight of the Luna

one of those chairs would be filled by Julian himself, who could easily deflect any hostility from

smirked at Nicholas. “You don’t have a problem with that, do you,

his cuffs. “Why would

don’t know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

like so many people to be eliminated

bags and immediately vacate the premises. There will be cars waiting

mumble roused again, as the girls

them turned to look at

first one to

||

tried to ignore

to me, and instead cast their dagger

many ‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently

candidates.

“How

should really watch your

“Didn’t you notice that nail

with the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had begun to

they relied on

masterminds were.

took me seriously, and they didn’t even bother hiding

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

Sorry, Piper.”

fine.” I was happy to be considered unimportant

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

turned lethal.

new dress, Linda? I’m sure I saw

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