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 slap

me, Nicholas caught Linda’s wrist,

the way to the tips of her

was absolutely not

said, and

sputtered a moment, but never managed to

out of the room.

made soft

but here she was, losing her temper

herteme

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. It would have

he spoke

more aware of your

he just imply

snidely, making it clear I was not thankful –

his eyes

cut in, stepping between us. “Piper, will you sit beside me

me, he looked at Julian

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

me to move closer?

chair I would be moving to. My previous spot

sight of the Luna

to move would give me two chairs as a buffer. And 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

at his cuffs.

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.

as the girls whispered to one

turned

one to

||

to ignore

paying attention to me, and instead cast their dagger eyes

many ‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently happen amongst

candidates.

“How clumsy

should really watch your

“Didn’t you notice that nail sticking out

with the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had begun to turn on one

any action themselves. Rather, they relied on their alliances to defend them and carry out acts

masterminds were.

no one took me seriously, and they didn’t

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

Sorry, Piper.”

was happy to be considered unimportant enough

fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling point. Though they never raised their

turned lethal.

Linda? I’m sure I saw it on sale last

must have trouble telling the decades apart, which