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.

just behind her. That slap was

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

all the way to the tips of

was absolutely not

he said, and threw her arm

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

out of the room.

the girls made soft noises

here she was, losing her

herteme

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

thank him for stopping that slap. It would

he spoke

more aware

Did he just

I said, snidely, making it clear I was not

his eyes at

in, stepping between

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?

he motioned to the chair I would be moving to. My

sight of the Luna

buffer. And one of those chairs would

at Nicholas. “You don’t have

at his cuffs. “Why

don’t know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

many people to

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

as the girls whispered to

them turned to look at

one to

||

to ignore

attention to me, and instead cast

many ‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently happen

candidates.

drinks. “How

really watch

dresses. “Didn’t you notice that

seemed that with the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had

seemed to take any action themselves. Rather, they relied on their alliances to defend them

masterminds were.

one took me seriously, and

been ready to ruin my dress with an opened lipstick

Sorry, Piper.”

be considered unimportant

before we had even sat down, the fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling

turned lethal.

sure I saw it on

you must have trouble telling the decades