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.

behind her. That slap was now headed

Nicholas caught Linda’s wrist, stilling her. Her eyes went wide, her

all the way to

absolutely not

embarrassing yourself,” he said, and threw

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

out of the room.

made soft noises of

she was, losing her temper enough to be

herteme

With this poor showing, she might drop far

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

he

more aware of

tongue. Did he just imply being almost slapped

making it clear I was not thankful –

his

Julian cut in, stepping between us. “Piper, will

me, he looked at Julian like he was trying to light him

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

me to move closer?

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

sight of the Luna

move would give me two chairs as a buffer. And one of those chairs would be filled by

“You don’t have a problem with that, do

at his cuffs. “Why

don’t know.” Julian

“9?” someone gasped.

so many people to

and immediately vacate the premises. There will

again, as the

turned to look

first one to

||

tried to

and instead cast their dagger

announcement, many ‘accidents‘ seemed

candidates.

drinks. “How clumsy

“You should really

dresses. “Didn’t you notice that nail

seemed that with the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had begun

Rather, they relied on their alliances to defend them and carry out acts of

masterminds were.

me seriously, and they didn’t even bother hiding

been ready to ruin my dress with an opened lipstick

Sorry, Piper.”

I was happy to be

and Linda had reached a boiling point. Though they

turned lethal.

I’m sure I saw it

the decades apart, which