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 was now

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

all the way to the tips of her

was absolutely not

said, and threw her

managed to form coherent

out of the room.

few of the girls made soft

considered a front–runner, but here she was, losing her temper enough to be

herteme

she might drop far enough to be

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

But he spoke

aware

gratitude shriveled on my tongue. Did he just imply being almost

said, snidely, making it clear I was not thankful

his eyes

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

at me, he looked at Julian like he

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 previous spot had put me

sight of the Luna

buffer. And one of those chairs would be filled by Julian

have a problem with

at his cuffs. “Why

know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

agreed, that seemed like so many

you are to pack your bags and immediately vacate the premises. There will be cars waiting to escort you home. There will

again, as the

of them turned to

first one

||

to

paying attention to me, and instead cast their dagger eyes

many ‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently happen amongst

candidates.

drinks. “How clumsy

really watch your

you notice that nail sticking out

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

were the most vicious, though neither seemed to take any action themselves. Rather, they relied on their alliances to defend them

masterminds were.

for me, no one took me seriously, and they didn’t even

ready to ruin my dress with an

Sorry, Piper.”

be considered unimportant

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

turned lethal.

sure I

you must have trouble telling the decades apart,