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 headed for

me, Nicholas caught Linda’s wrist,

to the

was absolutely not

are embarrassing yourself,” he said, and

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

out of the room.

the girls made soft

considered a front–runner, but here she was, losing her

herteme

she might drop

looked at me. I was about to thank him for

he spoke

aware of your

on my tongue. Did he just imply

for the advice,” I said, snidely, making it clear I was not thankful

narrowed his

between

been glaring at me, he looked at

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.

sight of the Luna

would give me two chairs as a buffer. And one of those chairs would be filled by Julian himself, who could easily deflect any

don’t have a problem with that, do

his cuffs.

know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

agreed, that seemed like so many

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

again, as the

turned to look at

first one

||

to ignore

they stopped paying attention to me, and instead cast their dagger

‘accidents‘ seemed to

candidates.

drinks. “How clumsy of

“You should really watch your

you notice that nail sticking out

approaching elimination, the girls had begun to

Rather, they relied on their alliances to defend them

masterminds were.

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

dress with an opened lipstick case, until she

Sorry, Piper.”

was happy to be considered unimportant

fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling point. Though they never raised their voices, their sniping at each other

turned lethal.

sure I saw it on

the decades apart, which would explain