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

Linda’s wrist, stilling

the way to the

was absolutely not

he said, and

never managed to form coherent words.

out of the room.

few of the girls made soft noises

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

herteme

she might drop far enough to be considered for

was about to thank him for stopping that slap. It would have

But he spoke

more aware

Did he just imply being almost slapped

said, snidely, making it clear I was not

his eyes at

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

at Julian like he was trying to light

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

me to move closer?

I would be moving to. My previous spot

sight of the Luna

Julian wanted me to move would give me two chairs as a buffer. And one of those chairs would

have a problem with that, do

at his cuffs. “Why

don’t know.” Julian

“9?” someone gasped.

agreed, that seemed like so many people to

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

rising mumble roused again, as the

turned

first one to

||

tried to

me, and instead

‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently happen

candidates.

drinks. “How

really

dresses. “Didn’t you notice that

the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had begun to turn

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

masterminds were.

me seriously,

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

Sorry, Piper.”

to be considered

held. Yet before we had even sat down, the fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling point. Though they

turned lethal.

a new dress, Linda? I’m sure

telling the decades apart,