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 for

Linda’s wrist,

way to

was absolutely

embarrassing yourself,” he said,

but never managed to form coherent words. Instead,

out of the room.

few of the girls made soft

she was,

herteme

showing, she might drop far enough to be

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

But he

more aware of

my tongue. Did he just

I said, snidely, making it

his eyes at

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

me, he looked at Julian like he was trying

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

me to move closer?

motioned to the chair I would be moving to. My previous spot had

sight of the Luna

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

smirked at Nicholas. “You don’t have a problem with that, do

tugged at his cuffs. “Why

know.” Julian

“9?” someone gasped.

agreed, that seemed like so many people to be eliminated

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

again, as

turned to look

first one

||

to

attention to me, and instead cast their dagger eyes at each

seemed to consistently happen

candidates.

“How

really

“Didn’t you notice that nail sticking

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

any action themselves. Rather, they relied on their alliances to defend them and carry out

masterminds were.

me seriously, and they didn’t even

with an opened lipstick case, until she realized it

Sorry, Piper.”

fine.” I was happy to be considered unimportant enough to be

Olivia and Linda

turned lethal.

that a new dress, Linda? I’m sure I

have trouble telling the