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

before it could reach me, Nicholas caught Linda’s wrist, stilling her. Her eyes went

to

was absolutely

yourself,” he said, and threw her arm

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

out of the room.

girls made soft noises

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

herteme

a prince. With this poor showing, she might

thank him

he

more aware of

on my tongue. Did he just imply being almost slapped was

snidely, making it clear

narrowed his eyes

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

had been glaring at me, he looked at Julian like he was trying to light him on

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 put me in direct

sight of the Luna

And one of those chairs would be filled by Julian himself, who could easily deflect any hostility

“You don’t have a

tugged at his cuffs.

know.” Julian

“9?” someone gasped.

many people to be eliminated all

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

rising mumble roused again, as the

them turned to look at

first one

||

to ignore

to me, and instead cast their dagger eyes at each

Nathan’s announcement, many ‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently

candidates.

drinks. “How

really

you notice that nail

seemed that with the quickly approaching elimination, the

relied on

masterminds were.

no one took me seriously, and they didn’t

to ruin my dress with an opened lipstick case,

Sorry, Piper.”

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

Olivia and

turned lethal.

dress, Linda? I’m sure I saw it on sale

you must have trouble telling the decades apart, which would explain