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.

had been standing just behind her.

caught Linda’s wrist, stilling her. Her eyes

redder, all the way to the tips of her

was absolutely not

embarrassing yourself,” he said, and

to form coherent words. Instead, she

out of the room.

few of the girls made soft noises

front–runner, but here she was,

herteme

poor showing, she might drop

about to thank him for stopping that slap. It

But he

more aware of your

he just imply

snidely, making it clear I was not

narrowed his eyes

when Julian cut in, stepping between

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?

motioned to the chair I would be moving to.

sight of the Luna

me two chairs as a buffer. And one of those chairs would

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

tugged at his cuffs. “Why would

know.” Julian

“9?” someone gasped.

that seemed like so many people to be eliminated all

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

rising mumble roused again, as

of them turned to look at

one to

||

tried to ignore

to me, and instead cast their dagger eyes

many ‘accidents‘ seemed

candidates.

drinks. “How clumsy

“You should really watch your

dresses. “Didn’t you notice

approaching elimination, the girls

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

masterminds were.

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

my dress with an opened lipstick case, until

Sorry, Piper.”

was happy to be

Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling point. Though

turned lethal.

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

you must have trouble telling the decades apart,