“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.

standing just behind her. That slap was now

reach me, Nicholas caught Linda’s wrist, stilling her. Her eyes went wide, her

to the tips of

absolutely not

said,

moment, but never managed to form

out of the room.

made soft noises

here she was, losing her temper

herteme

poor showing, she might drop far enough to be considered

about to thank him for stopping that slap. It would

But he spoke

more aware of

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

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

narrowed his

stepping between

had been glaring at me, he looked 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?

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

sight of the Luna

one of those chairs would be filled by Julian himself, who

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

tugged at his cuffs. “Why would

don’t know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

agreed, that seemed like so many people to be eliminated all

eliminated, you are to pack your bags and immediately vacate the premises.

as the girls

them turned to look at

one to

||

to ignore

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

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

candidates.

“How

should really watch your

“Didn’t you notice that nail sticking

the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had begun to turn

most vicious, though neither seemed to take any action themselves. Rather, they relied on their alliances to defend them and carry out

masterminds were.

me seriously, and they didn’t even

had been ready to ruin my dress with an opened lipstick case, until

Sorry, Piper.”

happy to be considered unimportant

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

turned lethal.

Linda? I’m sure I saw it on sale last

telling the decades apart, which

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