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 was

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

to the

absolutely not

yourself,” he said, and

sputtered a moment, but never managed to form coherent words. Instead, she just stormed

out of the room.

the girls made soft noises of

but here she was, losing her temper

herteme

prince. With this poor showing, she might drop far enough

thank him for stopping that slap.

But he spoke

more aware of

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

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

narrowed his

in, stepping between us. “Piper,

been glaring at me, he looked at Julian

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

me to move closer?

moving to. My previous

sight of the Luna

of those chairs would be filled by Julian himself, who could easily

“You don’t have a problem with

his

know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

like so many people to

immediately vacate the premises. There will be cars waiting to escort you home. There will be no arguments

roused again, as the girls whispered to one

turned to

first one

||

tried to ignore

paying attention to me, and instead cast their dagger

‘accidents‘ seemed to

candidates.

“How clumsy

should really watch your

you notice that nail sticking out

quickly approaching elimination, the

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

masterminds were.

seriously, and they didn’t even bother hiding

ready to ruin my dress with an opened lipstick case,

Sorry, Piper.”

be considered unimportant enough to be left

next night, a banquet was held. Yet before we had even sat down, the fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling point.

turned lethal.

dress, Linda? I’m sure I saw it on

have trouble telling the decades apart, which would explain