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.

standing just behind her. That slap was

could reach me, Nicholas caught Linda’s wrist, stilling her. Her

to the

absolutely not

embarrassing yourself,” he said, and threw her

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

out of the room.

made soft noises of

she was, losing her temper enough to be

herteme

this poor showing, she might drop

him for stopping that slap. It would have

But he

aware of

Did he just imply being almost slapped was my

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

narrowed his eyes

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

me, he looked at Julian like he was trying to

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

me to move closer?

he motioned to the chair I would be moving to. My previous spot had put me in direct line

sight of the Luna

And one of those

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

his cuffs.

don’t know.” Julian

“9?” someone gasped.

that seemed like so many people

immediately vacate the premises.

as the

of them turned

one to

||

to

paying attention to me, and instead cast their

‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently happen amongst

candidates.

drinks. “How clumsy

really watch your

you notice

approaching elimination, the girls

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

masterminds were.

seriously, and they didn’t even bother hiding

dress with an opened lipstick case, until she realized it

Sorry, Piper.”

fine.” I was happy to be considered unimportant enough

was held. Yet before we had even sat down, the fighting between Olivia and Linda had

turned lethal.

new dress, Linda? I’m sure

trouble telling the decades apart, which would explain your