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. That slap was now

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

to the tips of her

was absolutely

embarrassing yourself,” he said, and

moment, but never managed to form coherent

out of the room.

made soft noises of excitement, and for good

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

herteme

might drop far enough to

me. I was about to thank him for stopping that slap. It

But he spoke

more aware of

tongue. Did he just imply being almost slapped was

making it clear I was not

his

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

at Julian like

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

me to move closer?

I would be moving to. My previous spot had put me in

sight of the Luna

as a buffer. And one of those chairs would be filled by Julian himself, who could easily deflect

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

tugged at his cuffs.

don’t know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

that seemed like so many people

you are to pack your bags and immediately vacate the

roused again, as the girls whispered

turned to look

first one

||

tried to

attention to me, and instead cast their dagger eyes at

many ‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently happen amongst

candidates.

drinks. “How clumsy of

“You should really watch your

dresses. “Didn’t you notice

seemed that with the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had begun

relied on their alliances to defend them and carry out acts of subterfuge.

masterminds were.

one took me seriously,

dress with

Sorry, Piper.”

fine.” I was happy to be considered

had even sat down, the fighting between Olivia and Linda had reached a boiling

turned lethal.

new dress, Linda? I’m sure

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