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

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

redder, all the way to the tips

absolutely

said, and threw her arm

never managed to form coherent words. Instead, she just

out of the room.

soft noises of excitement, and for

here she was, losing her temper enough to

herteme

a prince. With this poor showing, she might drop far enough to be considered for

about to thank him for

But he spoke

more aware

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

snidely, making it clear I was not thankful

his eyes at

stepping between us. “Piper, will you sit beside me

had been glaring at me, he looked at Julian like he was

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

me to move closer?

chair I would be moving to. My previous spot

sight of the Luna

of those chairs would be filled by Julian himself, who could easily deflect any hostility from

don’t have a

at his

don’t know.”

“9?” someone gasped.

that seemed like so many people to be eliminated all

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

again, as the girls whispered to one

turned to

one

||

tried to

and instead cast their dagger

‘accidents‘ seemed to consistently happen

candidates.

drinks. “How clumsy of

really watch your

you notice that nail

the quickly approaching elimination, the girls had begun to turn

any action themselves. Rather, they relied on their alliances

masterminds were.

seriously,

my dress with an

Sorry, Piper.”

to 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. Though they never

turned lethal.

that a new dress, Linda? I’m sure

have trouble telling the decades apart, which would