The Luna Choosing Game

“We were renting an apartment with a friend of mine, Anna. I worked hard for that life. Sometimes I even,

well… I’ve let more experiences happen than I should have, for the sake of a paycheck.”

My hands ached. Looking down I realized I held the wooden armrests of the chair in a white–knuckled

grip. I attempted to loosen my hold. “Were you harmed?”

“Not for the lack of effort on their part,” Piper said. “My boss at this last job was particularly vile, but your

guards came to retrieve me at just the right moment.”

My grip returned tenfold. The wood creaked.

I wanted to tell her that she was safe now, and that people like that would never be able to touch her again. I wanted her to give me this vermin’s name so I could chase him down and have him locked in the

dungeon.

I considered yet doing the last one, when Elva’s condition wasn’t quite so dire. But the previous I could

I

not promise.

With the first elimination coming up, I did not know if she would continue to be allowed to stay at the palace. And the minute she was beyond these walls, I could not protect her without drawing unwanted

attention to us both.

and when she left, I had to let

could. I sat in the chair beside Piper’s as we held vigil

fever finally broke, and Piper was able to relax. I rose to

to alert the physician.

returned to Piper, she was fast asleep. She must have been so relieved and

she didn’t have to worry anymore, her body sunk fast into

hooked an arm under her knees and

to the other

over her tired body and tucked her

to my chair and watched over Piper

collect me in the morning. When I saw him enter the room, I stood,

asked him. The weather forecasts had predicted a miniscule

was holding something back. Unusual. He typically told

need for

“Mark?”

need to see it for yourself. The royal

and Elva continued to doze, even as the

them in your stead,

was I able to pull myself away. “Very well. Thank you,

Mark nodded.

only one last quick glance behind