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.

she left, I had to

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

the early morning hours, Elva’s fever finally broke, and Piper was able

to alert the physician.

asleep. She must have been so

have to worry anymore, her body sunk fast

to wake her, I hooked an arm under

other

up over her tired

over Piper and Elva both

When I saw him enter the room, I stood, leaving the

The weather forecasts had predicted a miniscule chance of

rain…” Mark hesitated. He was holding something back.

need for further

“Mark?”

see it for yourself.

Piper and Elva continued to doze, even as the

watch over them in

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

Mark nodded.

quick glance behind me, then I made