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 let her stay

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

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

to alert the physician.

I returned to Piper, she was fast asleep. She must have been

knew she didn’t have to worry anymore, her

not to wake her, I hooked an arm under her knees and the other

up against me. I carried her around to the other side of

lifted the covers up over her tired

and watched over Piper and Elva both

I saw him enter the room, I stood, leaving the physician to her work and

storming?” I asked him. The weather forecasts had predicted a miniscule chance

Mark hesitated. He was holding something back.

for

“Mark?”

yourself. The royal family is gathered

glanced behind me, where Piper and Elva continued to doze,

and watch over them

to pull myself away.

Mark nodded.

behind me, then I made my way from the