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.

left, I had to

do what I could. I sat in the chair beside Piper’s as

Piper was able to relax.

to alert the physician.

She must have been so relieved and so exhausted,

didn’t have to worry anymore, her

her, I hooked an arm under her

around to the other side of the

lifted the covers up over her

returned to my chair and watched over Piper and

in the morning. When I saw him enter the room, I stood, leaving the physician to her

had predicted a

hesitated. He was holding something back. Unusual. He typically told me

for

“Mark?”

see it for yourself.

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

watch over them

able to pull myself away. “Very well.

Mark nodded.

behind me, then I made