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.

I had to

now, I would do what I could. I sat in the chair

fever finally broke, and Piper was

to alert the physician.

She

moment she knew she didn’t have to worry anymore, her body sunk

arm under

around to the other side of the bed and lowered

over her

over Piper and Elva both until

I saw him enter the room, I stood, leaving

had predicted a miniscule

Mark hesitated. He was holding something

for

“Mark?”

need to see it for yourself. The royal family is gathered

behind me, where Piper and Elva continued to doze,

will stay and watch over them in your

able to pull myself away. “Very well.

Mark nodded.

one last quick glance behind me, then I