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 let her

I could. I sat in the chair beside Piper’s

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

to alert the physician.

asleep. She must have

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

under her knees and the other around her

me. I carried her around to the other side of the bed and lowered her

up over her tired body and tucked

my chair and watched over Piper and Elva

in the morning. When I saw him enter

him. The weather forecasts had predicted a miniscule chance of rain, but

Mark hesitated. He was holding something back. Unusual.

need for

“Mark?”

for yourself. The royal family is gathered in your father’s

and Elva continued to doze, even

stay and watch over them

able to pull

Mark nodded.

myself only one last quick glance behind me, then I made