The Luna Choosing Game

“Maybe we should turn back,” Nicholas said.

“Too late now,” Julian said. “We’ve got to be sure.”

“I see light up there, Julian,” Nicholas said. “Dim the flashlight.”

Julian turned to the flashlight to the dimmest setting, and aimed it down at the ground. We had to move

slower than before, so as not to trip. She walked lightly to keep our footsteps from generating noise.

At the end of the tunnel, the walls abruptly stretched open into a room.

A room full of cages. A single tungsten bulb hung down from the ceiling, the only light in the room full of

shadows.

“What the —?” I began to say. Nicholas abruptly covered my mouth. He yanked me back into the

darkness of the tunnel. Julian followed at once, clicking off the flashlight.

A door on the far side of the room cracked open, and in walked Terry beside a man I had never seen

before a man dressed entirely in black with sallow cheeks and dark eyes.

–

see this room should offer the organization needs for their purposes,” Terry said to

own personal enjoyment in the

a person’s

the associate said. With silent

me closer to him, until my back was flat against his chest. He still held his hand

now I held

loudly I worried the strange, dangerous man could hear it.

Terry said, walking closer. “Though one that has been bearing fruit. Soon, I will have much to offer the underground organization. Perhaps even something like a crown.”

looked right at me, but

narrowed. “You would do well

“You may hold sway in the royal palace, Terry, but in the

you must still prove

“Ridiculous,” Terry snapped.

1/2

to face him. In an instant, there was a knife in his hand. “Your

will learn your place one way or another.”

out his chest. “You dare threaten me

tilted his knife, catching it

the underground controls all. This is your home because we allow it. Your King

because we allow it.”

so tightly a muscle ticked in his jaw.