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.

–

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

my own personal enjoyment in the past. These cages

breaking a person’s

said. With silent steps, he

until my back was flat against his chest. He still held his hand over

held my

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

closer. “Though one that has been bearing fruit. Soon, I

He peered into the darkness. I swear he looked right at me, but he looked away just

eyes narrowed. “You would do

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

still prove yourself.”

“Ridiculous,” Terry snapped.

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man turned to face him. In an instant, there was a knife in his hand. “Your birthright means nothing,

your place one way or another.”

dare threaten me

not a threat.” The man tilted his knife, catching it under

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

because we

tightly a muscle ticked