The Luna Choosing Game

The wait for midnight was nearly unbearable, but when it finally arrived, I left Elva sleeping in the bed,

and sneaked out into the hallway.

Mark was standing there with two other guards. He typically wore a serious expression, but today he

seemed especially grim. He must have shared Nicholas’s frustration with the plan.

“Be careful tonight. If anything happened to you…” He let the words hang.

I was confused. Surely the safety of his prince was more important than me. But he didn’t say anything

more. Instead, he just stared at me expectantly.

“ll be careful,” I said.

He nodded.

Turning from him, I started down the hallway. Nicholas met me halfway. He didn’t say anything, just offered his arm. I slid my arms in his and together we walked down toward the kitchens and into the

cellar.

Brian was guarding the door to one of the rooms there, the one containing the passage. He stepped

we came

in the middle of a wall,

hand, Julian carried a large, industrial–style flashlight. He clicked

light of the flashlight, seeing the end of the tunnel was impossible. The stretch of the tunnel was long, and the darkness eventually swallowed the light.

stay close together,” Nicholas said. “Whatever happens,

rules,” Julian said. He stepped

each other, and then we followed him.

of brick, rounded along the top. Our footsteps on the stone

tunnel felt so old that it

back of my neck stood

close,” Julian said.

the room we’d

behind us.

We all stilled.

voice. A warning

flickered again, and then went out.

caught in my throat.

for both Nicholas and Julian and touched Nicholas’s chest with one hand and Julian’s shoulder

mine and squeezed my fingers.

dark, creepy place in the dark, but having them so close, each offering comfort

own ways, helped

the flashlight. The light flickered again, blinding, but it