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 close.

passageway, and an eerie dark opening loomed in the middle of a wall, hiding behind an empty bookcase that had been shifted

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

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

together,” Nicholas said. “Whatever happens, no one gets left

know the rules,” Julian said. He stepped into the

at each other, and

of brick, rounded along the top. Our footsteps on the stone floor echoed down the long, empty

tunnel felt so

back of my neck stood on

close,” Julian said.

of the

behind us.

flickered. We all

warning in his voice. A warning that would come

light flickered again, and

in

hand and Julian’s shoulder with the other. Nicholas caught my

and squeezed

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

helped me feel safe

his hand again and smacked the flashlight. The light