The Luna Choosing Game

The next morning, as Elva played with her toys, I sat and drank tea with Charlotte and Mark.

Per the competition rules, I wasn’t allowed to watch television to keep up to date with current events, but Charlotte and Mark were, and oftentimes, we would sit, just like this, and go over the thoughts and rumors of the public about me or the competition.

Today was a special kind of exception.

“Every channel is still discussing Terry’s arrest,” Charlotte said. “Arresting him so publically has caused something of an uproar.”

“It was necessary,” Mark said. “Only with the public’s support, will we be able to take down the underground. Everyone has to help.”

“I get it,” Charlotte replied, “But that’s not how the public sees it. They see a royal family with corrupt connections. If Terry was this deep in the organization, then maybe the others are too.” At Mark’s growing frown, she quickly held up her hands. “That’s what they think, not me!”

Mark frowned deeper, but at least looked away this time.

“You know I’m right,” Charlotte said. “You’ve seen the demonstrations out front same as me.” This material belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.

I had seen them too. Crowds of protesters were appearing just outside the gate. They held signs with slogans disparaging the royal family. Someone had a bullhorn.

“They’ve lost faith in the royal family,” Charlotte said. “They need to build it back.”

“There may be some difficulty with that,” Mark said. He glanced at me. “There is some talk among the royal family and the producers that the competition be placed on hold.”

“What?” I gasped.

Since Terry’s arrest, the previous event had been called into question. Terry’s inappropriate behavior had not gone unnoticed by the public, and people were calling any standing gained or lost in that event to be thrown out.

The royal family and the producers would need time to determine their next move.

Still, I was surprised that the royal family would actually take that time, considering the tensions growing just outside their front gate.

“Placing the competition on hold is the worst thing they could do,” Charlotte said. “The only way to turn around the public perception is to continue to build goodwill through the competition. Cutting it short only hurts them.”

“The royal family can’t make any decision rashly,” Mark said. “They would risk doing more harm than good.‘

I nodded along with both. I could see both sides. If I allowed myself to consider fully, I would likely agree with Charlotte. The competition could generate the goodwill necessary to bring the public away from Terry’s corruption.

However, I was tired. Lately the events had brought only danger down on me. A break to relax and regather myself sounded awfully nice.

“What do you think, Piper?” Charlotte asked me. Mark looked at me too.

I slouched down in my chair a little. “I really don’t know.”

That opinion wasn’t very Luna of me. Luna’s were to be decisive and strong–willed.

But I was exhausted. From my sister nearly killing me to having to push away the man I desired more than any other, I didn’t want to do much other than crawl back under my covers and forget the world for a while.

I only wished I could be that selfish.

Later, as I walked through the hallways, I caught sight through the window of the driveway, and the growing crowd beyond. The number of protesters had doubled since I had last seen it, and it was no small amount before.

The sheer number was startling. They stood strong, taking up all of the street, nearly as far as I could see in both directions.

They seemed angry too, chanting and jeering. Even through the walls, I heard their angry voices, cheering as one. “Liars! Cheaters! Thieves!”

Someone screamed at the top of their lungs, “Death to Tyrants!”