The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0547

Forfeit? Why in the world would Nicholas want me to back out of an event I had a good shot at winning?

My face must have revealed my confusion and displeasure. His own features immediately softened, but his frown did not ebb.

He lowered his voice even though we were far from the others. He must have wanted to be doubly sure we were not overheard. "You have been sabotaged since you arrived on this island. And we know for a fact, my parents are behind it. You really think they will let you compete without trying something?"

Oh. In my excitement, I hadn't considered what they might do. I hadn't forgotten, exactly. More like, I had pushed it to the back of my brain to deal with more immediate thoughts.

But now that he had pointed it out, yes, I understood there were major points of concern here. But I couldn't just forfeit!

"Do you really think they'd try something during the race?" I asked. "I'd be swimming out in the ocean? How would they manage that?"

"I don't know, but I'm worried," he said.

To sabotage me while I'm out in the water, they would risk killing me. "You don't think they'd...?" I hoped he knew what I was trying to say, because I really did not want to give voice to my fears. To say them aloud might make them come true.

Fortunately, Nicholas knew me well, so he knew what I was trying to say. "I do not think they intend to harm you physically, or... worse." He probably didn't want to give voice to it either. "But after what happened on the island, I don't think you should take any chances."

"You think they were responsible for the pit?" I still wasn't sure what I thought. It seemed like it would have been a difficult prospect to plan, but if Nicholas thought they might have done it, maybe it wasn't so outlandish after all.

"I'm not ruling anything out," he said. "I don't want to believe they could be capable of doing such harm to you. Maybe with the pit, if they had been responsible, they only meant to waylay you. Or maybe they had been hoping Bridget would save you and make herself look good. I don't know."

I hadn't considered that. Was that why she had been given the rope, while the rest of us went without any supplies? She was supposed to play the part of the heroine?

Well, she royally failed there.

"But if they were responsible, even if they hadn't meant you to be harmed down there, you still almost died. If they attempt something while you are in the water, their carelessness could lead to you... drowning," he said the last word like it physically pained him. "It's not worth it, Piper."

down as well. Of course, I didn't want to die or risk dying. But we were only talking about hypotheticals.

certain what the next elimination ceremony was going to look like, but with my ranking so low to start, could

not sure I have alternatives," I

His voice was even more urgent. "This

know if they are even planning something for this event. They could just think Bridget will

long time. For years, working was my work-out, and Miracle and I sometimes still struggled to get

getting better,

factors to

a chance at a future together. Wasn't that something worth

but this is something I have to do." Nicholas opened his mouth to argue, so I hurried on before he could. "I have

thinks you do that," Nicholas said. "Besides, I'm happy to protect

do this,

I would have felt a hell of a lot

much was clear, but I refused to back

stand in your way," he said at last. That was as much of a consent as I was ever going to get from him. I accepted it. I'd take

inside to attend to a few things, so we split ways. I went down to the beach

carrying her bucket, she rushed down to the shore, scooped up some water, and hurried back to

her in the sand and pulled her into a hug. "I want to

"What kind

don't want

me frown. "Back

on the ground

there," I

Aunt

said. I tilted my head. "But