By the time Briony finally made it back to the studio, dawn was already breaking. Utterly exhausted, she changed into pajamas and collapsed into bed, falling
asleep almost instantly.
She had no idea how long she'd been out when a frantic knocking at the door jolted her awake.
Her eyes flew open and she stared at the familiar ceiling, breath coming quick and shallow. It took her a moment to gather her wits.
She'd been dreaming.
In the dream, she was standing above a river of blood, so vivid it made her shudder. Somewhere in the distance, an infant's cries echoed in her ears...
From outside the room, Hannah's voice rang out. "Briony? Are you awake?"
Her lashes fluttered. Briony pushed herself up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
The room spun as she stood, her body heavy and unsteady.
"Briony? Briony..." Hannah's voice grew more anxious.
"I'm coming," Briony croaked, forcing herself upright and shuffling to the door.
open, Hannah let out a sigh
to death. It's ten o'clock and you
thought something had happened
nothing if not a creature of habit;
she clearly
fine," she rasped,
frowned, giving her a once-over. "You don't look fine.
hand to her forehead. It did feel
few days of rest and I'll be good as
do," Hannah insisted, placing a hand on Briony's forehead. "You've
just take
you don't want to
sure. I just need some
able to stand, Briony retreated to her
nasty flu going around. You really
for the year. Have finance pay everyone's salary in advance— cover twelve months-and give each person a year-end bonus of, say, twenty thousand. We'll start
shock.
had done well this year, but with those numbers,
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