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.

swung open, Hannah let

scared me half to death. It's ten o'clock and

had

creature of habit; she

though, she

she rasped, her voice

her a once-over. "You don't

lifted a hand to her forehead. It did

she said. "A few days of rest and I'll be

won't do," Hannah insisted, placing a hand on Briony's forehead. "You've got

trouble. I'll just take

sure you don't want to go to the

I just

to stand, Briony retreated

nasty flu going around. You really should get checked

she said, "We're shutting the studio down for the year. Have finance pay everyone's salary in advance— cover twelve months-and give each person a

in shock. "That's

with those numbers, the total payout would be nearly

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