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.

door swung open, Hannah let

death. It's ten o'clock

something had

if not a creature of habit; she

she

fine," she rasped,

giving her a once-over. "You

hand to her forehead. It

lately," she said. "A few days of

placing a hand on Briony's forehead. "You've got a

grimaced. "It's too much trouble. I'll just take

sure you don't want to go

sure. I just need

able to stand, Briony retreated to

followed her in, clearly unconvinced. "There's a nasty flu going around.

assured her. Then, shifting topics, 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 year-end bonus of, say, twenty thousand. We'll start our holiday tomorrow, and won't

blinked in shock. "That's

studio had done well this year, but with those numbers, the total payout would

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