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.

soon as the door swung open, Hannah let out a sigh of

half to death. It's ten o'clock and you still

something had

a creature of habit;

she clearly

she rasped, her

once-over. "You don't look fine. Are

a hand to her forehead. It did feel a little

lately," she said. "A few days of rest

a hand on Briony's forehead. "You've got a fever! You need to see

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

you don't want to go

I just need some more

retreated to her bed

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

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

blinked in shock. "That's a

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

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