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

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

thought something had happened to

creature of

she

fine," she rasped, her voice

giving her a once-over. "You

her forehead. It did feel a

few days

forehead. "You've got a fever! You need to see a

much trouble. I'll just take something for the fever

don't want to

I just need some more

Briony retreated

her in, clearly unconvinced. "There's a nasty flu going around. You really should

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

in shock. "That's

but with those

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