Briony had a dream.

In it, she was sharing a holiday dinner with her mother.

Her mother smiled and praised her cooking.

Briony laughed, but tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Mom..."

Sprawled across the big bed, Briony's brow furrowed as her tears soaked the pillow beneath her.

She murmured restlessly, clutching the front of her nightshirt in pain, her suffering almost unbearable.

In her dream, her mother said she was tired, and from now on, Briony would have to walk her own path alone.

Briony begged her not to leave, but her mother only faded away into the mist that drifted across the river. No matter how desperately Briony called, she never appeared again.

"Mom!"

Briony jolted awake.

For a moment, as she stared up at the familiar ceiling, the world felt strange and distant.

"Mommy!"

At the foot of the bed, Irwin abandoned his toys and scrambled over to her side.

have a bad

looked at him, her mind slowly clearing

This was Southcreek Manor.

how had she ended

pressed her hands against the mattress, pushing

to the river, maybe even climbed over the

after that was a

you crying?" Irwin reached up and touched her damp cheek. "You were crying in your sleep, too. You kept calling for

Briony gazed at him.

eyes was

something in the set of his

wave

she brushed Irwin's hand away, threw off the covers,

dizziness washed over her; her body felt weak

stand to stay here

shuffled out of the master

"Mommy!"

her, grabbing her

looked down at him, pulling her hand free,

Irwin froze.

didn't spare him another glance and headed for the

as she reached the ground floor, she nearly

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