After they arrived at the hotel-

Stella swiped the keycard and pushed the door open. Briony's face twisted in discomfort; she clapped a hand over her mouth and rushed straight into the bathroom.

Retching echoed from inside.

"Bryn—” Stella called, hurrying after her.

Outside the bathroom, Stewart and Cedric Clarke waited in the hallway, listening

to Briony's painful vomiting. Both men wore grim expressions.

It was a while before the sounds finally subsided.

Stella emerged, supporting a pale and exhausted Briony as they left the bathroom together.

The room had two beds. Stella guided Briony to one and helped her lie down.

Briony was clearly feeling awful-she barely managed to close her eyes before slipping into a restless sleep.

Stella pressed her palm to Briony's forehead.

A slight fever.

She tucked the blanket around Briony, then got up and stepped outside the room. Looking straight at Cedric Clarke, she said, "Leave your first aid kit with me."

Cedric handed it over, concern etched on his face. "Is she all right?"

nonstop on the flight and now, just

Cedric had no answer.

the kit from Cedric's hands and shut the door

Cedric scratched his nose and shook his head. "Man, look at

into a thin line, his expression stormy

a moment, he turned and strode toward

called after him, "Hey, where

...

room, Stella took Briony's

99.9 degrees.

fever wasn't

opened the first aid kit, rummaged through

other option, she soaked a cloth in rubbing alcohol and gently wiped Briony's forehead and

furrowed in distress. Even

friend, and she silently cursed

feverish heat. She had a vague sense of someone tending to her, but her eyelids felt impossibly heavy; she just

Somewhere in that fog,

"Bryn... Bryn..."

followed the sound and found herself in a dark, winding

stretched on and on, so long

voice

don't go any further! Come back, come

She stopped and turned.

had transformed into a sun-dappled path

just like this. She'd been so afraid of falling, always struggling to learn, but her grandfather never scolded her. He was always there with a steady

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