Chapter 20

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

me half to death. It's ten o'clock

something had happened to

was nothing if not a creature of

though, she clearly

she rasped,

her a once-over. "You don't look fine.

a hand to her forehead.

been overworked lately," she said. "A few days of rest and

Briony's forehead. "You've got a fever!

take something for the fever and sleep

sure you don't want to go

I just need

able to stand, Briony retreated to her bed

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

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

in shock. "That's a

well this year, but with those numbers, the

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