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.

the door swung open, Hannah let

death. It's ten o'clock and you still hadn't

thought something had happened

if not a creature of habit; she never slept

though, she

she rasped, her

"You don't

lifted a hand to her forehead. It did

she said. "A few days of

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

"It's too much trouble. I'll just take something for the fever and sleep it

want to

I just need

to stand, Briony retreated to her bed

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

salary in advance— cover twelve months-and give each person a year-end bonus of, say,

in shock. "That's a

studio had done well this year, but with those

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