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.

door swung open, Hannah let

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

something had happened

if not a creature of habit; she never

she clearly

fine," she rasped, her

once-over. "You don't look

hand to her forehead. It did feel

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

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

just take something for

sure you don't want to

sure. I just

able to stand, Briony retreated to her bed and lay

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

topics, she said, "We're shutting the studio down for the 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 tomorrow, and won't reopen until after the New

shock.

well this year, but with those numbers, the total payout would be nearly a hundred

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255