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.

as the door swung open, Hannah let out

It's

thought something had

nothing if not a creature

though, she

fine," she rasped,

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

forehead. It did

I've just been overworked lately," she said. "A few days of rest and

hand on Briony's forehead. "You've got

trouble. I'll just take

want to go

sure. I just

stand, Briony retreated

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

Then, shifting 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.

in shock.

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

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