𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

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𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐃𝐒 is what prompted Erin to open them. Or at least attempt to. As they fluttered, she hissed like a vampire in an old film as light poured in through the window. She was minutely aware of the fact that it was the window in the attic, meaning she was in her bedroom. With her eyes closed, she spread her hands out beside her, feeling the familiar outlines of the gray duvet that was strewn across her bed. There was something soft laying across her and she felt along with her hands over the seams of the blanket, noting it was the one usually folded neatly at the foot of her bed.

With a groan, she turned over, so that she was now facing the opposite way. Her head pounded with each attempt to open her eyes, screaming in protest. The light coming in from the window was still too much for her, even when turned away from it. Sensitivity to light had always been a common symptom of her migraines, but she always forgot just how painful the entire ordeal could be. She hadn't had on in a few months, and she was almost certain that her brain was trying to force its way out of her skull.

She usually believed this every time she had a migraine—she might have been a little dramatic, but the pain was so unreal and only seemed to worsen each time.

It then occurred to Erin that she had absolutely no idea how she got into her bed. The last thing she could remember was filing away her certificate. After that . . .

A blur.

She sighed and pushed her face further into her pillow, trying to fall back asleep. Perhaps she had only been in bed for a few minutes and that was why her head still hurt. Usually a nap would do the trick and then she would take it easy the rest of the day.

Noise from a few floors below ensured that falling asleep would not be easy.

The front door burst open, followed by garbled tones she could tell were people talking. Grunting, she brought the blanket up over her head, trying her hardest to block the sound out. It only persisted, clanking metal and thunderous footsteps only adding to the pounding in Erin's head.

With a dissatisfied groan, the brunette bit her lip and forced herself to sit upright, ignoring the headrush that came with it. She grabbed the blanket that had been draped over her body and draped it over her head, wrapping it around her arms as she slowly, cautiously opened her eyes the slightest amount, just enough so that she could see where she was going. She moved toward her wardrobe and pulled out a pair of sunglasses seldom worn and slipped them over her eyes, the dark lenses allowing her eyes to open a bit more without any intense pain.

Her head still throbbed with each step she hobbled down the stairs, but made her way toward the first floor. As she came down the stairs, she found Anthony and George in the foyer. They were taking their work belts off, throwing down their bags, and arguing.

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