Halloween was a time that was not really celebrated at the foundling hospital, but still, the group tried to keep up to date with it.

Which was why, now, Rose was under a sheet with two rough eyes cut on it, almost all the candles were out, and she was narrating. "Then at once... the hospital ghost appears."

"Wooooooo..." Hetty and Polly grinned.

"Joseph Twig, the ghostly foundling boy!" Harriet smirked.

"BOO!" Rose screamed, throwing off the sheet and letting the girls gasp before all four collapsed into giggles.

The boys, too, were there, all five of them, and they all joined in as well, laughing loudly.

Rose smiled warmly as she handed the sheet back to Will, who had lent her it, and sat down, grinning.

Then the thunder resounded from the rooftop and she wondered if she should be so happy.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

The next night in the dorm, more thunder came, and as Rose brushed Polly's hair, Harriet exclaimed. "When will it stop?"

"When it passes over," sighed Hetty.

"That could be all night!"

"I know," Rose said. "I'll tell you a story."

"Urgh! A soppy story all about your stupid squirrel tree!" Sheila complained from across the room.

Rose, of course, wasn't letting this stand, and marched straight up to Sheila. "How about I tell you a scary story?"

"Like you could scare me," Sheila retorted.

"You scare me every day," Rose scoffed. "Or should I say, your face does."

Sheila practically screamed as Harriet, Polly and Hetty laughed.

"Okay, come on then, try and scare us," Monica and Elizabeth were at Sheila's side, and the latter spoke then.

Rose took her candle, and stood up in the middle of the dorm, facing the she-mob.

"It's was a dark and stormy night, when the lady of the house heard footsteps..." she started, right up in Sheila's face. "She opened the scullery door... and she saw her... the ghost of Flora. The lonely kitchen maid."

"It was her footsteps," Elizabeth breathed.

"Ghoulish," Rose nodded. "Walking in the night, just like we hear in the tower."

"You hear... footsteps... in the tower?" Monica shivered.

"And tapping at the walls," said Polly.

"And shadows on the floor," added Harriet.

"You mean your stupid tower's haunted?" Sheila asked hesitantly.

"By the ghostly foundling boy," Rose said menacingly.

"Everyone knows about Joseph Twig," Polly said, as she, Harriet and Hetty got up off their beds.

"That's probably where he died," Hetty nodded.

"And you know what they say?" Rose finished. "When he's close... you feel a cool breeze... and his bony fingers touching your hair..."

"AAAAARRGGGHHH!"

As Hetty, Harriet and Polly did those exact things to the three she-mob members, it sent them ballistic, all three running down the aisle between the beds.

Rose and the others, of course, were long into bed by now, awaiting the arrival of a nurse at the door.

Macclesfield obliged a second later, barging into the dormitory and shouting. "What is going on?!"

As her gaze fell on one of the girls out of bed, she said. "Sheila Ormsby. What a surprise."

Rose struggled to hide her smirk, now tucked up in bed.

"It was Rose, nurse!" Sheila shouted. "Scaring us with stories about Joseph Twig!"

"The ghost boy who haunts the hospital!" Monica added.

"Huh?" Macclesfield raised her eyebrows. "Do you think I was born yesterday? Tomorrow- hard chores instead of embroidery. Oh, and, um, no more sneaking about after dark anymore. Or else the ghostly foundling boy'll be after you."

Rose snorted.

"Something funny, Green?" Macclesfield raised her eyebrows.

"No, nurse," Rose replied, keeping as straight a face as she could manage.

"Good," Macclesfield said sharply, before turning round and leaving the room.

Rose quickly shared a glance with Polly, stifled another laugh and lay down.

Ghosts or not, she needed sleep.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

The next day, Rose was back to stabbing herself in embroidery class.

"Urgh!" She growled under her breath. So far this year, she had made one handkerchief. One.

"Mr and Mrs McCartney, our senior foundlings."

Looking up, Rose saw Matron, walking in with Colonel Brigwell and a man and women she didn't know, but knew were very rich. They were wearing black, expensive clothes and had an air about them that screamed something she couldn't understand to her.

"All our girls are taught to embroider," said Matron, as the 'McCartneys' made their way down the aisles.

"Such pretty work," Mrs McCartney commented, smiling.

"Almost fine enough for Bond Street!" Her husband joked.

As a toffee was slotted down beside Rose, she smiled warmly up at at the woman. "Thank you milady," she looked to Matron. "Perhaps your guests would like a handkerchief, as a souvenir of their visit?"

"May I?" The woman looked to Matron.

"Of course," said a much more smiley Matron, obviously putting on a show. "With our compliments, Mrs McCartney."

"What a sweet girl," commented Mr McCartney.

Orla rolled her eyes internally.

"Yes, always so charming," Matron said through gritted teeth.

She and her guests then moved along the row, to where Polly and Hetty were sat.

They took their toffees, both looking up.

"Thank you so much, milady."

Mrs McCartney's face went white as a sheet.

"Oh my," she said, looking from Polly to Hetty and back. "It is the children."

And then she fainted into her husband's arms.

Matron instantly started to fawn over her. "Mrs McCartney, what is the matter-?"

"Uh- I- I think she needs some air, I'll go and get Mr Cranbourne with the smelling salts-" Colonel Brigwell ran out the room in distress.

Polly and Hetty just sat there, eyes wide, as Mrs McCartney gradually came to.

Rose frowned.

What had they done?

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Polly and Hetty were soon summoned to Matron's office, leaving Rose and Harriet to wonder what had happened with them to make Mrs McCartney faint on the spot like that.

However, when they came out the office, they both looked close to fainting.

"Polly! Hetty!"

Rose and Harriet ran to them, trying to work out what was happening.

"What happened?"

Polly seemed close to falling, so Hetty spoke for her.

"The McCartney's, they- they want to adopt us."

"They want to WHAT?!" Rose exclaimed, not caring how loud she was.

The sound of a door closing made her jump, and she looked up to see-

"Matron."

"Your friends are leaving us," Matron smiled cruelly at Rose, all acts gone.

"Forever?" Rose couldn't help but utter.

Matron shrugged. "Polly and Hetty will depart for their new home tomorrow. They have privileged lives ahead of them. Unlike some."

Rose tried not to clench her fists.

As she walked away, she looked at them. "Polly, Hetty, this can't be happening."

But that was the problem.

It was.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"You have to tell them," Rose said to the two girls, Harriet by her side in an abandoned corner at lunch. "You don't want to leave."

"How can we? They're so kind," Polly, who had found her tongue again, said. "Mrs McCartney told us we were beautiful - just like their two daughters that died last year."

"She sounds lovely," smiled Harriet.

"Well, she might sound lovely now, but you haven't really met her!" Rose complained. "Their daughters might not even be like you, they might be like- Sheila!"

"But they said we'd each have our own bedrooms, and governesses," smiled Polly.

"That has to be better than being a foundling," laughed Harriet.

"What? Leaving to become dead girls?" Rose snapped. "Don't think so."

"Rose! This isn't about you!" Harriet fought back.

"No! It's about Polly and Hetty! Two of my four best friends!" Rose exclaimed. "One of them's already left - now two of them are about to! And I'd miss you both so much."

"Me too," sighed Harriet.

"And me," nodded Hetty.

"Make that me and all," sighed Polly. "You're the only friends I've ever known, but... there's nothing we can do."

Rose smirked. For once, her flare was back in her.

"Isn't there?"

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Her plan was simple. Phase One was sneaking into the kitchens.

After running into the new kitchen maid the other day, Rose prayed that she would be the one in today, because that would mean that she could easily sneak her, Polly and Hetty in there.

Getting out of class was easy. They just had to pretend that Polly and Hetty were sick from the thought of the McCartney's.

The three girls were running down to the kitchens before they knew it.

Well, until they ran straight into Cook and Ida, the new maid.

"What are you three doing in here?" Cook asked skeptically.

"Matron sent us," Orla said instinctively.

Hetty nodded. "Um... we need more sugar for the visitor's tea."

"Not for us, of course," added Polly.

Silence hung between them all until Cook tuned to her maid. "Help them fetch it, will you, Ida? My bunions won't cope with much more traipsing. Be quick about it."

"Yes, Cook. Be right with you."

As Cook headed past them and Ida headed into the kitchen, Rose smirked round at her accomplices. "New kitchen maid - this should be easy!"

So, laughing slightly, they walked into the kitchen.

"Right, a china bowl and some fine linen," said Ida, walking around searching for said things.

"We're in a rush," Rose put in. "Polly, Hetty, sugar from the pantry."

"You always are," Ida commented with a smile, looking at her. "I met you, didn't it? It's-"

"Rose," Rose said with a feigned smile. "Now, you can leave the rest to us. You wouldn't want to be late for Cook."

Ida smiled at her. "Thanks... Rose."

As she headed from the room, the smile slipped off Rose's face and she rolled her eyes. "Phew, she can talk!"

She stomped over to the pantry where Hetty was standing and opened the door.

To reveal Ned and Will, the latter holding the flour.

Rose faltered. "What are you doing here?"

"Could say the same for you," Ned replied, folding his arms.

"Tough, dear brother," Rose snapped, lunging at Will. "That's what we came for-"

"No way!" He pulled the flour away from her, holding it back. "This mission's a matter of pride."

Rose snorted. "I didn't know you had any."

Ned rolled his eyes. "Tonight, we're spooking Vince and Judd. We'll show them who's scared of ghosts."

"That's not pride, that's a prank!" Rose shouted. "For Polly and Hetty, this is a matter of life and death!"

"Almost literally," Hetty nodded.

"What?" Will asked, face going seriously.

"They're being adopted to become dead girls, and we have to stop it," said Rose.

She took Will's shock as a chance to snatch the sack in his hands from him. "We need the flour first! Then we all meet up later to scare Vince. He's always got it coming."

"Good idea," muttered Will.

"Sorry, what was that?" Rose raised her eyebrows at him, a smile playing on her face.

Will rolled his eyes.

Rose sighed, turning round and collecting the pot of raspberries lying in the pantry.

But footsteps on the ground made her stop.

"I only came back for a tray," Ida was standing in the pantry doorway, shock etched on her face. "If you're up to no good, I'll need to tell Cook."

But, as usual, Rose was there to save the day.

"Didn't Cook tell you?" She asked, a smirk on her face, stepping out the pantry so she was inches from Ida. "Foundlings aren't allowed to be left unsupervised in the kitchen. If you snitch... you're in lumber."

Ida gasped. "Well I never..."

But Rose was already walking past her, the two girls and two boys behind her taking the hint soon enough, and doing the same.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Not before long, Polly and Hetty had white faces (thanks to the flour) and plenty of red spots on them (thanks to squished raspberries) and were both lying on the sacks just outside the kitchen.

They sent the boys to call for Matron, and Rose stayed with her best friends.

It didn't take long before Matron was striding down the corridor, Ned and Will in tow beside her.

"What's happened, Green?" She demanded.

"One minute they were fine, and the next they was panicking, talking about the McCartney's, and then they came out in this horrible rash!"

"Please... we- we need the infirmary-" Polly whimpered to make it more believable.

"Just like when Hetty got stung by a bee. All red and itchy," Rose said, nodding to both girls.

"I- I don't want to go," Hetty wailed.

"They're not right for them, Matron, you can't let them go," Rose finished.

But Matron's lip was curled.

"Foundlings, back to your classrooms," she said to Ned and Will. Ned left sadly, but Will lingered, making Matron have to shout again for him to leave.

Then, she turned to Rose, kneeling down in front of Hetty.

"A rash, you say?"

Rose tensed. "Yes, Matron?"

"Funny," Matron said, reaching a finger out to stroke Hetty's cheek. "Because I smell the distinct scent of... raspberry."

She wiped Hetty's cheek, smearing the flour and raspberries right onto her thumb and making Rose abandon all pretence and shout. "Matron, please! Please don't take them away, they're my friends!"

But Matron was already picking up Polly and Hetty by the arm. "I'm afraid it's all been arranged. Polly and Hetty have futures anyone would yearn for. Come on let's get you cleaned up."

She yanked Polly and Hetty away, making Rose shout after them. "Matron, you can't so this! Don't send them away!"

Tears came much easier than she thought they would. It was like it hadn't hit her until now. Polly and Hetty were leaving. Leaving and not coming back.

Her chest was heaving as she ran round the corner and straight into Will, who clearly hadn't gone back to the classroom.

"Rose! Rose, I'm here, I'm here," he said, hesitantly wrapping his arms around her as Rose cried, her head spinning.

"I'm sorry," she whimpered to him. "I'm really, really s-"

"Don't apologise," Will said comfortingly. "I understand why you're upset, Rose, I promise."

Rose didn't say anything more. She didn't need to.

She knew that, in a few minutes, she would have to go back and face her problems, but for now, she snuggled herself further into Will's strong arms and tried to forget what was happening.

Having him there really helped her.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Later, in the garden, picking aimlessly amongst weeds with Harriet, Polly and Hetty came back.

"Polly! Hetty!"

As soon as they got near enough, Polly sighed. "It's not what you think. The McCartney's want to adopt us so we can have a good life."

"You- you said yes?" Rose looked between the two with wide eyes.

Hetty nodded feebly. "It's for the best, Rose. And they promised that we can still be friends, too. We can write and visit and we can even bring you gifts."

"That sounds wonderful," smiled Harriet.

"They're just trying to buy your love," but Rose was making up excuses now. She was convincing herself this was a bad idea.

"So what if they are? They'll be Polly and Hetty McCartney, with no hard chores anymore," Harriet was on board, though, smiling at her two friends.

"We'd still be us," said Hetty. "And once we're on the outside, we can help you. If you don't get a letter back from your borrowed family, we could help."

"You'd do that for me?" Rose asked.

"Of course," smiled Hetty. "We're as good as sisters. All of us."

Rose smiled. "I want you both to be happy. That's all that matters."

"I'll still miss you," smiled Polly.

"Me too," nodded Rose.

And then all four of them were launching into a hug, pulling each other in tightly. Rose hoped the hug was conveying all the things she wanted it to say.

"Poor Rose, losing two of her friends at once," Sheila commented cruelly as she walked by.

Rose rolled her eyes. "At least I have friends to lose."

Sheila didn't reply, sauntering past them.

Rose sighed, smirking at her three friends. "Forget the she-mob. Hang a yellow duster in the girls' dorm window."

"Signal to the boys!" Polly smiled.

"Tonight's your last night," Rose nodded to Polly and Hetty.

"And we're gonna make sure you never forget it."

𑁍𑁍𑁍

The plan was easy. Polly was wearing an old boy's uniform, and holding a candle.

Rose, Hetty and Harriet were hiding in the corridor, which they had just thrown flour all over.

When the boys walked down there with Vince and Judd, it would seem (to the people not in on the plan, of course) that a ghost was in the corridor.

The ghostly foundling boy, no less.

It took a while, but soon, finally, they heard the boys' footsteps.

Vince and Judd came first, then the five other boys behind them.

Rose knocked loudly, three times, on the wall.

"What was that?" She heard Judd utter scaredly.

"It's him," Will said, unflinching. "The ghostly foundling boy."

"Didn't you know?" Ned joined in, grinning. "He always knocks three times before he appears."

Vince scoffed. "Yeah, right. We're not stupid."

They advanced further down the corridor, and Rose grinned when they saw Polly.

"AAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH! JOSEPH TWIG! RUN!"

The boys didn't conceal their laughter as Vince and Judd ran back down the corridor and up the stairs, running back to the dorm, screaming.

Rose and the other girls, also laughing, came out, swatting the flour away and laughing.

"Now they're the dunces!" Will grinned, as the other boys grinned.

"Like we didn't already know!"

"Did you see their faces?"

"They fell for it!"

"Polly, Hetty, we'll never forget it," Mathias smiled towards the two girls. "Or you."

"They screamed so loud!" Polly agreed, grinning as Hetty did an impression.

"They're never gonna call me a dunce again!" Will joked.

"This is the best night ever!" Polly grinned.

"We'll always be friends," agreed Hetty, pulling the four girls in for a hug.

Rose was the one that uttered the last word, but instead of looking at the girls, she looked at someone else. Will.

"Always."

𑁍𑁍𑁍

The next day, and it was Polly and Hetty's goodbye. Harriet had already said goodbye to them, and was in the dorm.

Rose was out in the courtyard with them.

"Promise you'll never forget me," she said, facing them. Polly was wearing a beautiful purple dress, and Hetty a deep blue one.

"Rose Green, how could I?" Polly smiled, holding Rose's hand. "Come on."

Rose walked her two friends round to where Matron was standing with the McCartney's.

"Here they are," said Matron.

"So pretty," smiled Mrs McCartney.

"All set, Hetty? Polly?" Matron asked.

They nodded feebly.

"A happy ending indeed," said Mrs McCartney.

Polly and Hetty both went up to Matron, then, holding out their hand to her. In them were their foundling numbers.

Matron took them both as both girls curtsied to her.

"Who knows?" Mr McCartney joked. "In a few years, Matron may have to curtsey to you."

Matron's face turned sour and Rose wanted to laugh at it. She gave a short, fake laugh, before saying. "Best wishes, girls."

"Thank you, Matron," Polly nodded.

Herry joined. "Thank you, Matron."

Polly turned to her friend. "Bye, Rose."

Hetty nodded, too, looking at her.

And Rose wanted to scream. She wanted to run to Matron and hit her and scream in the McCartney's faces for being so cruel, and stripping her of two more friends.

But she just... she just couldn't.

So she just nodded. "Not bye. Just... see you soon."

The three girls shared one more hug - one last hug - before parting ways.

"Your carriage awaits," smiled MrMcCartney, gesturing the grand carriage next to them.

They waved to Rose before anything, though.

"Take care, I'll see you soon!" Rose called back to her, waving to her with a smile on her face.

As the new, extended, McCartney family climbed into the carriage, Rose turned to Matron. "I can write to Polly and Hetty, can't I, Matron?"

"Oh, yes," Matron said, holding up a piece of paper. "I have their address right here."

Rose waved so much she felt her hand would fall off as Polly and Hetty left the hospital.

Gone forever.

"Well, Green, what are you waiting for?"

Rose has become so accustomed to hearing Matron's sweet, put-on voice around the McCartney's that her sharp one cut through like a knife.

Rose turned back, walking towards her. "The address, Matron. Can I write to her just now?"

But Matron just smirked cruelly, taking out the paper and unfolding it.

It was blank.

Rose didn't attempt to stifle her gasp. "You lied. You said- they promised them-"

"Do you think I'm a fool?" Matron's voice was low and threatening. "You can't play me, Green. I always win."

"You lied to me," Rose snarled. "You said-"

"Call it a lesson," Matron cut over her. "Learn it now, or you'll be sorry."

As she turned on her heel and went back into the hospital, Sheila, Monica and Elizabeth appeared out from behind the bushes.

"Who's scared now, Green?"

And for once, Rose didn't have a retort for them.

She'd lost two of her best friends.

She only had one left.

And she couldn't lose her.