Celia speedily cleared the floor with her broom in nervous, quick, but fluid strokes. She brushed herself over toward where Jo was dusting the old desk in the French room. "Lets do it." She simply said with a smile that was returned with the now sparkling, mischievous eyes of Jo.

***

Jo slipped out of her bunk, glancing around herself quickly before leaning over to poke Celia in the side. Celia sat up quickly, making the mattress squeak. "Shhh." Jo warned, placing her finger to her lips.

Celia nodded in the dark, though Jo could barely see her. Jo took the taller girl's hand and helped her silently out of bed. They both wore the darkest clothing they owned, Celia's being black and Jo's being a forest green color. They each bent to the ground and picked up their shoes, as not to make a sound as they walked. And then they did. They tiptoed slowly towards the door.

A figure suddenly blocked the faint light that came under the door. The two girls' eyes widened and the froze until a hushed irritated whisper of a voice asked, "What are you DOING?"

"Shhh! Rose…" Celia whispered. "Would you keep it down?" She hissed.

"Tell me where you're going first." Rose replied in the same heightened tone as before.

"We're leaving for the night." Jo murmured.

"Then you're taking me with you." Rose put her hands on her hips. "The good lord knows you can't take care of yourself."

Celia sighed, "fine. Just be quiet."

 The three girls then slunk towards the door, Rose reaching it first. She creaked it open and tiptoed out into the open. The other two followed in the same fashion sticking to the far wall. The only light visible was from the dim candles on the floor below. They scurried in quick silent steps along the edge and they slowed to a stop as they heard voices and footsteps below.

"Bills, bills, bills!" the distinct high pitched, sophisticated, but stressed voice of Ms. Carson stated in an annoyed tone.

Jo motioned for her friends to stay put while she inched toward the railing.

"JO!" rose exclaimed in a whisper, only to receive a whack from Celia there after. "jo…" she said more hushed the second time "get back here, we'll get caught!"

Jo waved a hand behind her to shush Rose as she crouched to cross the last two or three feet. She leaned her forehead against the pillars of the rail.

She saw below her the old gatekeeper clutching his hat in front of his chest as he rocked nervously from foot to foot. His name was Krebbs, or Mr. Krebbs, but the girls usually referred to him as Old Mr. K. He was in charge of keeping the outside of the house decent and well trimmed, as well as maintenance and the gate. He was a musty short old round bald man and he looked uncomfortable in his situation.

Ms. Carson was out of Jo's view, but she quickly came back in with her back to the stairs. She held a few envelopes in her hand and she used a letter opener to slit the first one open. If Jo could have seen the woman's face as she read she would have seen it go paler. "Oh my…" The woman breathed, placing a long slender hand to her chest and dropping all of the envelopes in her other hand as well as the letter opener to the floor.

"Charlotte? Are you alright?" the meek old man stepped forward hesitantly and when Ms. Carson looked a bit fainter he crossed the distance in a second and placed an arm over her shoulder. "Lets get you some water." He then held her hand as he ushered her to the next room.

Jo drew back from the rail, a little unnerved at the situation. She then quickly waved for her friends to move. Quick, quick, slow, quick, quick slow. That was the rhythm of their steps as they descended the stairs. They looked suspiciously from side to side as they tiptoed across the large entry hall. Celia slid open the door and all three slipped through, Rose being last she clicked it shut as quietly as she possible could. Then in a burst of giggles all three bolted for the gate.

"I cannot believe we just did that!" Rose squealed when they were ¾ of the way to the gate.

Celia was already there. "We aren't out yet." She grumbled, pulling a bobby pin from her hair and slipping it into the lock. The other two looked on in anticipation, and Jo licked her lips as she watched Celia work her magic.

*****sooo? How do ya like it? How do ya hate it? Help me out here people, what's in the letter? I've got a few Ideas of my own, but I wanna know what you think! Will they make it out? Well… you'll just have to tune in for the next chapter of *dun dun DUHN!* Something Different****