Fern spirals into despair, wishing she could abandon witchcraft, have her baby, and return to her old life. Remembering Holly’s childhood rape by Reverend Jerry—and how no one believed Holly—Fern decides that what was done to Holly is unforgivable and that Fern and the other girls are the only ones who can stop Holly from being sent back. She recommits to the promise she made to protect Holly, even if witchcraft is dangerous.

Fern retrieves Miss Parcae’s witch book from the attic and studies it obsessively, searching for a practical way to keep Holly from going home. The book seems to rewrite itself to answer Fern’s questions, expanding with new definitions and spells, but none solve Fern’s immediate problem of getting Holly and her baby safely away with no money. Checking the cleaning calendar, Fern realizes time is short: Rose is due July 5, Fern August 14, and Holly a little over a week after that.

When Miss Parcae’s bookmobile returns on Monday, June 29, Fern tries to ask for help, but Miss Parcae must keep up a public performance because staff are watching. Miss Parcae quietly warns Fern that outsiders are being scrutinized after girls previously escaped, and promises to send Decima to fetch Fern again. That night, Fern sees one of Miss Parcae’s huge black dogs sitting at the woods’ edge watching Wellwood House; the dog appears nightly, but Fern and Rose cannot get outside to follow it.

As the Fourth of July approaches, the Home is briefly buoyed by plans to see fireworks, and Dr. Vincent returns from the hospital frailer but in charge. On Friday, July 3, Nurse Kent announces Rose must go to the hospital immediately, even though Rose insists she is not in labor. Rose refuses, arguing that babies come when they are ready and that the staff only wants control and convenience.

Dr. Vincent confronts Rose and admits they plan to give Rose a shot to make labor start early. Rose continues to refuse, criticizing the system’s indifference to her and her baby, Blossom. Diane then arrives to “talk,” but her tone shifts into calculated cruelty: Diane needles Rose about Sinclair and frames Rose’s pregnancy as consequences and “mistake,” while also pitching adoption to a “professional couple.” Rose loses control, screams, and as Diane advances, Rose’s water breaks; as Rose panics and still refuses, Nurse Kent restrains her while Dr. Vincent injects Rose with a sedative. Rose is carried out limp and loaded into Miss Wellwood’s car between Diane and Nurse Kent, and Fern suspects Diane deliberately provoked Rose to justify drugging and removing her.