Catherine's POV
I heard footsteps coming toward my bunk in the orphanage. Clomp. Clomp. Clompclompclomp. I sensed something else too: a smaller, lighter set of steps, almost noiseless. I turned my back toward the door and rested my head lightly on the wall. There were five short raps on the door, and it creaked open. The caretaker began to speak.
"This is Catherine. Everyone calls her Cathy." I flinched, almost imperceptibly. I hated being called Cathy, especially after- the lady was continuing. I tuned back in.
"She's thirteen years old. It's younger than your other children, but at the moment she's all we have. She doesn't speak, and won't allow anyone to touch her at all."
"Cathy?" A different voice said. It was a woman, and the voice was beautiful. I flinched, than slowly, carefully turned around. The woman was gorgeous, with golden-brown eyes. "I won't hurt you, Cathy," The woman said softly. "My name is Esme. I would like to adopt a beautiful girl like you. You'd be safe with us." Us? I thought. And me, beautiful? "Would you like to come home with me?" Esme asked. I gazed at her. I didn't have much choice in the matter. If she liked me, I was going to end up with her.
"Think about it. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do." Esme said, and that decided it for me. I nodded very, very slowly, and Esme's face lit up. Almost instinctively, she reached in to hug me. I stopped breathing. In the half second it took for her to react I had crawled up to the top bunk, sobbing, curled up in the corner furthest away from the woman.
Esme's beautiful face transformed from happiness to horror instantly. "Oh, Cathy!" I flinched through my tears. "Cathy, I'm so sorry." As I calmed down, I clutched my tiny stuffed penguin to my chest.
"She won't let go of that old dirty penguin." The caretaker continued. "I know you wanted to adopt, but if you've changed you mind I certainly understand." I glared at her, than glanced warily at Esme. Her eyes flashed, and for a split second they seemed rimmed with black.
"I don't think I have changed my mind, miss. If I dare say, that was a very impolite thing to say. If this girl still trusts me enough, I will welcome her into my family with open arms." She retorted, voice as cold as ice. When she looked at me, her expression and tone had softened. "Catherine, honey, I'm so incredibly sorry. I swear no one will ever touch you without permission again. Do you still want to come home with me?" Esme asked pleadingly. I considered for a moment, than caught her intense eyes. She looked nice, yet strong enough to keep a promise. I found myself nodding. Esme smiled, and the room's atmosphere changed.
"Excellent. Cathy, do you have any things?" I grabbed my tiny backpack and stood up. "Okay. Let's go home." I followed Esme out the door, not looking back once.
"You'll need to sign some papers," called the caretaker.
"I'll come back tomorrow and sign them with my husband," Esme called back, not looking behind her. "Everyone is so excited to meet their new little sister! Everyone is older than you, closer to 17. Carlisle, my husband, is a doctor, and our children are Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, Alice, Edw- here's our car! Climb in and get settled, sweetheart. We've got a long ride. Anyway, everyone is very nice. I really think you'll like it here in…" Esme continued to talk, but I tuned her out, clutching my penguin. I rested my head against the cool window and thought. Emmett. Jasper. Rosalie. Alice. Edw--? Where have I heard those names before? Before I could contemplate this any longer, though, I fell into a deep, dream-filled sleep.