A/N:

Here is another story. I know I need to finish my other ones, but I got the inspiration last night. Here it is:

Prologue

She was running. For her life, she was running. No, not just for her own life, but for the life of her baby. Her sweet baby girl, she mused as she continued running up the cobble stoned streets. Sweat had begun to form at her brow and her cloths were beginning to stick to her back. But she didn't care, all she cared about was getting her and her baby to safety.

Her footsteps echoed as she turned and headed into a dark alley way. They made a sound pattern that matched her ragged breath and pounding heart. The night was cold, and the air entering her lungs was sharply fresh. Her arms ached from carrying the bassinet and her legs hurt from running. But she didn't stop. She couldn't stop. If she did, the monster would surely get her. For that is what she called her: the monster.

But the monster had not always been evil. No, the monster had once been a warm woman with graying hair and a friendly complexion. It was after Katrina had met Matthew that things began to change. For, ever since she had met Matthew, Katrina's every move had been monitored. She had no choice but to escape.

This is what forced her to give birth to her baby in a barn. Her father's barn, to be exact. It was there, in the barn, that she silently, or as silently as one can be when one is having a baby, gave birth to the small child in her arms.

Once she reached the monastery, she stopped, took a few moments to compose herself, then set the bassinet with the sleeping baby on the doorstep. Next, she quietly took a note out from her pocket and put it in the bassinet. She stared at the sleeping baby one last time, then left her daughter on the doorstep.

She had not wanted to leave her baby with these strangers, but Matthew had assured her that it would be alright. When the time was right, they would call for her. When it was safe, he had told her, she reminded herself as she walked down the familiar path to their meeting place. Everything was going according to plan. They would meet and get on the night ship to America. Then, when it was safe they would call for their daughter and they all would be reunited…

But Katrina's notions of their plan were wiped out of her mind when she came upon the clearing, their meeting place. For there, standing in the midst of all the London fog, was the monster. Katrina winced as if someone had struck her. Then walked towards the monster, ready to face what was to come.

"Well, you finally decided to grace us with your presence!" the monster exclaimed, eyeing her daughter suspiciously.

"Where is the bastard?" she asked, for she had known that her daughter had given birth. Given birth to that Matthew whelp's bastard child, she mused as she stared at her daughter. She was the mirror image of her mother. With flaming red hair that curled wildly, especially when it was wet. And those green-gray eyes, those she had gotten from her deceased father.

"You'll never 'ave 'er!" Katrina cried, her British accent flowing out of he mouth.

"We'll see about that!" the monster retorted and she looked into the bushes. Katrina's eyes followed her mother's gaze, Her eyes widened in horror as she saw what her mother was referring to.

"Leave 'im be!' she yelled. For there, in the trees, Matthew was standing on a tree stump. A noose wrapped tightly around him neck. Any attempt at escape and he would have died.

"Give 'er to me!' the monster shouted,

"An' you can 'ave your Matthew!" Katrina thought about this for a minute. If I save Matthew, our baby will surely die. If I save our child, Matthew will die.

The monster smiled, "'Arder that it sounds, my dear." she laughed viciously.

"Well, 'ere is the finale. You 'ave five minutes to decide. Your baby of your 'usband." And when Katrina looked at her curiously, she answered, "Yes, I 'ave known all along that you would marry that scum." she eyes Matthew with pure disgust.

Katrina thought she would scream. She could not choose who to save. Her baby was safe, she knew that. But what about her beloved Matthew? And before she knew it, the monster was saying, Time is up. Make your choice."

"I-I can't." Katrina stammered. The monster regarded her for a minute, then said,

"You loose then." And she walked over towards Matthew.

"NOOOOOO!!!!" Katrina screamed as the monster kicked the stump out from under Matthews feet. Katrina wanted to close her eyes, turn her back, but her whole body stood frozen on that very spot. It was there that she looked on, helplessly, as Matthew struggled for life. She watched as his eyes bulged and his breaths became shallower and shallower. Then she finally watched him die as rivers of tears streamed across her face.

"Now is you turn." the monster turned to her daughter.

"Mom, please-" But Katrina's pleas were cut off by the sound of a pistol. Katrina looked down at her stomach which was bleeding profusely, then fell to the ground. She was dead in a matter of seconds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mother Katherine got up with the sun. There was work to be done. She got up and dressed herself, preparing for another eventful day. She had just finished when there was a light rapping at her door.

"Come in." she motioned, for she was always there when the one of the girls needed her.

"Mother." the girl curtsied as she entered.

"Child." Mother Katherine said,

"What is it child?"

"There was a baby on the font porch this morning. Mother Mary 'as her now." she girl reported.

"Thank you Elizabeth. I will be right there."

Mother Katherine didn't lie. It was a full minute later when she walked into the library. She walked with authority, but with an aura of kindness so that she seemed approachable. It did not take any girl long to trust this friendly woman. For, Mother Katherine had lived in this very monastery as a child, as an orphan. She understood and had felt what each and every girl was going through.

"Where did she come from?" she asked Mother Mary.

"I don't know, she was just 'ere this morning when I went to get the milk. Along with this letter." Mother Mary said, handing her the letter. It read:

Dear Mothers of the Monastery~

I am sorry to leave my child like this, but you must see, her life, and mine, is in danger. My husband and I plan to leave for America tonight. When the time is right, we will send for our dear daughter. Take care of her, please. Here is five pounds for you trouble.

~Love, Always~

Katrina Moorchild.

P.S. Her name is Emma Marie Moorchild. Please tell her, when the time is right, that I love her and will come for her.

"This is above my station." she told her companion,

"Let's take 'er to Mother Superior."