"Twelve Makes Twenty" By Sonia Barter
The decrepit mansion, guarded by extra-weepy willow trees, was haunted Haley O’Connor. She had known, from the minute, three years ago, that the Winslow Home for Children was where she belonged. What better place for monstrous children than a secret, last-resort hide-out?
As much as Haley believed she belonged in a place like Winslow, she couldn’t help her feelings of repulsion. A monster, she was a monster. Her father would tirelessly insist that she wasn’t a monster, that people always hated those who were different, that oppression of the unique was in every history book. He did everything he could for Haley until there was nothing left to do.
Now, two years later, Haley was just turning fifteen. She was lanky with bluntly cut, long black hair, and her eyes, well, her eyes were galaxies of various greens with slim, constantly dilating pupils. This morning she had stormed out and collapsed on the bench. Dressed in her usual mismatched, oversized attire and boots, Haley sat slumped, her eyes following a snake as it slithered home. There were snakes everywhere at Winslow; it was a problem no one could ignore.
Haley looked up at the sound of footsteps to see Ms. Zimmerman approaching. She was a thin, middle-aged woman who often seemed timid. Haley never understood why she had stayed when the other caretakers left. Ms. Zimmerman sat down silently next to Haley.
“They are going to take me away,” Haley said.
Ms. Zimmerman could hear her fear. The young girl couldn’t put up a tough front this time, which scared Ms. Zimmerman, but she couldn’t blame Haley. Lately, the children had been glued to the TV, watching as the world discovered humans with abnormal abilities and the government detained them.
Haley knew the day would come when the mystery behind homes like Winslow would be revealed. Homes for children with… inhuman traits were hidden, but it was unrealistic to think the secret could be kept forever; Haley hadn’t wanted to be around when it happened.
“You should go inside and wait with the others. I’ll stay out here and greet them,” Ms. Zimmerman said, as they heard cars approaching the Home.
Haley slid her sunglasses on and scurried into the mansion. She had been stuck in her thoughts, but one glance at the four wary eyes of Leo and Theo, the matching set, and Bianca’s tears got her out of her head. All the children at Winslow had a certain scrappy, tired look.
“How many cars?” Leo asked, showing more bravery than the others.
“Three,” Haley answered.
The children watched the door in silence, waiting. They heard indecipherable murmurs and mumbles, and then jumped when Ms. Zimmerman’s voice suddenly rose too many octaves and the door opened. A stout old man and a taller, younger man both wearing dark, formal suits strode in. One held a clipboard while the other held a large black duffel bag that made Haley wary.
The old man looked at the four children of Winslow, scrutinizing them. “Twins!” His voice betrayed his eagerness.
“This is Leo, Theo, Bianca, and Haley,” said Ms. Zimmerman.
“Where are the others? There were supposed to be twelve,” the old man growled.
“You’ve been misinformed. There are only four children at Winslow,” Ms. Zimmerman said moving to stand in front of them.
“Well, I guess there’ll be less to transport,” the taller man said.
“Transport!?” Ms. Zimmerman gasped. “I was told you could do all the testing you needed here.”
“Well then, it seems we were both misinformed, doesn’t it?” The old man cut her off, his voice cold and cruel. He gestured toward Haley,
“Why don’t we start with you, young lady.”
The man started moving toward her and Haley panicked. She ripped off her sunglasses and looked him in the eyes. The old man froze and began backing away. It was too late. One glance into Haley’s panic-stricken eyes and the man vanished. In his place was a small, emerald-green snake.
The taller man bent to pick up his slithering colleague when the realization hit him. Slowly, he lifted his eyes to meet Haley’s. It was his last error as he, too, became a slithering snake.
“Turn them back!” Bianca cried in desperation.
“I-I can’t…” Haley seemed to shrink as she backed away, horrified. She’d done it eight times before, but it always hurt.
“More people are coming!” Theo gasped, staring out the window as more cars pulled in and men and women in suits holding weapons occupied the lawn. It had been too long since the scientists entered the house, and they were talking to each other with extravagant hand movements.
“You have to change them too,” Bianca said, looking to Haley with determination.
“What?” Haley couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“If you can’t turn them back, then you have to change them all. We’ll be able to escape then.” Bianca repeated.
Bianca’s plan certainly wasn’t the best solution, but it was enough for the others in the room. All except for Haley.
“Please Haley, we’re running out of time,” Bianca pleaded. “If we leave them alone, they’ll tell everyone, and we’ll live the rest of our lives as test subjects!”
The three children and Ms. Zimmerman stood behind her as Haley slowly opened the door. So many pairs of eyes turned to look at her, clueless as to what that simple action would cost them. Haley walked forward, turning her gaze left and right. Her chest ached more and more as she turned each one into a dark green snake. It seemed to take an eternity, and yet, it was over too soon.
No one stopped them when Ms. Zimmerman, Bianca, Leo, and Theo walked away from the Winslow Home for Children, leaving Haley behind. She may have saved them, but they still didn’t want her. Haley didn’t blame them. For a while there had only been those first eight: the first woman to see Haley, the teacher who hadn’t known better, her best friend, her curious uncle, the Winslow caretaker, and those three boys. But now she had turned twelve more people into snakes. Twelve more made twenty.
When the heavily armed reinforcements came, Haley was waiting, her eyes closed. They didn’t bother talking; this was a simple capture or kill mission for them. As they circled her, pushing her to the ground, Haley could only think of the twenty lives she had ruined. Her chest ached with guilt, because, in the end, Haley O’Connor had become what she feared most: a monster.
Sonia Barter is fifteen years old; she lives in Falmouth, Maine. Sonia is a fraternal twin; she has two cats named David and Snowy, two dogs named Doink and Holly, and she works in a pizza place.