Act I: Monsters

Chapter I: Everything Begins

Thank you to my dad, for always protecting me from monsters

Non-identical twins are scientifically referred to as dizygotic twins – also known as "fraternal twins." This occurs when two fertilized eggs are implanted into the uterine wall at the same time. This is precisely how the Spencer twins came into existence. The first, a brunette girl with piercing orange eyes – followed by her sister, a raven-haired girl with blue eyes. The phenomena of having twins is rather low, but when genetic engineering has a hand in their genesis, twins become more likely – especially if that was the creators intent. Born 1978, their names were Lara and Blaine, respectively, and they took their surname from their mother (at the request of their father). The radical differences between the girls was hardly noticeable until they were both able to fully talk and develop their personalities. Speech came early to the girls, whose I.Q.s were unusually high. This is were the divergence began.

It was the summer of 1983. The two girls, at this point, were about five or six. Lara was standing below a tall tree, staring up at seemingly nothing and pitching a fit.

" Blaine! " The young brunette shouted at a tree, " Get down! You'll fall! "

It seemed like Lara was shouting to no-one, but just then her black haired sibling made herself visible among the leaves and the branches. Blaine smiled down at her sister and shook her head.

" I'm not coming down til I get your Frisbee back. " Blaine said bravely, and continued scaling the branches, " If I don't, you'll cry again. "

" I-I will not! " Lara said defensively, " I'm telling dad! You'll get in trouble! " She stomped her feet defiantly and was about to run back to their house when a pink Frisbee clattered back to earth from above. Stunned, Lara picked up her toy and looked back up at the tree, where her sister was standing on one of the precarious limbs.

" Um. Will you help me get down? " Blaine asked, now realizing a problem with this situation. However, Lara wasn't feeling this. Lara turned around and began to walk away, her pink Frisbee in hand. Blaine panicked, she knew she'd be in trouble if Lara went and told their dad about this, but what else could she do? Blaine looked down, trying to judge how far of a fall it would be. She didn't 'judge' for very long, she just closed her eyes and jumped. Lara stopped, hearing a quiet 'thud' behind her. She turned and saw Blaine standing there, having landed perfectly after taking the dive off the precarious limb. Lara stared, wide-eyed.

" This can just be our little secret, r-right? " Blaine asked.

'Little secrets' as Blaine called them would become regular occurrences between the twins. The sibling bond between the two of them was exceptionally strong, since they were twins and all. They grew defensive of each other, they looked out for one another. Summer soon ended, and a new year of school was upon them both. They were split up in different classes, but at least took solace in being able to be at recess together. Unfortunately, Blaine was always off getting into trouble, so her play time was compromised sometimes. However, she could sometimes sneak out of her punishment – teachers had to keep their eyes on a little girl, and Blaine was easily mistaken for a boy; her name itself is masculine and she dressed in a boyish manner (much to the disdain of her mother, who so desperately tried to 'girl her up').

Blaine stepped outside of the school and headed towards the playground on a decently warm October afternoon. She scanned the recess area for her beloved sister, but could not find her. She scratched her head, making her unkempt black hair even more messy. Her blue eyes then zoned in on a crowd of children gathering in the back of the jungle gym. Blaine jogged over to see what the big to-do was about. She heard scolding voices as she approached.

" You've got boy hair! " Someone shouted.

" Your eyes are freaky! " Another shouted.

" Eww orange. Only freaks have orange eyes. "

" Freak! "

At the center of the circle, Blaine saw her sister. Lara looked severely upset by the crowd ganging up on her, and she had no place to run. Blaine forced her way through the crowd, coming to the center to stand at Lara's defense.

" Leave her alone. " Blaine said calmly.

" Look, it's the freak's sister! " A child said, apparently the leader in this attack. Lara grabbed Blaine's shoulder and shook her head, unable to articulate any words to reach her sister. The jeers and laughter continued from the crowd, there was no reasoning with them. Blaine clenched her fist and decked the 'leader' in the jaw. There was a silence among the children, before the one who got slugged erupted into cries of agony and running off to tell a teacher. The rest of the crowd dispersed, leaving the two sisters alone.

" B-Blaine... " Lara sniffed, " I don't think that was a good idea... "

" I did. " Blaine answered honestly, " I didn't like them picking on you. "

" B-But- "

Before she could say anymore, a looming figure had approached them and ushered the two girls away. It was the nearest teacher on duty, and they looked none too happy to be dealing with this. Out of the corner of the Spencer twin's eyes, they could see the other kid being tended to by other teachers – likely escorting him to the nurse. The teacher dumped Blaine and Lara outside the principals office, where they were instructed to wait until they were called in.

" You're always getting us into trouble... " Lara grumbled, crossing her arms.

" Us? " Blaine asked, shocked, " This is the first time I've gotten 'us' in trouble! I'm the only one who gets punished normally. "

" Well, you really did it this time... " Lara rebutted. Blaine hated when Lara acted coldly to her, especially at a time like this, where she totally saved her.

" I only did it for you. " Blaine replied, looking away.

Time passed them by. The rest of the students returned inside and resumed their daily classes. The girls, being typical children, were thankful that they got to miss class, but the wait was beginning to bore them. Then, someone approached them. Someone beautiful; someone they recognized. Blaine's head turned when she heard Lara whisper: "Mother." The elegant woman glided past her two daughters, gracefully entering the office to discuss her children.

You must forgive them...

Your child assaulted another on school property. That's grounds for suspension.

I know that. Please rethink suspension... I can promise that it'll never happen again.

This behavior has been a recurring thing for your daughter Blaine. Up til now, there were no problems with Lara. I am distressed to see her involved in these discrepancies.

They are just children, sir...

That may be... but suspension for them both is my final verdict... now, my next order of business...

Next order...?

With your husbands permission, we performed IQ tests on both of the girls... I-I was hesitant to believe the results...

Why, sir?

Both of their I.Q.s exceeded 175.

That's... impossible...

It wasn't long before the girl's mother reemerged from the office, looking grim. Through her gloom, she managed to smile down at her two girls. Lara and Blaine stood from the seats and each grabbed one of their mother's hands.

" I fear that you both have been suspended for two weeks. " Their mother said, " I am very disappointed in you both. "

" But Mama! " Lara exclaimed, " I didn't do anything! "

" Hush, darling. " The mother said, " What's done is done. "

She gripped Lara and Blaine's hands tightly as they walked out, seeing the light of day once more after exiting the dark hallways of the school. The mother chose to withhold the information regarding Lara and Blaine's I.Q.s – mostly because that fact is too lofty a concept for their young minds to think about right now. But she herself could not face the truth about her children.

It seems to be true... I suppose I was foolish to think the experiment wouldn't work... I just wish for them to live their lives as normally as they can... while they still have time left.