Henry stood in front of the terrarium, his heart heavy with mixed emotions. Forty days had flown by, and the sight before him filled him with a strange mixture of pride and sadness. The eggs had hatched, revealing four tiny, wriggling snake hatchlings. Their black and white scales shimmered under the terrarium’s light, and the female snake curled protectively around them while Kain—Jeff—watched intently, his tongue flicking out in a mix of fatherly instinct and confusion.
Henry sighed. “Well, Jeff, looks like it’s time to fix everything. I can’t keep doing this. As much fun as it’s been… this is your life, not mine.”
Kain hissed softly, his head tilting in what looked like curiosity. Henry grabbed his phone and opened the Chronivac app one last time.
Henry started with himself. He navigated to the Reversion tab and selected Henry - Original Body but made a few adjustments. He kept his genius-level intelligence, ensuring he’d remain one of the smartest people in the world even as a 12-year-old. He also enhanced his athleticism, giving himself the lean, wiry strength of a budding athlete. Finally, he added a touch of charm, tweaking his features to ensure he was an adorable, boyish heartthrob that no one could resist.
“Perfect,” Henry said, grinning as he hit Apply.
A rush of energy surged through him, and he felt his body shrink slightly, his muscles slimming but remaining toned. His hair became shinier, his skin clearer, and his features subtly shifted into something both boyishly cute and irresistibly charismatic. He turned to the mirror, examining his new self, seeming like a skater mixed with a the drama class hart throb with some joke in there too.
“Not bad,” he said, smirking. “I think I’ll grow up just fine.”
Next, he turned his attention to Jeff. Selecting his brother’s profile, Henry set it so that Jeff would revert to his original human form—but with a twist. The four baby snakes would transform into human infants, instantly becoming Jeff and Maddie’s quadruplet children. Everyone in the world would believe the babies had always been theirs, and only Henry and Jeff would know the truth.
Henry smirked as he scrolled through the options. “Enjoy being a dad, big bro. You earned it.” He hit Apply and watched as the changes began.
In the terrarium, Jeff felt his body tingle. His scales began to fade, his long, coiled form shortening and reshaping. Within moments, he was human again, kneeling on the floor beside the terrarium. He blinked in confusion, looking down at his hands, his body—he was back!
Then he noticed the soft cries.
Jeff turned to see four tiny infants lying on a blanket where the terrarium had once been. His heart skipped a beat as he crawled closer, his breath catching in his throat. Each baby was identical, with soft tufts of dark hair and wide, curious eyes.
“What…?” Jeff whispered, his voice shaky.
Henry leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, grinning. “Congratulations, big bro. Meet your and now Maddie’s kids.”
Jeff’s head snapped toward him, his eyes wide. “My kids?!”
“Yep. You and the lady snake really hit it off,” Henry said, laughing. “Don’t worry, though. They’re human now, and so are you. Maddie’s going to love them—and you. Everyone already thinks they’ve always been yours. You’re officially a dad now, for life.”
Jeff stared at the babies, his emotions swirling. At first, he wanted to scream at Henry, but as he looked at the tiny, helpless faces staring back at him, something shifted. The instincts he’d felt as a snake hadn’t gone away—they’d only deepened.
He reached out, gently scooping one of the babies into his arms. The child cooed softly, gripping Jeff’s finger with a tiny hand.
“They’re… mine,” Jeff murmured, his voice filled with wonder.
Henry nodded. “They sure are. You’re their dad now, and forever.”
For a moment, Jeff said nothing, simply holding the baby and looking at the others. A small, relieved smile tugged at his lips. “I guess… I’m okay with that.”
Henry chuckled. “I thought you might be. You were a pretty good snake dad—figured you’d be even better as a human one.”
With everything set, Henry left Jeff to settle into his new role as a father. Maddie had already moved into the house to help with the babies, her memories adjusted to believe they were hers and Jeff’s. Henry, now back in his improved 12-year-old body, focused on his own future.