James stops, drawing in ragged breaths, and repeatedly slams the palms of his hands against his temples, as if to hammer the memories into submission, back to where they cannot torment him. He looks around and makes his unsteady way to the door at the base of the tower. Seeing no one around – knowing he would not care if there were – James smashes it open. The bell’s chiming is louder and more intrusive than ever. James sprints up the stairs two at a time to the roof, and still the bell continues its incessant clamor. With each brain-rattling gong, he sees faces from the past. GONG. Sarah. GONG. Tim. GONG. Stephen.
James’ head is throbbing by the time he gets to the roof. The bells have stopped, now replaced by growing chants and cheering.
Breathing hard, moving towards the direction of the sounds, Taciturn reaches the edge of the roof and kneels. He has a perfect view of Amazement Square below. Shifting to his backpack, he opens up its digital inventory. Selecting Restoration, he pulls the large rifle out of the bag. Flipping open the tripod and turning on the camouflage module, James tries to slow the rate of his breathing, the rapid beat of his heart.
Calm and void. Calm and void.
The cool night breeze ruffles his hair as James lies down. Placing the rifle’s tripod on the edge and balancing the weapon in his hands, the Taciturn turns on the rangefinder.
Eying the scope, he scans the celebration for his target. Virginia.
Taciturn sweeps his view from one Neverland citizen to the next. It isn’t hard to find the woman that towers over the hacked children’s avatars. Readjusting, he is already making his final calculations when his mouth opens in silent shock. Standing next to Virginia is the focus of the crowd’s excitement.
It’s an 11-year-old Matilda.
Matilda clasps her mother’s hand tightly as they make their way across the wet grass towards the large house. Its grand columned, colonial architecture welcomes them with open doors. Entering the colonnade hall together, Matilda’s dirty, wet dress is transformed into a regal gown. A crowd of children already occupy the adjoining hall, and their excitement grows once she crosses the threshold. Almost all extend their hand with a cheery thumbs-up, and many are taking pictures of her and her mother. A slight hysteria is brewing, but the overall atmosphere is one of friendship and celebration.
Matilda looks up at her mother, “Who are they?”
Squeezing Matilda’s hand gently, her mother says “These people, darling, are all of your friends. See how excited they are, that you’re finally home?”
Matilda gawks at the cheering, gesticulating crowd. “Oh.”
Gently, her mother continues. “Cheer up, sweet thing. This is a special occasion. You’ve returned to me, my love. There’s something special planned for tonight. Something that will make you very happy.”
As they pass through the onlookers, the crowd parts before them, and closes in their wake. By this point, children start chanting her name – quietly at first, but as Matilda passes a huge poster reading Welcome back, Matilda!, the chanting becomes a tumult, an uproar. Hundreds of TV screens surround them, streaming the same image of her and her mother, now approaching a pedestal. When they arrive at the stand, a flurry of colorful balloons launch into the air. As they ascend to the ceiling, the screens start flicking through a series of photos of her and her mother over the years. On each image, Matilda can see little hearts and comments popping on the screen – each one testimony of Neverland’s collective, adoring love for her. She is the center of attention for an entire realm.
Matilda doesn’t remember the pictures at first, but as the images flash on the screens in a slideshow, they take on ever more reassuring familiarity. Matilda’s birth. Learning how to ride a bike, with her mother close by. Tear-filled first days of school. Class projects they worked on together. It’s all coming together, and fills Matilda with an abiding sense of love and safety. Of being special. Of being wanted. Matilda has a family, a home… and memories. The feelings inside her shine, blossom, overwhelm – and she wants to share them. With everyone in the Cyberside.
Virginia ascends the podium, holding Matilda’s small hand. James looks on in shock. In place of her strong, confident face is now that of a timid, guileless child. That image of Matilda is projected on every screen around Amazement Square.
Placing his eye back to the scope, James exhales and steadies himself.
Calm and void. Calm and void.
Scanning the celebration, he notes the presence of several conspicuous guards. Childlike forms notwithstanding, these guards are men, with hard experience. Heavily armed, they survey the crowd. And, doubtless, scan the rooftops intently.
Keeping a hand on the rifle’s grip, Taciturn pulls out spare magazines from his bag and places them within quick reach. Moving the rifle the merest trifle of a degree, he settles the crosshairs on Virginia’s head. Taking a moment to stabilize himself, James lets the air out of his lungs. James moves his finger to the trigger.
In the crystal resolution of the scope, Neverland’s Queen looks directly at Taciturn and smiles.
Shaking her head, Virginia lifts the hand that holds Matilda’s. James only now sees the blue static light, flickering faintly around the woman’s hand and around Matilda. A lifesync connection. If Virginia dies, Matilda goes with her.
“Fuuuuck.”
James knows when a trap has been placed. And this one was set in motion the moment they entered Neverland.
Still grasping Matilda’s right hand with her left, Virginia raises it and gives a thumbs-up of her own. The entire crowd follows suit. Cheering and repeating the gesture, the throng’s excitement becomes deafening. After another moment basking in their revelry, Virginia waves her hand. The mob, as one, goes silent. The Neverland queen proudly regards her people.
“Children! Every evening we gather here to share in the warmth and love of our family. Every one of you is dear to me, and to your brothers and sisters. But today is a special day for all to celebrate.”
Virginia raises another thumb to the sky and the crowd repeats the gesture in unison, cheering loudly. Virginia beams down at Matilda standing next to her.
“Please, I would like you to meet Matilda, my new daughter and your new sister. She is back home among us, after being lost for so long. She was searching, and she has found her way back to us.”
The crowd cheers again as the screens change to different images of areas throughout Neverland. Widespread gatherings of citizens have formed their own celebrations. As the merriment continues, Virginia smirks and looks up at Taciturn’s location.
“But I must say that she hasn’t come alone. Our precious lamb has brought a wolf to our gates.”
The crowd’s excitement turns to anger. As one, they turn and glare at where Virginia’s gaze is focused. James recoils from the sight of everyone staring at him. When the guards start moving in his direction, Taciturn quickly puts his eyes back on the scope.