As Maggie pushed the door open, the twisted remnants of Wayne Manor seemed to inhale, as if the house itself was alive and bracing for their arrival. The air inside was heavy, almost suffocating, and carried a sharp metallic tang, like blood and rust. The once-familiar halls were warped into grotesque parodies of themselves—walls twisted at impossible angles, portraits of the Wayne family scratched and smeared beyond recognition. Shadows crawled along the floors and walls, shifting and writhing like living things.
Jason stepped in behind Maggie, his fists clenched at his sides. "Stay close," he said, his voice low but firm. "This place isn't real, but it'll feel like it is."
Bruce and Dick followed, their gazes scanning the distorted surroundings. Bruce's expression was unreadable, though his jaw tightened slightly as he took in the corrupted version of the home he had once opened to Maggie. Dick, on the other hand, let out a slow breath, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced by grim focus.
Constantine entered last, his sharp eyes assessing the space. "This is it," he muttered, his voice low but steady. "The heart of her fears, her doubts. Keep her steady."
Maggie's breathing was shallow as she stepped forward, her eyes darting to every shadow and distorted corner. The oppressive silence was broken by a faint, rhythmic sound—like a heartbeat, slow and heavy, reverberating through the warped halls.
The group moved deeper into the house, the shadows growing darker and more aggressive, creeping closer with every step. The air grew colder, and the sound of faint whispers returned, growing louder and more distinct.
"You failed them."
"They don't really love you."
"You'll never be enough."
Maggie stopped, her shoulders shaking as the words seemed to cut through her. "I can't," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I can't do this."
Jason stepped in front of her, his voice sharp but filled with urgency. "Yes, you can. Don't let her win, Maggie. These aren't your thoughts—they're hers. She's trying to break you."
Dick placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice softer but no less determined. "He's right. You're stronger than this, Maggie. We know it, and deep down, you know it too."
Bruce's voice joined theirs, calm and resolute. "Focus on us, Maggie. We're here. You're not alone in this."
Maggie swallowed hard and nodded, her trembling steps resuming as they continued down the hall. The walls seemed to close in around them, and the heartbeat grew louder, faster. Ahead, the hallway opened into a vast, broken version of the manor's dining room.
The long table was shattered, the chairs overturned and splintered. The chandelier above flickered weakly, casting uneven shadows. At the far end of the room stood Lillyanna, her presence dominating the space. She was cloaked in shadows that writhed and twisted around her like smoke, her glowing eyes fixed on Maggie. Her smile was cold and cruel.
"Welcome, Maggie," Lillyanna said, her voice echoing unnaturally. "It's so good to see you again."
Maggie froze, her breath catching as Lillyanna stepped closer, her movements slow and deliberate. "I was wondering when you'd finally show up," Lillyanna continued. "And you brought company. How… predictable."
Jason moved to stand beside Maggie, his fists clenched. "We're not here to play your games, Lillyanna. This ends now."
Lillyanna's gaze shifted to Jason, her smile widening like a predator who had cornered her prey. "Ah, Jason. Always so protective. Tell me, how well do the people around you know your secret? A secret so deeply buried that even Maggie doesn't know." Her voice was silk over steel, her words laced with venom and curiosity.
Jason stiffened, his fists clenching as the oppressive air around them grew heavier. "You don't know what you're talking about," he said sharply, his voice hard but edged with a flicker of doubt.
"Oh, but I do," Lillyanna purred, taking a step closer. The shadows around her flared, and the dreamscape quaked violently. Suddenly, the warped remnants of Wayne Manor dissolved like smoke, replaced by a startlingly different scene. The air grew warm, the light softer and golden. Rolling hills stretched into the horizon, dotted with elegant estates. The group found themselves standing on a lush, green lawn in front of a grand manor house.
Jason blinked, his surroundings disorienting. The oppressive darkness was gone, replaced by the surreal, picturesque setting of an old English estate. The weight of his tactical armor was gone, replaced by a finely tailored coat, waistcoat, and breeches. His fists unclenched as he stared down at himself in disbelief.
"What the hell?" he muttered, his voice unnaturally calm in the bizarre setting.
Dick, now dressed in similar period-appropriate clothing, let out a short laugh of surprise. "Are we… looking around at the idyllic landscape.
Bruce, ever the stoic, adjusted the unfamiliar cravat around his neck with a frown. "The dreamscape has shifted," he said flatly. "She's manipulating it."
Constantine, who appeared in a slightly less refined version of period attire—complete with a rumpled shirt and untied cravat—sighed deeply and muttered, "Bloody hell."
Jason turned back toward Lillyanna, who now wore a flowing Regency gown, her hair swept into an elaborate style. She looked perfectly at home in the setting, her predatory smile unchanged. "Do you like it?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement. "I thought it might suit you, Jason."
Jason took a step forward, his glare cutting through her smugness. "Whatever game you're playing; it's not going to work."
Lillyanna tilted her head, her glowing eyes narrowing. "Oh, but it already is. Look around you, Jason. The world has shifted— Always changing, always hidden, always out of reach."
The scene shifted slightly, and now they stood in the middle of a ballroom. Chandeliers glimmered above them, and the sound of a piano played softly in the distance. Guests—shadowy, indistinct figures—moved around them, their whispers growing louder.
"He's hiding something."
"What will they say when they find out?"
"He's not who he seems."
Jason's jaw tightened as the whispers pressed in, their words cutting like knives. He turned to Maggie, who stood frozen in the center of the ballroom, her eyes wide as she looked at him. "Jason?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "What are they talking about?"
Jason's jaw tightened as the whispers pressed in, their words cutting like knives. He turned to Maggie, who stood frozen in the center of the ballroom, her eyes wide as she looked at him. "Jason?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "What are they talking about?"
"Nothing," Jason snapped, his voice harsher than he intended. "They're lying."
"Oh, Jason," Lillyanna said with a laugh, circling him like a predator toying with her prey. "You should know by now that the dreamscape doesn't lie. It shows the truth, no matter how well you've buried it."
The piano music grew louder, discordant, as the whispers swirled around them. Jason's hands clenched into fists, his breathing growing heavier. "You don't get to do this," he growled.
Maggie took a step toward him, her voice soft but insistent. "Jason, whatever this is… whatever she's trying to show… it doesn't matter to me. You matter to me."
Her words cut through the noise, and for a moment, Jason's shoulders relaxed. But Lillyanna's laugh echoed through the ballroom. "Such sweet lies. But what happens when she knows, Jason? When everyone knows?"
Maggie took a step toward him, her voice soft but insistent. "Jason, whatever this is… whatever she's trying to show… it doesn't matter to me. You matter to me."
Her words cut through the noise like a blade, and for a moment, Jason's shoulders relaxed. The tension in his jaw eased slightly, and he opened his mouth to respond—but Lillyanna's sharp, mocking laugh echoed through the grand ballroom.
"Such sweet lies," Lillyanna sneered, her voice dripping with derision. She circled Jason like a predator, her glowing eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "But what happens when she knows, Jason? When everyone knows your dirty little secret? You've hidden it so well, after all. Why stop now?"
Jason's hands balled into fists; his knuckles white as the shadows swirled closer. He glared at Lillyanna, his voice low and defiant. "It's not a secret," he growled. "And it's not something you can use against me."
"Oh, but it is," Lillyanna said, her smile widening. She gestured around the room with a theatrical flourish, the shimmering chandeliers and elegant decor casting golden light across the scene. "Why else would you hide it? Why else would you let this place exist in your mind? Admit it, Jason. They don't know you as well as they think they do."
Jason's jaw tightened; his voice strained. "It's not like that."
"Then tell them," Lillyanna urged, her tone both mocking and coaxing. "Go on, Jason. "
Jason hesitated, his gaze darting to Maggie, who watched him with steady, patient eyes. Her presence steadied him, and he let out a sharp exhale. "Fine," he said, his voice firm, though a faint hint of embarrassment crept in. "You want my secret?"
He stepped forward, facing Lillyanna directly, his voice carrying a defiant edge. "I like Jane Austen novels. There, I said it. And 'Pride and Prejudice' is my favorite. You happy now?!"
The ballroom seemed to freeze for a moment, the tension hanging in the air like a suspended breath. Then, from somewhere behind Jason, there was a faint, involuntary snort.
Dick.
Jason's head whipped around, his glare locking onto his older brother, who was valiantly trying to keep a straight face. Dick pressed a fist to his mouth, his shoulders shaking slightly as he fought to stifle a laugh. "You're kidding, right?" he managed to choke out, his voice barely steady. "Pride and Prejudice?"
Jason's glare darkened. "Say one more word, Grayson. I dare you."
Dick opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Constantine stepped up beside him and delivered a sharp elbow to his stomach. The impact made Dick grunt and double over slightly, his would-be laughter immediately silenced.
"Pipe down, sunshine," Constantine muttered, his tone low but laced with amusement.
Jason turned back to Lillyanna, ignoring the faint smirk still lingering on Constantine's lips. "There. You've got nothing. So, stop trying to twist this into something it's not."
Lillyanna's smile faltered, her glowing eyes narrowing. "You think this makes you brave?" she hissed. "You think admitting something so trivial will protect you from the truth?"
Jason crossed his arms, his voice steady and defiant. "No, I think it shows you don't have as much power over me as you think."
Maggie stepped forward; her voice soft but filled with conviction. "Whatever you're trying to do, it won't work. Jason's right. You don't have that power." her eyes locking onto Lillyanna's.
The ballroom began to tremble, cracks forming in the elegant facade as Maggie's voice grew stronger. "This isn't about him," she said, her tone cutting through the oppressive air. "This is about me—"
Lillyanna's snarl deepened, her voice sharp and venomous. "We'll see about that," she hissed, her glowing eyes narrowing. The ballroom around them trembled violently, the chandeliers flickering one last time before the entire scene shattered like glass.
As the shards of light and shadow dissolved, the dreamscape reformed into something new—something far more vivid and chaotic. The air filled with the unmistakable sounds of carnival music: calliope notes twisted and distorted, laughter that felt more menacing than joyful, and the faint hum of machinery.
The group now stood in the midst of a sprawling carnival, its vibrant colors muted and warped under a crimson sky. Booths lined the midway, their garish signs advertising games and prizes, though the stuffed animals and trinkets seemed to stare at them with unsettling eyes. The scent of popcorn and candy apples hung in the air, cloying and sickly sweet.
Jason glanced around, his fists clenching. "Where the hell are we now?"
Dick, standing beside him, froze. His eyes widened as recognition dawned, his breath catching in his throat. "No," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Lillyanna's voice cut through the distorted carnival sounds, smooth and mocking. "Oh, you know this place, don't you, Dick? Welcome back to the circus—a different kind of three-ring show this time."
Dick swallowed hard, his gaze darting to Maggie, who stood a few feet ahead, her expression confused but tinged with unease. "Maggie," he said, his voice tight. "Stay close."