Chapter Six - Inside the Mind

Batman was unconscious, stuck on a stretcher, attached to tubes and needles. Through the tubes, red liquid passed, and fell on some strange plants, inside glass containers. Joker watched him curiously as Poiso Ivy monitored the hero's vital signs on a monitor.

"Why do not you simply kill him?" Joker asked.

Poison Ivy shrugged, and returned to work.

"You paid me to create a weapon capable of arresting Batman. I'm a scientist, my dear. Besides, I'm feeding my plants with his life."

"Why do not you kill him?" He repeated. "If there is an exit, the bat should search for it at this moment."

The villain turned to the Joker, a little bored.

"He can't leave. Even if he discovered the truth, everyone in his mind will fight to keep him. And it only takes two more days before my plants suck their vital energy completely."

The Joker laughed out loud.

"Very cruel. And smart."

She looked pleased.

"I call it Djinn. The plant of dreams."


Bruce stumbled out of Hastins's office. He was trapped in his own mind. He remembered the Black Mercenary, which was used for some time against Superman. But the thing that crept up his spine was a mixture of plant and animal. It had the same function, though different. Whatever it was, now that he knew the truth, he had to find the way out. He ran home. Although he doubted the existence of a door, he had to look for it.


Martha and Diana were talking and smiling. Diana showed her mother-in-law the clothes and other objects she bought for her future child. The two women were in the living room, and they looked startled when the door was suddenly opened. An almost stunned Bruce Wayne appeared. He was still trying to stay calm, but he let something go. And Diana was very perceptive.

She stood up and walked to her husband, standing in the doorway. He watched them. Bruce remembered that this version of his mother was just an echo, and the real one had been dead for a long time. Already Diana, in another reality she was an Amazon princess, and not an ordinary woman. She was not his wife either.

"What happened, Bruce?"

Diana caught his face, but Bruce pulled her away. He took her hands and lifted them from his face. Knowing the truth and not getting out was very cruel.

"I have to stay alone for a while."

Ignoring the women's protests, Bruce ran upstairs. Diana turned to Martha, as surprised as she.

"Are you all right, dear?"

"Up to this morning, yes. Whatever it is, I'm going to find out or I'm not Diana Prince-Wayne."

He went into his room and locked the door behind him. He turned on the lights, and took off his shirt. There was a large mirror, and Bruce tried to distinguish something in his back. Anything. He opened the curtains, and let the maximum light enter the room.

Slowly, he turned. With the great amount of light, he could see the creature on his back. It had leaf-shaped scales, and it was green. Wires ripped from his claws and mouth, linking it to Bruce's back. If he did not know that he was looking for that thing, he would never have found it.

He did try to pull using all his strength. However, their attempts were in vain. The thing did not leave the place. Giving up, he closed the curtains, just as he turned out the light. He put on his shirt so he would not risk seeing it again.


After hours, Diana was able to enter the room. The door opened and Bruce stared at her with a stern look. She took a few steps forward, intending to touch him. However, the look was so intense that she decided not to.

"What's the matter, Bruce? We are worried."

He let out a heavy sigh, then studied her form. Diana looked fragile in this world, and she was pregnant. Even though it was not real, he wished it to be. At that moment, he realized that going out would be more difficult than he had imagined. After all, that reality was designed especially for him. His most secret desires, coming to life. He shook his head.

"It was nothing, Diana." He paused. "It's late, better rest."

Bruce knew he did not convince her. Diana was too smart, and she could see the smallest details on his part. But, to his luck, she decided to pass. At least for now. So she nodded.

"I want to know the truth. And don't think of hiding anything."

"Tomorrow." He promised. He just did not know if he could keep it. Again, Diana agreed.

"Fine. Martha will sleep in one of the guest rooms. She's worried about you, too."

Not to raise suspicion, he had to agree. Diana gave him a hug, and he had to accept it. The simple gesture made him tremble. It was a perfect reality. If it were not for the strange visions, he would never notice. Every moment in that world he forced himself to remember that it was not real. Every second with Diana, he almost forgot the truth. Almost.

He needed to fight. So he turned away from her. It was her biggest temptation in that world.

"I cannot. I'm sorry."

"Bruce ... " She called him, but he left, leaving her alone in the couple's bedroom. "God, what's going on?"


"I don't know what's wrong with him, Martha." Diana was crying for her mother-in-law. It was morning, and Bruce was still out. Diana explained to Martha how cold Bruce had treated her. And she said he was very strange. They looked so good, and out of nowhere, the change happened. "Look, honey, I'm sorry, but maybe ..."

Diana wiped her tears and stared at Martha.

"Maybe what?"

"It's not an attitude I'd expect from my son, however, he may have a lover."

"No, Bruce loves me."

Martha held her hand, her gaze sorrowful.

"I hope you're right, my dear. For my grandson."


Bruce took one last look at the cave that was or should be, the batcavern, on the foundations of the Wayne mansion. At the moment, it was just a cave. Stone walls, and no light but the lantern he carried. In another reality, that was his base of operations. His equipment, his fantasies, everything was on the other side.

As perfect as it was, this was not his world. He could be a troubled and obscure man, but Gotham needed him. He was a hero, and his life was for the benefit of others. Even sacrificing his perfect reality, Bruce decided to use all his strength to get out. Sooner or later, he would leave ...

Bruce decided to leave. It's going to be easy, right? Not at all.

Thank you !