Chapter Five - The Truth

It took me a while to post this chapter because I knew what I wanted to write, but I could not find the right words to write. I think I've found it now.

Diana woke up that morning and was alone. There was a red rose on the pillow beside her and a note that said:

"I'm sorry to leave without telling you, but I had an appointment earlier today. I love you. Bruce. "

She smiled, sucking the scent of the rose. She got out of bed and opened the curtains. The day was beautiful outside. Perfect for a tour. Bruce would not be back until late afternoon and she had all day for herself. She decided to visit Martha and maybe buy some clothes for her baby.


Bruce was in the psychologist's office. The Dr. Hastings was very well recommended by his methods. Bruce looked around. The office was a large room with ocher-yellow walls, and sunlight streamed through the large window. There was a table, a shelf full of books on medicine and psychology. Near the window was a brown divan.

A side door opened and a gentleman came out in his 60s, wearing a white coat. The Dr. Hastings was a tall, rather thin man with gray hair. He smiled at the patient before taking his chair. He picked up a folder, flipping through the files.

"So, Mr. Wayne, what brings you to my office?"

"In the last few days I have nightmares about an episode from my childhood. And yesterday, these nightmares manifested with me awake. I'm afraid it could mean something serious."

Hastings wrote down everything. Although he did not know Bruce, he seemed to be a centered man. But the mind had its complexities and could always surprise. He looked at the patient.

"The conscious has its secrets, and often they manifest in the form of dreams. Repressed desires, fantasies and secrets we do not even tell ourselves."

Bruce shook his head, listening intently.

"I have a son on the way, and I want my sanity when he is born. Is there anything you can do for me?"

Hastings stood.

"Have you ever heard of hypnosis, Mr. Wayne? It is not an exact science, but I use it in some cases. If you'll excuse me, we can start a session right now."

Bruce agreed. Anything to find out if there was any problem. Hastings had him put down on the couch, and Bruce did so. The doctor stood beside him. He took an antique watch from his pocket, and began to swing it in front of Bruce.

"Now, Bruce, I want you to relax. I want you to pay attention to the movement of the clock."

He swung his watch in front of Wayne. His eyes followed him back and forth.

"Concentrate on the sound of my voice." He paused. He lowered his voice. "Now your eyes are heavy. Feel the eyelids weigh? Now close your eyes. You will enter into a deep sleep. But pay attention ... you do not have to be afraid, I'll be by your side."

Bruce obeyed, and gradually closed his eyes. He felt so much weight on her eyelids that she would not open them if she wanted to. After a minute, Hastings continued.

"Follow the sound of my voice ... go back in time, into your memory. Go to the previous day. Tell me what you see."

He told about the day before. He talked about work, dinner with Diana, the conversations with his mother. Nothing much, just routine.

"Well, keep coming back in your memories. Tell me what you care so much about in your dreams."

"I was eight years old, and I was coming back from theater with my parents when we were robbed. In the dream, my parents die. I know the reality was different, but I feel an oddity."

"Hm, this is your conscious speaking. Let the ideas wander. Journey deeper into your dreams. Do not suppress any idea, however absurd it may be. Can you hear your subconscious?"

At that moment, Bruce began to get agitated. He saw images of bats, and his own figure in a bat suit.

"Calm down, calm down, dreams can not catch you. You're safe with me. Continue to dream, making sure they will not harm you."

Then he remembered. He remembered the Justice League, where he was one of the founding members. He remembered Diana, and Flash and Shayera. He remembered J'onn, Green Lantern and Superman. And finally, the dreaded figure dressed as a clown who terrified his dreams. The joker.

The blurred images gained more and more form in his mind. He remembered the week before, where it was Bruce Wayne, but also Batman. And how it ended up in that place.

Batman received a distress call and went to meet him. He found himself in an abandoned shed outside the city. He was not a fool, and he knew it was a trap. Shortly afterwards, the Joker appeared, laughing at being able to lure him. It was the perfect plan, he thought. As the two fought, a range of villains emerged from the shadows. The Penguin, Two-Face, Black Mask, Riddler and even Poison Ivy.

They fought and Batman seemed to have the upper hand, so the Joker dropped something on his chest. The thing looked like a hybrid of plant and animal, similar to a reptile, but green and covered for something green and sticky. It was too fast, and settled on his back. Yarns left the creature, and settled on Batman's spine, just below his skull. The villains approached him when he fell, satisfied. Bruce closed his eyes to reopen them into another reality.

This reality. He was agitated again, stirring a lot. Hastins tried to control him, but he could not.

"Wake up, Bruce, calm down. I'll count to three and snap my fingers. You're going to wake up, okay? One, two, Three."

He snapped his fingers. Bruce opened his eyes, still agitated. Reality came with everything. He was in an alternate reality. Worse, much worse. He was trapped in his own mind.

They say that the worst prison is the mind itself. Let's see if it's true. Until next time!