"Quit pretending—you've been here for a while, haven't you? Don't think I didn't notice you hiding over there, spying on us!"
Ailan exposed Barry's act right away.
"What? Ailan, what are you talking about? You're saying weird stuff again—I don't understand a thing."
Barry blinked innocently, his eyes full of fake confusion and childlike charm.
Ailan's expression flattened into the dead-fish stare of pure exasperation. She knew Barry's cunning could never be underestimated.
You sly, sneaky bastard!
Even though this was Maria's dream, Ailan—being part of her consciousness—could access some of it as well.
They say outsiders see things more clearly, and the moment Freddy showed up, Ailan felt something strange intruding into the dream. When she focused harder on her surroundings, she spotted someone familiar.
It was Barry.
He had been there all along, and odds were, he'd watched the entire "Maria's Dream Fantasy" unfold.
"All because of that earlier explosion—guess it rattled your brain. You're talking nonsense now." Barry sighed, looking at her with mock pity.
Ailan: "..."
At that moment, Maria finally noticed Ailan's presence. She released her embrace and spoke in her usual superior tone.
"So it's you, Ailan. Since you're here, what are you standing around for?"
Ailan looked confused. "Uh… am I supposed to do something?"
"Of course. Do what you're supposed to do."
Maria said it as if it were obvious.
Glancing between Maria's stern face and Barry's excited yet puzzled one, Ailan hesitantly asked,
"You mean… join you?"
Maria's face twisted in fury as she pointed a trembling finger at Ailan.
"How dare you! You insolent little maid! You're just a servant hired by the Brennan family, and yet you think you can dream of taking your master's place?"
"Now get our things, start the car, and drive us home. And after tomorrow, you can pack your bags and get out of this house!"
"Hmph! You heard me—move it! Or I'll dock your pay!"
Seriously?
Barry was so disappointed. He had been ready to say, "You came just in time," then invite her to join his team—opening his strong, broad chest to warm another lonely heart.
What, that's inappropriate?
Come on, it's a dream! Can't a guy have a little fantasy?
After all the good deeds I've done, can't I enjoy myself just a bit?!
"Ugh, why is it always some over-the-top CEO drama? Ailan, your role as the foot-washing maid is so lame. I really thought I was Li Xunhuan for a second!"
Foot-washing maid? Kicked out of the house?!
Damn it! Even if Jesus himself stood before her, Ailan wouldn't forgive this humiliation!
"Why are you all treating me like this? I'm not the forgiving type—I'll fight you both!"
"It's all your fault!" she shouted at Barry. "You've ruined the bond between Maria and me, you meddling villain! I'll drive you out myself!"
"And you, Maria!"
"I'll knock some sense into you!"
Ailan charged forward.
Barry's brow twitched, and he quickly ducked behind Maria.
Maria stepped up to fight back, locking into combat with Ailan.
"Don't you dare hurt my brother, you wicked maid!"
"Hah! Let's see if you can handle my elbow strike!"
"Quack!"
"Yah!"
Maria and Ailan clashed fiercely, exchanging blows.
"Stop! Stop it, both of you! Please, just stop fighting already!"
Barry stood helplessly to the side, calling out to them.
So thrilling! So exciting! This is exactly my kind of drama!
While he was internally wrestling with himself, thick snow suddenly began falling from the sky.
Though honestly, Barry thought a thunderstorm would've set the mood better.
---
In reality, Barry jolted awake with a start.
"Phew! That dream felt way too real. Almost got lost in it."
Half an hour earlier, through his contract link, he'd sensed something off about Maria's soul frequency. Following the connection, his consciousness entered her dream.
There, he met Maria's fantasy version of himself—a buff, domineering, CEO-type Barry straight out of a soap opera.
To be honest, it made his scalp crawl.
He couldn't stand watching that version of himself get beaten up, so he decided to take over.
After all, that fantasy Barry was just a projection of Maria's consciousness. As long as the conditions matched, Barry could easily assume control within the dream.
If only he had entered earlier—he might've gotten to experience some… cough heroic world-saving moments.
But fantasy or not, the dream version of himself was still fake.
Barry glanced at the bed. Maria was still tossing and turning, her nightgown damp with sweat—clearly fighting some brutal battle in her sleep.
"Mmph… how dare you… dock my pay… haha…"
Barry gently pulled the blanket back over her before slipping out the window and heading for his next "shooting location."
Busy. Way too busy.
---
At a nearby hospital, Barry—dressed up like Venom—was crawling up the exterior wall. The night covered his movements.
If he remembered correctly, one of the psychiatric patients here was going to die first.
Would he show up?
Barry didn't know. He was just taking a gamble.
Judging by the timeline, the first death hadn't happened yet, so at least his web-swinging trip here wasn't wasted.
Man, being a multitasking hero is exhausting.
From the rooftop passage came the sound of stiff, unnatural footsteps.
Barry knew—it was Freddy again.
Philip, a young man who loved carving dolls, born and raised on Elm Street.
In the dream, Freddy had cruelly severed Philip's tendons, turning his red sinews into puppet strings.
Philip's pain and fear made Freddy unstoppable in that nightmare realm. No matter how hard he struggled, it was useless.
Now, like a marionette, Philip was walking awkwardly toward an abandoned building with no safety rails.
Elsewhere, his friend Joey—still awake—caught sight of the horrifying scene. He was about to run and alert the others when the sight froze him in terror.
Oh no—too late.
Philip jumped.
He was literally flying through the air.
"Philip—!"
Joey screamed silently, reaching out to catch him—but he was just a regular guy. He had no power.
Unless…
A supervillain stepped onto the stage.
Barry: Here I come.
A flying man? Please. Piece of cake.
Barry, still in his Venom suit, leaped into the air. One hand grabbed Philip mid-fall, while the other stretched like rubber to anchor and pull them both back.
In less than a breath, they landed safely.
"Let me break open this nightmare for you."
Barry might not be a dream expert, but he knew exactly how to wake someone up.
---
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