Chapter Summaries

William realized Gotham had been trapped in a mass hypnosis that gave people comforting dreams, and he had forty-eight hours to wake them before they remained there forever. He restored Gordon’s memories and discovered his own dream featured an idealized life, while the system unlocked the Intermediate Shop.

• Gordon woke beside Barbara in a peaceful home and attacked William when he arrived, mistaking him for an intruder.
• William pointed out Gordon’s custom-made watch and reminded him of their experience in Arkham Asylum, prompting Gordon to recognize that his surroundings were false.
• Gordon’s blows made the dream house collapse and rebuild into its damp, gloomy reality, and he remembered keeping order during the military’s takeover of Gotham.
• William recalled Bruce activating a device that sent riot-torn Gotham into dreams shaped by people’s wishes, and he realized he had only forty-eight hours to save those trapped.
• William woke in a luxurious dream home with women resembling Selina and Poison Ivy, checked the system, and found that he had completed five missions and unlocked the Intermediate Shop.
• William heard high heels approaching as he prepared to inspect the newly unlocked shop.

William escaped Kate’s dream and learned the Mad Hatter’s hypnosis had trapped Gotham in a shared illusion. He recruited Gordon to help awaken others, but Gordon still seemed caught in his own dream as he embraced empty air.

• Kate’s dream cast her as William’s wife, but William’s story about their first date brought back her memories and shattered the illusion.
• William comforted Kate, then left to find other people marked by his Beacons and organize resistance.
• William explained the shared dream to Gordon, who agreed to help while pretending to live out his dream role.
• Gordon said goodbye to his pregnant wife Barbara, but after leaving the illusion he still hugged empty air.
• William noticed an old photograph of a younger Gordon with a pregnant woman, suggesting Gordon’s vision was tied to his past.

William and Gordon found Floyd Lawton in the Riddler’s illusion, where mind-controlled townspeople began converging on his home. After taking shelter in the basement, William learned Floyd’s recruitment quest had been fulfilled and asked Lika why she seemed immune to the illusion.

• Gordon drove William to Floyd’s house, where Floyd recognized William and instinctively slapped him before William slapped him back.
• William and Floyd spotted townspeople staring blankly and gathering outside, so William forced his way into the house with Gordon.
• Floyd’s daughter Lika recognized William and confirmed she remembered that the world was fake.
• Floyd led William, Gordon, and Lika into the basement as the townspeople broke into the house.
• William realized Floyd’s simple dream of owning a home had fulfilled his recruitment quest, then asked Lika what her dream was and why she seemed immune to the illusion.

William and the others escaped the dream illusion by exploiting Floyd’s happiness at William’s extravagant promises. They set out to find Bane, but their car became unusable, so William produced a miniature sports car that began growing.

• Floyd stopped William from questioning Lika and learned that Commissioner James Gordon was a good cop while William was a bad guy who could help him.
• William explained the dream world and concluded that people without desires might be immune to Riddler’s illusion.
• William promised Floyd a house, a sprinkler system, a skylight, and a French-cooking maid, making the dream world collapse around them.
• After waking in No Man’s Land, Floyd attacked William over his broken promises, then apologized and agreed to move on with him.
• William, Floyd, Lika, and Gordon headed toward a comedy club to find Bane, but the dream-altered car could no longer be driven.
• William tossed a miniature sports car model out the window, and it began to grow.