"Why did you never tell me?"
Harley could no longer hold back and hugged Pamela tightly.
"Uh, because you never asked?" Pamela said with a smile. "Who knew the Joker would steal someone else's story even when making one up... Come to think of it, I remember his story being different every time he told it. Could he have stolen all of them?"
"Who knows?" Holding Pamela's hand, Harley recovered a little of her energy. "Since we've solved everything, isn't it time to wake up? Ivy, how do we get back to reality?"
Pamela's expression abruptly turned serious. Her grip on Harley's hand tightened slightly, her green eyes full of concern. "Harley, there's one last step before you can return to reality completely."
"One last step?"
"And it's the most dangerous step."
Pamela held her gaze, refusing to let her look away. "We can weave illusions, erase the false memories he left behind, and help you see him for what he really is, but we can't remove the mental imprint in your mind for you. It's a shackle he carved deep into your brain through years of control. Only by breaking it yourself can you truly be free. Otherwise, even if you return to reality, he can easily take control of you again."
Harley understood. After a moment's hesitation, she lifted her head resolutely. "What do I have to do?"
"You have to face him-the real Joker. Confront all his manipulation, all his lies, all the sweet talk that once drew you in, even his cruelest betrayals and mockery."
Pamela cupped her face and rested her forehead against hers, trying to soothe her panic.
"If you can stand before him without wavering and sever every tie to him yourself, the illusion trial will end, and he'll never have any influence