Barry's perception wasn't dull enough to be called senile just yet.
The sudden appearance of the woman's corpse happened right after he'd been talking to the little girl—it was as if the girl wanted the woman to die there, so she ended up floating in the pool without anyone noticing.
And she died in a way that made sense only to a child's imagination.
Dreams really are something mysterious.
For most people, they don't follow any clear logic. Sometimes they're driven purely by wild imagination; other times, they're bound by the chains of one's own mind.
"Oh! It's Lavia! Why is she here? She's dead—it was you! You killed her!" Emma suddenly gasped, stepping back with a look of shock.
She looked as innocent as if she were just a bystander.
Barry stared deeply at her. "Kid, I didn't do it."
Emma's heart skipped a beat under his intense gaze. Then Barry said slowly, "Can't say for sure, maybe you did it."
"No! I'm a good girl! It wasn't me! It wasn't me!" Emma shouted, breaking down like a child throwing a tantrum.
"Maybe not now," Barry replied. "And I hope you never will. Now, before we part ways, tell me your name, sweet little girl."
His eyes began to swirl like a vortex, carrying a hypnotic pull that was hard to resist.
"Tell him, tell him, tell him…"
The whispering voice echoed around Emma, until she couldn't help but say, "My name… is Emma."
"Emma. Uncle will be watching you," Barry said softly, his eyelids growing heavy but still holding on for one last breath. "If I ever find out you've done something bad, even if I'm dead, I'll crawl into your dreams. That way, we'll never stop meeting… heh heh heh…"
With that, the massive, monstrous serpent shattered into countless fragments, melting into the pool before Emma's horrified eyes.
Those last words etched themselves deep into Emma's young mind.
She fell to the ground, trembling. The image of Barry's cold, serpentine eyes refused to leave her thoughts.
Every time she even thought of doing something bad, she could feel those eyes watching her, ready to devour her whole.
"Bad snake… Emma doesn't like you," she whispered fearfully.
Splash!
The water in the fountain rippled suddenly.
Emma's heart froze. Could it be that the giant snake had come back? She hadn't even done anything wrong yet!
As she stared at the fountain, she saw the dead orange cat and the family maid, Lavia, still floating there. Their pale, stiff faces stared blankly—until, terrifyingly, Lavia's eyes blinked.
Emma screamed at the top of her lungs and bolted upright in bed, drenched in cold sweat. Moments later, a middle-aged man with a serious expression rushed into her room.
David hurried to her bedside, concern written all over his face. "Emma, bad dream? Don't worry, sweetheart. Daddy's here."
Tears streamed down Emma's cheeks as she threw herself into her father's arms, sniffling pitifully.
"It's okay, honey. It was just a dream," David whispered, rubbing her back gently.
But no matter how much he comforted her, the nightmare had already carved itself into her mind—vivid, unforgettable.
"Daddy… can you sleep with me tonight?" she asked, still haunted by the serpent's sinister laugh.
"Of course, my little honey bear," David replied warmly, using her favorite nickname.
…
Meanwhile, Barry sat quietly, processing everything he'd experienced in the dream world. This trip had been fruitful. After his first successful dive into a dream, his understanding of his power had deepened even more.
If he learned to control it well, he wouldn't even need to leave his home to travel the world.
After all, Freddy Krueger's power wasn't just about killing in dreams—he could also step out of them and into reality.
But unlike Freddy, who was weak in the real world and powerful only in dreams, Barry feared neither.
All he needed to do was master his power and grow stronger.
Still, it was too late at night to venture into another dream.
The next day arrived quickly.
By evening, as the sun set and the moon rose, Maria's mother, Amy, helped her choose a lovely dress and a cute hairpin.
In the mirror, Maria looked radiant—confident and beautiful, a far cry from the pale girl she once was.
Downstairs, Barry waited in Maria's brand-new Maybach.
That's right—his persona had changed. His blindness was gone.
Tonight was a night for dancing.
Maria promised her mother she'd have fun. And if she didn't, well… someone else at the party surely wouldn't, either.
"That handsome guy's waiting for you, Maria," her mother said with a smile.
Under her gaze, Maria stepped out the door.
"Maria, I swear—you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," Barry said sincerely, pushing up his sunglasses as he admired her.
"Thanks. You look great too—the most handsome guy I've seen. But… do you only have one line of compliments? It feels kinda familiar," Maria teased.
She couldn't shake the feeling that he was just buttering her up—but she had no proof.
"I'll have you know," Barry said dramatically, "I used my strongest out-of-town pick-up line for this. Didn't expect it to fail. Guess I need to update my vocabulary."
Even his "chimpanzee charm" routine wasn't working—but that was fine. He still had the innocent smile of Tang up his sleeve.
That, combined with his wild confidence, was sure to make Maria blush.
After a short drive through the city, they parked the Maybach and arrived at the venue.
They laced up their roller skates and glided down a straight hallway into the open ballroom.
Laser lights danced across the floor in vibrant colors.
This was the moment he had trained for.
After absorbing Freddy's skeletal fish, Barry's dream-based powers had grown tremendously—but even his body and spirit had become more resilient.
At least now, he had two perfectly working eyes.
He took off his sunglasses, revealing a tall, striking figure in a tailored black suit, a silver cross necklace gleaming at his chest. It didn't clash with his look—it enhanced it, giving him an almost divine charm.
A premium cross like that might not have active powers, but it definitely boosted his presence.
Right now, Barry was the most dazzling man on the dance floor—
and of course, Maria was right beside him.
As the music started, Maria, in her soft blue dress, followed his lead. The hem of her gown swayed gently with every graceful step.
Under the spinning lights, Barry and Maria moved as one, perfectly in sync—captivating every eye in the room.
The spotlight stayed locked on the two of them, the stars of the night.
---