Episode 9 of The Sandman commences with Rose approaching Lyta, her voice laden with urgency as she recounts the recent events. She delves into the mysteries of dreamwalking and how Jed whispered his whereabouts, surprisingly met with belief from the pregnant Lyta. Rose's revelation weakens the boundaries between the realms, alerting Matthew who informs Lucienne. Amidst her frustration of being sidelined, Lucienne opts to keep the news from Dream, fearing his current mood. Instead, she entrusts Matthew with monitoring Rose's every move.
Meanwhile, the Corinthian escorts Jed to the Royal Empire Hotel, his cryptic call to Rose urging her to hurry. Little does Jed know, he's been brought to the site of a Serial Killer Convention. Rose, three hours away, rushes to meet him. Lyta, on the other hand, chooses to linger in her dream world with Hector, convinced that her real life holds no meaning. But as cracks start to form in this idyllic realm, she realizes the danger of her choice.
Dream, learning of the situation through whispers, confronts Lucienne, seeking her guidance. She hints at a new anomaly in The Dreaming, Rose being the culprit. Lyta's presence with Hector is the catalyst for these ruptures, forcing them to sever their connection. In a stroke of abrupt action, Dream erases Hector from Lyta's sight, leaving her horrified and powerless.
Yet, Dream reminds Lyta that this is merely a dream. Her unborn child, though conceived within the Dreaming, will live — though its future belongs to him. He promises to claim it someday in the future.
Despite being instructed to remain in his hotel room, Jed disobeyed and snuck into the ominous Serial Killer Convention. Corinthian's entrance was greeted with a thunderous applause as he gracefully stepped forward to address the crowd. Rose, unaware of her surroundings, stumbled into the convention, her eyes scanning the various rooms where discussions of the gruesome art of killing echoed.
As Gilbert surveyed the scene, his gaze fell upon Corinthian, and he instantly sensed the impending danger. Without delay, he hastened to Dream's side, revealing his true identity as Fiddler's Green, which explained his recognition of Corinthian. He solemnly warned of the devastation that could unfold if Corinthian's reign was not brought to an end.
Amidst the convention, Corinthian forged an alliance with a few other killers and set their sights on Philip, a man posing as the dreaded Boogeyman. Their assault unfolded in the kitchen, and Jed, horrified by the sight, rushed out in a panic. Unfortunately, he stumbled straight into Fun Land, a killer with a sinister past involving innocent children. Grasping Jed's hand, Fun Land led him upstairs to his room, but their path was intercepted by Rose in the hallway.
As Fun Land began to give chase, Corinthian appeared, his eyes cold and determined. With a swift and merciless strike, he ended Fun Land's life, leaving him crumpled on the floor. Corinthian then turned to Jed and Rose, a grin spreading across his face. He promised to safeguard them from harm, and from that moment onward, they would be under his protection.
