“So what did you want to tell me?” Angel asked, a note of fear in her voice.

They sat across from one another in the kitchen. It was late evening and both children were already asleep. The dishes were done, the leftovers were put away and soon they too would be heading upstairs to bed.

For a few moments Josh was silent, quite unsure of himself and what exactly he was going to say. The images from the dreams ran through his head, the taunting man, the mocking voice and the fear. Oh, what fear he could feel! Finally, he decided it was best to just start with the beginning.

“For the last two nights, I’ve had some bizarre dreams.” Joshua begins. “In these dreams, I’m tied up, I’m… helpless.”

Angel nods her head silently, more perplexed now then afraid. After a moment’s hesitation Joshua continues again.

“This thing, is talking to me.” Joshua pauses, the threat running through his mind. One way or another I will BREAK YOU. “I… think its Sanctum.”

They sit in silence for a minute, each of them considering what this could mean for their family. Finally Angel speaks up first. “I thought you were better?”

“I did too.” Joshua replies.

“Are you sure it’s Sanctum? I mean you said you thought it was Sanctum, that doesn’t mean it has to be him it could be anything really. I mean, it’s just a dream.”

“It felt so real though, I don’t think it’s just a dream.”

“Have you talked to O’Malley about this?” Angel asks, the tension evident in her tone. “I mean he can tell you for sure what it’s all about, you said he knows everything didn’t you?”

Joshua nods, “I thought he did.”

“What’s that mean?” Angel asks beginning to get angry. “O’Malley said this was all over, you said it was all over, now you’re telling me that you think Sanctum is taking you over again?” Her voice raises, “I don’t want to go through all of that again, it nearly tore us apart last time, you scared the hell out of me and the kids!”

His heart sank. He was afraid this would happen, and it was the last thing he wanted to have happen. It had taken a long time, but finally he had repaired the riffs between him and his family. Now, old wounds would bleed again and this time it didn’t seem like the tautest of stitches would hold it shut.

“What did he say to you?” Angel asks, her voice slowly returning to normal. “What did he say to you when you talked to him?”

“Sanctum?”

“NO! O’Malley.”

“He said it wasn’t him… but I don’t think he really understands this time.” Joshua explained. “He wasn’t the one that experienced these dreams, I did.”

“So then what are we going to do?” She asked, her gaze stone-cold serious.

“We?”

“Yeah, I’m not getting pushed away again, we’re going to take care of this together.”

For a long moment Joshua remained silent, contemplating what could be done next. “I, don’t know yet.”

“Well then, we’ll just have to figure something out.” Angel adds, in a soft reassuring voice. “We’ve survived too much to let anything destroy our family again. We’ll figure something out because we have to.”

Joshua nods silently. A great burden has been lifted from his chest, now he can rest peacefully knowing no matter what comes his way they can meet it together. They sit together for a little longer before heading up to bed. She strips out of her shirt and jeans, climbing into bed nude. He does the same. They cuddle up with one another, her head against his shoulder, and slowly they drift off to sleep.

The drugs run through her body, slowly she fades away. He tries to help her, but his arms are tethered.

“This is a little weird…” she says.

Her hair is brushed back, a smile crosses the evil man’s lips. There is the crisp sound like someone biting in to an apple, followed by an orgasmic, yet painful moan from the woman. She passes out, silently and blissfully. Another man enters.

“Is she alright?” The second man asks, another voice that sounds kind of familiar.

The evil figure replies a hint of lies in his tone. “Everything is fine, she fainted at the sight of our other guest that’s all. Please take her back to her room and then you can go home for the day.”

The second man says nothing; he carries the woman out of the room. He can catch a small glimpse of her face, and she too looks familiar. The figure seems to draw nearer, examining him. He says something, but at first he can’t make him out, until; “I have some old friends to visit.”

Riiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnggggggggg

Joshua sits up in bed, a cold sweat broken out over his body. Groggily he reaches for the phone, answering if half asleep. “Hello?”

“Joshua?” the voice asks on the other end.

“Speaking.”

“My name is Brennan, I was told we have a mutual acquaintance who’s gone missing and that you could help me.”