I was sitting on top of a masked stranger and moved to the rhythm of the chanting crowd.

Having an audience felt highly arousing and I enjoyed it a little longer until I reached the next part of the ritual.

I grabbed the ceremonial knife that was lying next to me and I raised it above my head. I held it there for a moment to add dramatic effect and then plunged it down into the specially carved groove in the stone altar.

The spell was cast and I could now release my partner from his bonds. I used the knife to cut the ropes and then removed his mask.

Look at that face! I couldn't stop thinking how lucky I was to have...

I woke up with a gasp and checked the time. Three o' three!

It took me a moment to process what I had been dreaming and I remembered the shock at the end.

I was taking part in the ritual this time instead of witnessing it and the person that I had been sitting on top of was...

Gerard!

Surely this was my mind mixing fact with fiction but why had I dreamt the same thing twice in a row?!

***

Shit! I slept past my alarm! Olivia was going to be late for school. I yanked on some clothes and stormed down the stairs.

As I reached the kitchen, I could see Olivia dressed and ready, sitting at the counter with a bowl of cereal. She was talking to herself again.

"Morning, sweety!" I said casually. "I'm so sorry for being late but look at you all ready to go! I'm so proud..."

What the hell?! I almost jumped out of my skin.

A woman was standing over the sink, rinsing glasses and putting them on the rack.

She turned around and said, "Do we need to hire you a housekeeper, Darren? This place is a mess!"

"Mom?! What are you doing here?"

***

"How is it to live outside the city?" Mom asked as she sipped on her coffee.

"It's quiet and Olivia seems really happy and calm out here," I said, making both of us an omelet.

"Is it not too boring for you? I know that you were used to a 'different' lifestyle back in the city."

"You mean a life of dinner parties and brunch? I'm not a stereotype, Mom!"

"I was going to say that you might not have that much access to... romantic partners out here."

"Mom! I am not discussing my sex life with you!"

Quick! Change the subject.

"Listen, I wanted to ask you about the gardener. How much are you paying him?" I asked, determined to take over the responsibilities that came with the house.

"What gardener?" Mom asked in confusion.

Goosebumps instantly ran over my skin. If Mom didn't know about Gerard then what the hell was he doing in my backyard?

"Are you sure?" I asked, before describing the man that I had interacted with a couple of times.

"Positive," Mom said. "It's actually one of the reasons why I came out here. I wanted to make sure that you had enough help."

I stood up to check from the kitchen window if he was there but saw no one. I had forgotten the breakfast tray from yesterday and it had remained there completely untouched.

I didn't think that Gerard meant any harm but he had better have a damn good explanation or I was going to call the cops.

***

Mom and I picked up Olivia from school and took her to town for some shopping. Her grandmother wanted to get her some new clothes, so I took advantage to do some exploring.

When I popped into the Starbucks to grab a latte, I bumped into Kathy. We made some polite chit-chat when I asked her if she knew anything about Gerard.

The women's face went white as a sheet before asking, "you can see them?"

"Who?" I demanded.

"Drop by my house when you get a chance. I'll tell you everything I know," she said mysteriously.

Huh?