A/N: Once again thank you for the great reviews, please keep them coming. Sorry it has taken so long to update. I have no excuse except that life has gotten inthe way. I wanted to have this story finished for Halloween, but it just hasn't worked out that way.
The silence of the night hangs heavily between the two cousins as Luke speeds back toward the old farmhouse on Cotton Hollow Road. The only sound between them was the engine and the rolling tires. Luke slides them to a stop beside Cletus's empty patrol car to wait for Cooter and Uncle Jesse. They are only a minute behind and come to a stop behind the General Lee. Bo and Luke slide out their windows and sit on the doors.
"Awright ya'll, go ahead an' hook up Cletus's patrol car. We'll try ta keep in contact over the CB as much as possible." Luke calls back to them.
"You boys be careful! I want ya both home an' safe ya hear!" Uncle Jesse yells back to them. Bo and Luke look at each other when they hear the worry in their uncle's voice.
"We want ta be home safe too Uncle Jesse. We'll be as quick as we can." Bo calls back. As they start sliding back inside the car they hear Cooter yell out "Keep 'em 'tween the ditches ya'll!" They both throw a hand out the window and wave as they pull away. Bo looks at Luke and sees his deep look of concentration, his bright blue eyes are narrowed and his jaw is tense.
"Ya got a plan Luke?" Luke glances at Bo briefly before returning his attention to the road in front of him.
"Not really Bo, jus' git in an' out as quick as possible like ya tol' Uncle Jesse. An' under no circumstances do we split up. I'll watch yer back an' ya watch mine."
"Jus' like always Lukas."
"Jus' like always." Luke replies with a slight smile. He pulls the General to a stop at the entrance of the driveway. "Awright, lets use our voices an' try ta get a handle on their location. We'll search the downstairs first, maybe we'll get lucky." Bo nods as he stares toward the house and the single light shining from the second story window.
"The fog don't look so thick now, least we'll be able ta see the road on the way up again."
"Yer right Bo. Do yer best ta remember details on the way up this time. That away we'll have more on our side if we get stuck in the thick fog again." Luke takes a deep breath. "Here goes nuthin'." He revs the engine and they start up the driveway, the fog swirls around them in what Bo considers a menacing manner.
"Keep yer eyes peeled fer anythin' Bo. An' I do mean anythin'."
"Gotcha." Bo answers as they pull up behind Enos's patrol car. He glances over his shoulder and sees the fog thickening and rolling toward them. He slaps Luke's shoulder to get his attention and jerks his thumb over his shoulder.
"I see it Bo. I also see Enos's car. C'mon, lets git goin' an' git'r done." Luke slides out of the car and comes around the hood to meet Bo. "Watch out fer them planks on the porch. Us hittin' 'em so hard couldn't have helped their stability any." Bo nods as he follows Luke up onto the porch. They carefully make their way across it to the door. As Luke reaches toward the knob Bo once again grabs his arm. Luke jumps and whips his head around to look Bo in the face.
"Dejavu Bo. Lemme guess, ya gotta bad feelin' 'bout this?" Luke asks.
"Well yeah, but I was jus' gonna remind ya that the door knob is cold as ice."
"Oh yeah, thanks cous. I had forgotten that little detail already."
"No problem, I've got yer back." Luke nods and gives Bo a friendly slap on the back. He reaches for the door knob again and gives it a quick twist.
"Dang it! I fergot a flashlight." Bo mutters. Luke glances over at the table besides the door.
"Well, I don't know what ta make of it, but the lantern's back on the table here along with the matches."
"Did ya set it down there before?"
"Bo, I don't rightly remember what I did with it ta tell ya the truth. I'll git it lit, you start yellin' fer Enos an' Cletus. Oh, an' Bo? Don't shut the door, just' leave it open this time." Bo nods jerkily while Luke strikes a match and touches the wick of the lantern. The soft glow of lantern light spreads over the room pressing back shadows as Bo begins to call for the two deputies.
"Enos! Cletus! Hey fellas, ya in here?" A hollow silence is the only answer he receives. He shakes his head and looks at Luke. "It couldn't be easy could it?" Luke shakes his head and points across the room.
"C'mon, let's try this room here first." The two cousins make their way across the floor to the first door, continuing to call for the two missing lawmen. Luke reaches out and pushes open the door, his body tense and ready for whatever lay behind it. He lets out a sigh and his shoulders sag a bit when he gets a look at the room beyond.
"What is it?" Bo whispers.
"Jus' an empty room as far as I can tell. Let's check it over though, an' Bo?"
"Yeah, I know, don't shut the door." Luke nods and moves into the room with Bo right on his heels. He shines the light around the room with no luck; it's completely empty of spooks and missing police. "Nuthin' here but cobwebs, an' there ain't no more doors. Let's go." Bo mutters. They head back out into the first room.
"Enos! Cletus! Where are ya?" Bo pauses to listen. "Still no answer. I guess it's on ta door number two then." They cross to the second door in the room and Luke grabs the knob.
"Ouch! Dang it! That knob is as hot as Hades fires!"
"Luke, I wish ya wouldn't refer ta that place while we're here. Ever' hair I got's already standin' on end. I don't need ya makin' it worse!" Bo hisses.
"Sorry cous. Uh… gimme yer handkerchief." Bo hands it over and Luke uses it to gingerly open the door. He pushes the door open wide to see a kitchen. Luke holds the lantern up higher to see in the room as Bo steps in calling for Enos and Cletus once again. As soon as Bo's boot touches across the threshold a brilliant blue flame bursts out of the old fireplace and races across the floor toward them. Bo stands frozen watching helplessly as the flames come closer and closer. Luke grabs Bo's shirt and pulls him out of the room then reaches in and slams the door shut.
"Trust me, they ain't in there." Luke whispers.
"I believe ya." Bo gasps. "I don't wanna be in there neither." He takes a deep breath before continuing. "That's all the doors down here, I guess that means up the stairs?" Luke nods. He keeps thinking about what lies up those stairs.
"Let's move fast. The way my hearts poundin', I'll be hard pressed ta keep up with it." Bo grimaces at Luke's statement, but nods his agreement.
"I'm right with ya Luke. I think my heart could win the Daytona 500 right now it's movin' so fast." They cross to the stairwell and pause at the bottom, once again calling for Enos and Cletus. Their only answer was the echo of their own voices from the stair well.
Balladeer: Them boys sure are loyal to their friends ta go back up them stairs. They know as well as me an' you what's up there. I sure do hope their luck holds out, but seein' as their Duke's I ain't holdin' my breath. I think I'll hide behind my guitar now. Ya'll let me know when it's over, will ya? I cain't look.