"Shoot, I sure was hopin' they'd answer that time. I ain't got the slightest inclination ta go up them stairs again." Bo mumbles looking up the dark staircase then glancing over his shoulder.
"Well standin' here ain't doin' us no good. Let's git at it." Luke stiffens his spine, takes a deep breath and starts up the stairs. Bo follows a few steps behind, almost walking sideways so he can see what lies ahead and what's behind him. They only take a few steps up before the terrible scratching begins.
"There's that critter again. Ya know, I wish I'd a brung my bow and arrows. That woulda taken care of it." Bo cracks to break the tension. Luke softly chuckles.
"Yeah, 'specially if'n ya used one of them dynamite arrows." They both laugh loudly at Luke's crack, forgetting for one moment that they were scared silly. The scratching increases in volume with their laughter making them pause for a moment.
"I don't think it liked our little joke Luke."
"Prob'ly not, but who cares 'bout somethin' that's trapped behind the wall anyways. It ain't got nuthin' ta do with us. Right?"
"Yer right Luke. Who cares." Bo replies and slaps the wall. As soon as his hand makes contact the scratching diminishes. Bo and Luke stop again and look at each other in surprise.
"Huh. I think I scared 'em." Bo grins and watches Luke's eyes narrow in thought.
"Ya know, I wonder…"
"Wonder what?" Bo asks trying to catch a ride on Luke's train of thought.
"Hit that wall again Bo. I wanna see somethin'." Bo shrugs and smacks the wall again. The scratching all but ceases. "That's what I thought. It seems like whatever that was feeds off of high emotion, like our fear when we were here before an' jus' now the joy our laughin' brung out."
"Oh, I git it. So when we said we didn't care, it quit."
"Not only that we said it Bo, but that we really meant it an' quit worryin' 'bout it."
"Think that'll work with ever'thin' else, includin' yer red-eyed, sleep deprived friend?"
"I don't know Bo, but lets try ta stay calm this time an' think clear. It cain't hurt." Bo nods and smiles at Luke as they start up the stairs once more. When they reach the top Luke peers down both sides of the hallway before stepping out into the middle. He fully expects something or someone to pop up out of nowhere. When nothing happens he nods for Bo to join him.
"Cletus! Enos!" Bo calls out. No answer is heard, but both boys notice the light is still shining from under the door they had entered earlier that night.
"We'll leave that'un till last. There's two other doors. Lets check that one there first." Luke says pointing to the door across from the lighted room. Bo nods while nervously looking first up the hallway and then down it.
"Be careful cous. No tellin' what that room does."
"Ya got that right." Luke replies as he turns the knob and swings the door open.
"Enos? Cletus? Ya in there?" Luke calls softly as he gingerly steps into the room. He holds the lantern higher and takes another cautious step. The moment his boot touches the floor it slides out from under him. He waves his free arm around trying to find something to steady himself with to no avail.
"Luke!" Bo exclaims, quickly grabbing him under the arm and pulling him up straight. "Ya awright?"
"Yeah, thanks ta you. I don't know what I stepped in, but it's mighty slippery."
"What is it?" Bo asks as Luke lowers the lantern to get a better look. "It looks like red paint Luke."
"That ain't no red paint Bo. It's blood. 'Member what Uncle Jesse an' Rosco said? This musta been their sacrificin' room. Look I don't see either of them in here an' there ain't no connectin' doors. Lets jus back on outta here easy like. Don't fall." They cautiously take the few steps back into the hallway and pull the door closed behind them. Still ignoring the lighted room, they make their way down the hall to the only other door. Luke reaches out to open it but pauses before grasping the knob.
"Didja hear that Bo?"
"Yeah, sounds like whimperin' or somethin'."
"Or somethin'." Luke agrees. "Be ready, whatever it is might jump out at us." Luke grasps the knob and inches the door open slowly. His eyes widen at the sight within. "Well I'll be, it was whimperin'."
"What is it Luke?" Luke pushes the door in the rest of the way until Bo can see Cletus and Enos standing in the middle of the room with their arms wrapped around each other. Cletus lets out another whimper while Enos keeps his eyes tightly shut.
"Hey fellas, havin' fun?" Bo quips.
"G-g-g-g-g-gh-gh-gh-gho-ghost." Cletus stutters out.
"Yeah we've made his acquaintance before. C'mon boys, lets git outta here." Bo moves past Luke and grabs a hold of both the frightened deputies. He pulls them out of the room and following Luke pushes them toward the stairs.
"Hurry up before-" Luke stops dead in his tracks.
Balladeer: Uh-oh. It's baaaack. An' here I thought we were home free. Ya know the day they handed out good luck Bo an' Luke must've gone fishin'.
Hahahahahahahahahaha… evil laughter echoes off of the walls as the specter comes toward them, blocking their escape down the stairs.
"Now what Luke!" Bo yells over the echoing laughter.
"I don't know, but I'm too young ta die now."
"That ain't funny Luke!"
"It weren't no joke Bo!"
"It's got its knife again." Bo yells. "Think Lukas! Git us outta here!"
Balladeer: Ya think it'd help if they thrashed that thing soundly with a wet sock?
A/N: I love reading everyone's reviews, thanks ya'll for taking the time to write them out. Keep 'em coming! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.