A/N: Here we are at the end of this tale. I hope ya'll enjoyed reading my little story as much as I enjoy reading others. Let me know what ya'll think. Thanks for all the great reviews!
The ragged ghost moves closer and closer, its wicked grin growing. Its evil eyes gleam with hell's fires as it swings the knife left to right, right to left, in a continuous steady motion.
"Bo, listen close. I think this thin' is concentratin' on me since I'm closest. I'm gonna distract it an' then I want ya ta git yerselves past it an' to the stairs. Ya got it?"
"No way Luke! Ya said we weren't gonna split up!"
"We ain't splittin' up. I said to the stairs, I didn't say go down 'em. But! If somethin' happens, ya'll better high tail it."
"But Luke-"
"No buts! Now git ready! Here hang on ta this." Luke hands Bo the lantern without taking his eyes off his target. When Bo has one hand on the lantern and the other on the quaking and whimpering duo, Luke makes his first move. He begins trying to antagonize the ghost.
"Hey ugly fella. What's the matter, wouldn't the other ghosts and ghouls let ya play with 'em? Your prob'ly to ugly an' unsophisticated fer 'em, ain'tcha? Cain't say as I blame 'em, ya smell like a polecat that scared itself in a mirror." Luke could sense Bo moving past him, but didn't take his eyes off the ghost. "I ain't scared of ya though. Yer nuthin', yer jus' mist an' fog, not even real. What's ta be afraid of? I actually feel kind a sorry fer ya. Ya cain't even feel the sun kissin' yer face or feel the breeze rustlin' through yer hair. What a shame. Heck, I bet the slightest breeze would blow ya away jus' like a wisp a smoke. Ya ain't got no substance." The red eyes are glowing ferociously by this time. "Am I makin' ya mad? Prob'ly not, ghosts cain't get mad. They ain't real so they cain't act real." Luke sees the light stop down the hall and figures Bo has reached the stairs. Now is the time to make his next move. He takes a deep breath and sprints toward Bo, heading straight for the ghost.
"Here I am! What're ya gonna do 'bout it?" He runs straight into the ghost without any hesitation. The second he hits the mist, the most excruciating pain seizes him. He feels like he's being burned all over by a blow torch, red hot spikes are being shoved into his eyes, and his head is being squeezed in a vice grip. If the physical pain isn't enough, he is also somehow connected to the spirit mentally. He sees horrible images flash through his mind; evil images crash and roll one after another.
"Luke look out!" He hears Bo scream a split second before he breaks free of the ghost's hold. What had felt like an eternity had lasted only a few seconds, but it had drained his energy. He stumbles, falling to the floor as the gleaming knife arcs down toward him. When he hits the floor he gathers the last of his strength and with a burst of adrenaline rolls toward Bo. It wasn't fast enough; the knife catches him on the shoulder and rips its way down and across his back as he rolls. The pain spurs him on, rolling to his feet and sprinting toward Bo.
"Run! Now!" Bo doesn't miss a beat, he pushes Cletus and Enos down the stairs trying to hang on to them so they won't fall and break their necks.
"C'mon you two! Let's git outta here! Luke, ya with us?"
"Right behind ya, but if ya don't move it I'm going over ya!" They hit the bottom of the stairs at a dead run.
"The dang door's closed again!" Bo yells over his shoulder.
"Well go through it like last time! It don't matter none, but give me the lantern first." Luke calls back. Handing the lantern to Luke with one hand, Bo pushes Cletus out of his way with the other. By this time Enos is starting to snap out of his terrorized state.
"I'm with ya buddy-ro!"
"Glad ta have ya back Enos! Hit that door hard, but don't hurt yerself!" They hit the door with their shoulders, once again splintering the wood and falling through. Enos falls hard and breaks through the rotted floor boards.
"Enos! Ya awright?"
"Yeah, I think so Bo. Ooohhhh! No, I ain't. I think I done dislocated my shoulder." Bo rolls to his feet and pulls Enos up by his good arm. Luke grabs Cletus on his way by while shoving the lantern on the table by the door. He miscalculates the width of the door and Cletus slams into the door jamb, knocking himself out. Luke quickly grabs him around the waist before he can fall to the floor. The strain of holding Cletus's dead weight up sends sharp pain shooting through his shoulder and back.
"Bo! Help me out, I cain't carry Cletus by myself!"
"Comin'." Bo gets Enos on his feet and pints him toward the cars before hurrying to Luke and Cletus. He gets a shoulder under Cletus's arm and with Luke's help they move out onto the porch.
"He might be easier ta drag than carry."
"Ya got that right." Luke puffs. "Head fer yer patrol car Enos. I know ya cain't see nothin' in this dang fog, but it should be straight ahead. We'll come back fer the General tomorrah." Enos gingerly steps off the porch and smacks into the car.
"Found it!"
"Well git in an' get 'er started. C'mon Bo, lets shove Cletus in the back." Enos hurries around the car and fumbles with the door, finally managing to get it open. As he gets in Bo opens the back door and starts pushing Cletus inside. Enos turns the key but the engine won't turn over, a series of clicks can be heard.
"Ding dang it! Its no use ya'll, the starter is done gone out. It's been touchy all day."
"Well shoot! Pull that big lug out Bo. We're gonna have ta take the General."
"How're we gonna get Cletus in?"
"Give 'em a few taps on the face, maybe he'll come outta of it now. If not, we'll shove him in."
"Awright. C'mon Cletus, wake up! This ain't no time fer napping!" Bo pulls him out of the car and taps his face a few times.
"Ooohhhh!" Cletus groans, blinking his eyes open. "What happened? Am I okay?"
"We ain't got no time fer explainin' right now. C'mon foller me." Bo pulls Cletus along behind him to the General Lee. "Crawl in there Cletus an' git in back. Can ya git in with yer shoulder Enos?"
"I got it Bo." Enos and Cletus slide through the windows and crawl into the back seat.
"Yer gonna have ta drive Bo, I ain't feelin' so hot."
"What's wrong Luke?"
"It don't matter none Bo, jus' git in an' drive 'fore that thin' gits out here."
"Yes sir!" Bo climbs in the window and crawls into the driver's seat. As he starts the car, Luke swings his legs through the door and starts sliding in, his shoulder and back scrape against the door and seat on the way down.
"Aaarrrggghhhhhh!"
"Luke, what is it?" Bo asks urgently. Luke pants heavily, trying to distance the pain.
"Jus' drive Bo. Now!" Luke grabs Bo's shoulder and gives it a squeeze for reassurance. Bo throws the car into reverse and guns the engine, spitting gravel from the tires as the car shoots backwards.
"Reverse worked fer you so I guess I'll try it." Luke nods even though he knows Bo can't see him through the dense fog. He watches through the windshield for those glowing red eyes as he tries to control his breathing. The pain in his shoulder and back is excruciating as it rolls over him in waves, making him lightheaded and nauseous. He stiffens in his seat as he sees two mesmerizing points in the distance, coming closer and closer.
"Bo, I hate ta be a side seat driver an' all, but put that hammer to the floor!" The General's rear wheels bounce into the ditch of the driveway as unearthly laughter shrieks at them. Bo changes gears, but the tires just spin.
"We're stuck!"
"Possum on a gum bush!" Enos squeaks from the backseat.
"Git us out now! Rock it or somthin'." Bo shifts into reverse again trying to get the General out of his predicament.
"Oh Lord." Luke moans as the ghostly eyes pause at the end of the hood.
"G, g, gh, gh, gh-"
"We know Cletus!" Bo, Luke, and Enos all yell at the same time.
"Hunker down back there! Here he comes!" Luke yells as Bo is frantically trying to get the General Lee out of the ditch. Just as the apparition is right in front of them, the General pulls out. The knife slashes toward Luke once again and he throws up a hand to try to ward off the blow. As Bo cuts the wheel the knife slices into Luke's palm. Bo floors the gas and maneuvers the car down the driveway at breakneck speed, leaving the evil phantom behind them. Luke moans softly as he lays his bloody hand on his thigh.
"What's wrong Luke?" Bo asks anxiously.
"Booooo…." Luke moans as he passes out from the pain and loss of blood.
"Luke! Luke talk ta me!" Bo begs urgently. "Enos, Cletus, one of ya check him!" Enos pushes Cletus's bulk out of the way so he can lean over to feel for Luke's vital signs.
"He's got a pulse Bo, but it's real erratic. He's breathin' too. I think he jus' passed out." Bo breathes a small sigh of relief as they finally clear the fog. He spins the wheel and takes off down the road before glancing over at his cousin.
"Jeez! His shirt is soaked with blood. We're headin' straight fer Doc Appleby's house." Ahead of them he sees the lights of Cooter's tow truck and he hits the horn. The loud, pealing tones of Dixie break the still night around them. Bo doesn't slow down; he keeps the pedal to the floor as they fly by Uncle Jesse and Cooter. Not even a minute passes before he hears Uncle Jesse's voice come over the cb.
"This is Shepherd ta Lost Sheep. What's goin' on boys? Why didn'tcha stop?" Bo grabs the cb handle out of its cradle and hands it over the seat.
"Talk ta Uncle Jesse fer me." Enos snatches the mike out of Cletus's hand.
"Uncle Jesse, this is Enos. Luke's hurt pretty bad so we're heading fer Doc Appleby's house."
"I hear ya Enos. We'll meet ya there. Don't spare the horses none. We're gone!"
Balladeer: Don't that put a kink in the plow line. Well Daisy an' Rosco had been monitorin' the cb back at the Boars Nest, so they pulled up ta Doc Appleby's place right behind Cooter an' Uncle Jesse.
"How's Luke?" Jesse queries ashe spots Bo walking out to onto the porch. Everyone comes to a complete stand still waiting for Bo's news.
"Doc says he's lost quite a bit of blood, but with a lot of rest he'll be good as new." Bo says softly with a small smile of reassurance. Daisy hurls herself into Bo's arms and hugs him tightly. "He came to when we tried ta git him out of the General an' Doc gave him somethin' fer the pain. He's sleepin' right now."
"Oh Bo." Daisy whispers and hugs him tighter.
"How 'bout everyone else?"
"Well the Doc's tryin' ta fix Enos up right now, he dislocated his shoulder." Bo pauses and another small smile dances across his mouth. "An' Cletus is refusin' ta budge outta the General." Everyone turns to see Cletus, nothing but the top of his head and his eyes can be seen out the car windows.
"What happened Bo?" Daisy whispers.
"Daisy, ta tell ya the truth, I really don't wanna talk 'bout it jus' now. Maybe tomorrow in the light of day. I will say that without Luke being Luke, I don't know if we would've made it." Everyone nods their understanding as they move inside to see the patients.
Balladeer: Bo, with the help of a recoverin' Luke, tol' their story the next day. Rosco an' Cooter finally convinced Cletus to come out of the General Lee an hour after dawn. Uncle Jesse an' Rosco talked themselves blue in the face trying to convince Boss Hogg to destroy the old farmhouse. After hearing how close the foursome had come to harm, Boss agreed to tear down the ol' house on the Gobbleston place. An' so ends another normal day in Hazzard County. Or maybe I should say a paranormal day, cause we all know there ain't nothin' normal 'bout Hazzard County. Keep 'em 'tween the ditches ya'll!