Hazzard's Haunted House

     It was a crisp fall day in Hazzard County; the leaves were turning many shades of red, yellow and orange.  It was October 31st,  Halloween. Jesse Duke looked up from working on his pick-up truck, to watch hie two young nephews play. He watched as the raced around the yard, and smiled. He remembered a few years ago when people warned him that there could be problems, because of the age difference between Bo and Luke. Luke was older then Bo by two years. Everyone else had been wrong, their age difference never seemed to matter to them. Luke always looked out for his younger cousin, and Bo looked up to and respected his older cousin. They were more like brothers then they were cousins and more then that they were the best of friends. Bo and Luke were both excited because it was Halloween. It would be the first year that Jesse allowed them to go out trick or treating on their own.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
    Jesse was sitting by the fireplace, reading a book, when Bo and Luke came into the room. He could tell by he look on their faces that they wanted something. He placed the book down on his lap, and looked at his nephews, who were standing in front of him.
     “What is you want this time?” Jesse asked.
     “Halloween is a week away.” Bo said.
     “Yes I know it is.” Jesse said.
     “We was just thinking we could go out on our own this year.” Luke said.
     “I don’t know.” Jesse said.
     “I am eight.” Luke said.
     “I know but . . .” Jesse started to say.
     “I’d look out for Bo.” Luke added.
     “I know that you would.” Jesse said.
     “It is not like we could get into much trouble.” Bo said.
     “You boys can get in trouble no matter what.” Jesse said, though no unkindly.
Bo and Luke smiled sheepishly. “Please Uncle Jesse?” they both questioned in unison.
Jesse thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. I guess that Luke is old enough to look out for the both of you.”
     “THANK YOU, Uncle Jesse.” Bo and Luke said at the same time and hugged Jesse.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
    Jesse had gone over a few rules with them over and over again to try to be sure that they stayed out of trouble. Jesse glanced down at his watch and saw it was six o’clock. “Alright you two, time to get inside and cleaned up and ready.”
     “Yes sir.” Bo and Luke said in unison and raced towards the door. Luke beat Bo there by about three strides.
They took turns in the washroom, then went into the bedroom, that they shared, to get ready. They came out a few minutes later. Jesse was standing in the middle of the living room with a Polaroid camera. He smiled when he saw them come walking out. They both were wearing the same custom, racecar drivers. They were matching orange overalls; their name stitched on the left side, with a few company “sponsors” patches sewn on.
     “I want a picture.” Jesse said.
Bo and Luke nodded and stood for him to take a picture. They each slung their arm around the other one’s shoulder and smiled. The three of them stood waiting for the picture to develop.  Jesse thought that it turned out beautifully, Bo and Luke both had large smiles on their face.
     “We are going to be race car drivers someday.” Bo said.
     “And race on the NASCAR circuit.” Luke added.
     “And win.” Bo said finishing the sentence.
Jesse smiled. Bo and Luke often said the same sentence like that, always seeming to know just what the other one was thinking.
     “Okay be careful you two, and stay out of trouble.” Jesse said, knowing the boys knack for getting into trouble, even without try.
     “Yes sir.” Bo and Luke said at the same time.
 The boys ran outside and grabbed their bikes, which they had also decorated to look like racecars. They waved goodbye to Jesse, who stood on the porch watching them leave. Jesse stood watching them ride away until the disappeared from sight and then turned and went back inside the house.
     Bo and Luke spent the next hour and a half riding their bikes all over Hazzard, by which time their bags were so heavy with candy it was all could do to carry it and ride their bikes.
     “Luke can we take a break, my legs are getting tired.” Bo said.
     “This is it for the night, can’t you just wait to rest till we get home?”
     “Can’t we just take a little break?” Bo asked again, in more of a pleading voice this time.
     “Oh alright.” Luke said.
They stopped their bikes at a small park, and sat at a picnic table, looking through their bags at all the candy they had gathered. Bo started to eat a chocolate bar.
     “You just wanted to stop to eat candy, not to rest.” Luke said.
     “That’s not true. If I eat this then I will have the energy to keep going.” Bo said.
     “Just don’t eat too much. Uncle Jesse’s would whoop me if you get home on a sugar rush.”  Luke said.
     “This is all I am going to eat.” Bo said.
Suddenly they heard a rustling sound coming from the bushes nearby.
     “What’s that?” Bo said, trying to hide his fear.
     “I don’t know, probably just a big old raccoon.” Luke said, hiding his own fear as not to frighten Bo.
     “Wrong.”  Alec said, jumping out of the bushes with his two friends, Rod and Larry.
They were the biggest bullies in all of Hazzard, even at age fifteen they caused more trouble then anyone in Hazzard. The three of them were dressed up in ghoul costumes that Luke thought was fitting for them.  Bo moved a little closer to where Luke was sitting, depending on his cousin to protect him.
     “Give us your candy.” Larry said.
     “No.” Luke said, trying to sound brave, he wasn’t going to hand over the candy that he and Bo had worked so hard to get.
     “These little boys think that they are so brave perhaps they’d like to spend some time in the old cemetery house.” Alec said.
Bo visibly trembled at the thought of spending any time in that old house.
     “Yeah I am sure they would.” Rod said.
     “Just go away, leave us alone.” Luke said.
Alec shook his head. “No we are going to have us some fun.”
Alec grabbed Luke by the arm and Rod grabbed Bo, pulling him off the picnic table.
     “OW!” Bo said as he hit the ground.
     “Get your hands off my cousin.” Luke said.
Rod just laughed both at Luke’s statement and Bo’s feeble attempts to escape.
     “Get the candy Larry.” Alec said. “And then we take the Duke boys here to the cemetery.”
Luke tried to get away from Alec, but it was a feat that seemed impossible. He wished he was bigger and stronger so he could fight these guys and keep not only himself but Bo safe. The thought of being locked in the old haunted house in the cemetery, on Halloween of all nights terrified.
     Alec, Rod and Larry were all laughing and joking as they walked through the cemetery to the old house that sat on the far side. Bo and Luke were trying desperately to escape, fearing the rumours that the old house was haunted by ghosts and many other creatures that went bump in the night. After another couple moments of walking the large old house began to loom before them. The house was two stories high; its old gray paint was chipped and peeling. Many of the black singles were missing from the roof, and a few of the black shutters hung precariously as though they were going to fall at any second. The peeked in many sections, and as they grew closer they could see stone gargoyles standing like sentinel guards off the house, leering down at them. An evil aura seemed to surround the house and even Larry, Rod and Alec seemed to be slightly frightened. All the windows and door were boarded over, which made Luke wonder if that was to keep people out or to keep whatever was in the house in. The old boards of the porch creaked under their weight as they walked up the stairs.
     “Get those boards off the door.” Alec said to Larry.
Larry nodded, and started to pull the boards away from the door, the nails made an eerie scrapping noise as they were pulled out of the doorframe, were they had been embedded for so long. Luke glanced over at Bo, who was trembling his dark blue eyes filled with fear, Luke which he knew what to say to ease his younger cousin’s fear but didn’t know the words to even ease his own fear. Luke just put on a brave front to try to keep Bo from becoming even more frightened.
     It took Larry about three minutes to pull away all the old boards. Luke turned the doorknob, smiling that it wasn’t locked. The rusty old hinges on the door squeaked as it swung open, dust that was probably decades old billowed out on to the porch.
     “Just let us go.” Luke said, trying to sound demanding and brave.
Alec just laughed. “Not a chance. If you ain’t out before sunrise though we will let you out."
     “You can’t do this.” Luke said.
     “Watch us.” Rod said.
Rod then drug Bo over to where Alec had Luke, by the open door. Bo looked at Luke with wide scared eyes, Luke mouthed the words ‘it’ll be okay.’ Bo nodded slightly trusting his old cousin.
     “Have fun boys.” Alec said.
Alec and rod then shoved Luke and Bo through the open door. Bo and Luke stumbled falling through the door and onto the old, dust covered hardwood floor.  Alec slammed the door shut as soon as Bo and Luke were inside. The sound of the door closing sounded like that of a coffin closing, the sound echoing through the walls of the old house.
     Luke stood up and then gave Bo and hand to stand. They both brushed off the dust that clung to their clothes. Bo stood close to Luke, taking comfort in his older cousin’s presence; he left safer when he was near Luke, knowing that Luke would protect him from any creature that lurked within the shadows.
     “I’m scared.” Bo admitted, his voice trembling slightly.
     “Don’t be I won’t let anything happen to you.” Luke said.
     “Do you like there is another way out?” Bo asked.
     “Maybe there is a back door.” Luke said.
     “So we have to go all the way through this place to find out I guess.” Bo said.
     “Yeah we do.” Luke said.
Luke was thankful that he still had his flashlight and that it worked; though it provided little light. The old floorboards creaked softly as they walked through the large old house. Dust floated through the air as the breeze of them walking caught it lifting it from the place it had rested for countless years. Bo sneezed as the dust filled his nose.
     “I don’t like it here.” Bo complained.
     “Don’t worry I’m sure we’ll be out of here any minute now.” Luke said, trying to sound brave.
     “I hope so it is spooky in here.” Bo said.
     “Don’t worry, nothing can hurt as long as I am here to protect you.” Luke said.
Bo smiled. “I know . . . I still don’t like it in here though.”
The house seemed to grow brighter the further into the walked, which both Bo and Luke found odd as they were walking further from the windows, so there was no where for the light to be coming in.
     “Where is all the light coming from?” Bo asked.
     “I don’t know maybe there is holes in the ceiling or something.” Luke said.
Bo looked up at the ceiling. “I don’t see any holes.”
Suddenly it was as though electricity was coming to the house and someone had turned on all the lights. Bo jumped and grabbed onto Luke’s arm, Luke could no longer hide his fear and started to slightly tremble. Everything around them looked as new as it had on the day it was bought. Everything sparkled with cleanness; there was not a speck of dust to be seen. The sound of “Moonlight Sonata” being played on an organ filled the house, breaking the silence. The music had an eerie haunted sound to it that sent shivers up and down Bo and Luke’s spine.
    “Luke I’m scared.” Bo said, his voice trembling.
    “Me too.” Luke admitted. “Let’s make a run for the back door.”
Bo just nodded and ran after Luke through the house, too afraid to turn and look over his shoulder for fear of seeing someone, or rather something following them
    Bo felt his feet slid out from under him, as though someone had pulled a mat out from under feet.
    “LUKE!” Bo yelled in terror, as he slid along the floor, being pulled by some unseen force.
Luke stopped running and turned around. His whole body momentarily froze with terror when he saw his younger cousin sliding across the hardwood floor. Luke locked eyes with Bo and could see the terror there.
     “Luke help me.” Bo said, tears of fear swelling in his eyes.
Luke went to grab Bo, but Bo only started to slide away from him at a faster rate. A nearby door flung open and Bo was pulled through it. Before Luke could reach the door it slammed shut, hard enough to make the whole door vibrate. Luke turned the doorknob but found the door was locked. He began to continuously turn the knob, in short fast turns, and began to pound on the door screaming Bo’s name. Luke’s heart raced with fear, fear of what might be happening to Bo and fear that he might never see his young cousin again, there was also the fear he would be the next to be taken victim by the house. After what felt like an eternity to Luke the doorknob twisted open. Luke swung the door open, his heart sinking when he saw nothing but a closet. Luke stepped into the closet and felt along the walls hoping to find a secret panel, there was none. Luke stepped back out the closet, his legs no seemed to no longer be able to hold his weight and he sank to the floor, and leaned against the wall. His whole body trembled with fear, he took several deep breaths to hold back the tears that he had started to burn his eyes. After sitting quietly for a couple minutes, and nothing happening to him, Luke stood up. He looked around the large old house, it seemed to be perfectly frozen in time, from the time it had last been used which Luke figured was nearly fifty years ago. Luke knew that he could try to escape but there was no way he was going to leave without Bo. Luke took a deep breath and gathered all his courage and set out to find Bo.
     Bo sat up and looked around at his new surroundings, his whole body still trembling and he felt too numb to speak. He looked around the room, which was filled with every toy a child could’ve wanted, at least that they could’ve wanted fifty years ago. The room had an almost calming effect on Bo as he walked around the room looking things over, he seemed to forget that he was trapped in an old haunted house, and also forget all about Luke. Bo didn’t notice that as he walked around the room, his clothes changed to match the decade that the house was trapped in, he now was wearing a pair of soft, dark brown pants and a cream coloured, silky shirt. Bo walked around the room for and stopped in front of a mirror, the reflection he saw barely looked like him. With a trembling hand Bo reached out and touched the mirror, it rippled around where he touched, like a stone does when it hits the water. Bo jerked his hand back, the calmness fleeing him and he screamed. He ran out of the room, screaming Luke’s name, desperately trying to find his older cousin.
     Meanwhile, Luke felt as though he was getting lost as he wander aimlessly down the many hallways that filled the house. Some of the hallways seemed to be never ending, or lead nowhere. The halls were like a maze, turning every which way, and he felt as though he was a mouse searching for the piece of cheese at the exit of the maze only in his case it was to find Bo. Luke began to wonder if he would ever find Bo, he felt as though he had been walking around in circles, circles the house created to keep him away from Bo, and he began to lose hope of ever seeing Bo again. After what felt like an eternity Luke heard Bo calling his name, with his hopes renewed he set out once again to find his cousin.
     Bo wandered aimlessly down the halls calling out to Luke, praying his older cousin could hear him, praying Luke would find him. Bo decided that since he was getting nowhere walking down the hallways he would start to try to look in the rooms, perhaps Luke was in one of them. The first door he tried was at the end of the hallway he was in, it was different then the rest with a large gold door handle. Bo turned it slowly, hoping it wasn’t locked. The door opened easily and Bo stepped trough it, before him stood a large spiraling staircase. Bo went to turn and leave but was drawn towards the staircase. Bo stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up through the spiral of the staircase, the stair looked to be at least two stories tall as they would their way up through the ceiling. Bo didn’t like the look of the staircase it went up so high, and with no hand railing. Though as much as he didn’t want to he began to climb the stairs.
     Luke could hear the sound of the organ playing again and shuddered not only was the music eerie the song itself was quite sad. Luke began to worry that he could no longer hear Bo’s voice. Luke just kept wandering down the many hallways, until he noticed an open door. Luke stepped through the door, seeing the large staircase before him. He was about to turn and walk away when he had the strongest urge to go up the stairs. Luke slowly began to climb the stairs, nervous about there being no hand rail to hold on to. Luke wondered for a moment how badly it would hurt if he fell, but then he figured if he fell from far up he wouldn’t have to worry about pain because he’d most likely be dead. Luke was near the top when he looked down through the spiral of the staircase, his head seemed to spin with dizziness as he saw how high up he really was. Luke took a couple deep breaths to clear his head and told himself, “Don’t look down.”
     Finally Luke reached the top of the staircase. He found himself in an old room, the walls were made of stone, a large pipe organ stood before him and the sight he beheld at the organ made his heart beat wildly with fear. Bo was sat knelling on the bench, playing the large old organ, and next to him was a woman who was obviously a ghost. She seemed to just be a whitish blue glowing light, though nothing passed through her, or so Luke thought because she was working the peddles of the organ. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun, and she had a small pair of glasses on. She wore a long dress that had a high collar, fastened with a cameo. Luke guessed her age before she turned to ghost to be in her seventies. Luke noticed the different clothes that Bo was wearing and wondered what was going on, though decided all that matter was to get Bo and get out. Luke took a step forward and the floorboard creaked under his weight. The woman spun around to face Luke, with a look of anger.
     “How dare you interrupt our lesson.”
Luke didn’t know what to say he only stood there staring at the ghostly figure. Bo turned to look and Luke saw his eyes appeared to be clouded. Bo just looked at Luke for a moment as though he didn’t know who he was, and then his eyes cleared. He jumped off the bench and ran over to Luke, nearly knocking Luke over. Bo clung to Luke his body trembling, trying hard not to cry in front of Luke. Luke put his arms around Bo to comfort him, which also comforted his own fears he had that he would never find his younger cousin. The ghostly figure stood up and approached them. Luke swallowed his fear determined to be strong to protect himself and Bo.
     “Go away leave us alone.” Luke said.
The ghost only smiled and reached out to touch Bo’s shoulder. Bo pulled away and moved to stand beside his cousin.
     “Come with me Bo.”
Bo shook his head, not trusting his voice. The ghost just stood there looking at them for several more minutes and then vanished.
     “Are you okay?” Luke asked.
Bo nodded. “Yeah, I think so. Just . . . scared.”
     “I’ll protect you, don’t worry.” Luke said.
Bo smiled slightly. “I know you will.”
They headed towards the stairs to go back down.
     “Took you long enough to find me though.” Bo said, in a joking tone.
Luke smiled, glad to see Bo hadn’t lost his sense of humour. “Oh, was I suppose to be looking for you?”
Bo smiled. “Cute.”
The two of them then slowly started down the staircase, which didn’t seem so high going down.
     A couple minutes later they were to the bottom of the stairs, they walked back out into the hallway and Luke shut the door. Luke went to walk down the hall but Bo lingered near the door. Luke stopped and walked back over to his cousin.
     “What’s wrong?” Luke asked.
     “I don’t want to be wandering through this house anymore.” Bo said.
     “We have to find a way out of here. I don’t think it is a good idea to stay in one place for too long.” Luke said.
     “I am afraid of getting separated again.” Bo said.
     “Don’t worry I won’t let anything happen to you.” Luke said.
     “You said that before and we still got separated.” Bo said.
     “C’mon I’ll give you a piggy back ride for a ways, that way we can’t get separated.” Luke said.
Bo thought about it for a moment and then nodded. Luke turned around and gave Bo a hand to get onto his back, grateful that Bo was still small enough and light enough for him to carry on his back. Bo wrapped his arms around Luke’s neck and laid his head on his older cousin’s shoulder, trying to hold back the tears that burned in his eyes. Luke felt a couple of Bo’s tears wet his shoulder, though he said nothing. He felt as scared as Bo was but refused to allow it show. After several minutes of wandering aimlessly down the hallways, Luke’s arms began to grow tired.
     “I gotta set you down now, okay?”
     “Yeah.” Bo said his voice soft.
Luke set Bo down, who promptly sat on the floor, leaning against the wall.
     “You doing any better?” Luke asked, his concern obvious in his voice.
Bo looked up at Luke. “I want to go home. I don’t like it here.”
     “I want to go home to Bo, but to so that we have to find a way out of here. I don’t like it here anymore then you do.” Luke said.
Bo leaned his head forward to rest on his knees, and Luke knew that Bo was trying to hide his tears from him. Luke sat down beside Bo and put an arm around Bo’s shoulders.
     “Don’t worry Bo, everything will be okay.” Luke said, trying his best to comfort Bo take away his fear.
 They sat like that for several minutes, when Luke thought he heard someone calling his name. Luke looked up and down the hallway, seeing nobody, but then he heard the voice calling his name once again.
     “Luuukkke.”
Luke slowly stood up and looked around, still unable to see who was calling him. Bo glanced up his older cousin.
     “I’ll be back in one minute.” Luke said, thinking perhaps whoever was calling him could help them get out of the old house.
     “Don’t leave me alone.” Bo said.
     “I’ll be back in one minute, nothing can happen in one minute.” Luke said.
     “Whatever.” Bo mumbled as he watched Luke walk down the hallway.
Luke walked though a partly opened door, following the voice that kept calling out to him. He was beginning to have second thoughts about leaving Bo alone, though he was determined to fine out who was calling his name.
    Bo sat leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, trying to tell himself he was somewhere else. Bo felt someone touch his shoulder, and he opened his eyes, expecting to see Luke. Two people were crouched down in front of him a man and a woman. It took Bo a minute to recognize the people, he had seen many photos of them, they were his parents.
    “Momma? Daddy?” Bo questioned his voice soft and full of disbelief.
    “Yes my baby, we have come back for you.”
Bo smiled widely; he had never stopped dreaming that someday his parents would come back for him and that they would be a family. He hugged his parents; a strange feeling that he couldn’t place flowed through him as they returned the hug. Bo ignored the sensation figuring it was just joy to be with his parents, like a normal kid.
     While that was taking place Luke walked into the room. He the person, or rather the spirit that had been calling out to him. He watched with wide eyes as the ghost walked through a mirror and vanished. Luke realized it had been a trick, a trick to get him away from Bo. Luke turned to leave the room, to get back to Bo, praying it wasn’t already too late. Luke heard something crinkle under his foot and looked down to see a newspaper. Luke looked at the date on the paper with shock: November 1st 1915, and the paper still looked brand new. The headline on the paper had been circled.

Accident At Brogden Manor

     At around midnight last night, an unusually cold Halloween a dreadful accident occurred at the Brogden Manor, taking the life of Noah Brogden, age six. Unconfirmed reports state that Noah, was accidentally killed while trying to break up an argument between his parents, where he presumably fell down a flight of stairs. Police can not confirm or deny these reports, as they have not been able to find the body of Noah.  Investigations have been hindered by the Brogden’s who have reportedly began to threaten police, threatening to shut down the police station, as they are the most wealthiest people in the Tri-county area.

    Luke looked at the picture of Noah Brogden, and gasped. Noah looked close enough to being Bo that they could be twins. Luke went to run back to Bo when he saw another paper laying on the floor, he bent over an picked it up. This paper was dated November 7th 1915.

Strange Occurrences At Brogden Manor

     Nearly one week after the tragic death of Noah Brogden, police have no further clues in to the young boys death and occurrences at the Brogden manor have prohibited the police from investigating any further into his death. Three out of the four policemen who went in to investigate never came back out. The only one who returned was said to have been screaming about demonic creatures in the house and about a strange ritual that the Brogden’s were performing. Officer Culzen is said to have barely escaped the manor with his life. Passerby’s to the manor have also reported seeing strange things, or hearing strange noises coming from the house, especially at night.

 Luke dropped the paper and began to run back to where he had left Bo, thinking how much more evil this house was then he had ever thought before.
     Luke reached the spot that he had left Bo, and his heart sank with dismay when he found his younger cousin was already gone. Luke walked around in disoriented circles, not knowing where to go first to look for Bo.
     “BO!” Luke yelled, desperately hoping for a response, though none came.
Luke sighed deeply and began to walk down the hallway, trying every door in a desperate attempt to find Bo. He felt guilty about leaving Bo alone, he felt he should’ve known better and that he should’ve done more to protect his younger cousin. He just prayed that he could find Bo, before anything happened to him, to make up for his mistake. Luke hated the silence that consumed the hallways of the old house, he could hear his footsteps echoing in the hallow emptiness of the house, and could hear himself breathing. Luke wandered aimlessly for hours when he heard the sound of someone crying softly. Luke followed the sound of the crying hoping that it was Bo.
     Luke opened the door of the room the sound of crying was coming from. It was a large bedroom, the same room that Bo had been in before. Luke saw who was crying, a young boy sat on the bed with his legs drawn up tightly to his chest with his head forward leaning on his knees. Luke took a couple more steps deeper into the room to get a better look at the person on the bed. Luke’s eyes lit up, thinking that it was Bo, he rushed over the bed.
     “Bo . . .”
The young boy looked up at Luke, and Luke’s heart sank when he saw it wasn’t Bo, though he recognized the young boy for the papers.
     “You are Noah, aren’t you?” Luke asked.
Noah nodded, wiping his tears away on the cuff of his shirt. “You shouldn’t be here.”
     “I didn’t have much of a choice.” Luke said. “Can you help me find my cousin?”
Noah seemed to think about the question for a moment and then nodded. “It is not right for it to happen to anyone else.”
     “For what to happen?” Luke asked.
Noah said nothing, biting his bottom lip softly.
     “What will they do to Bo? Is it what they did to you?” Luke asked.
Still Noah said nothing and he looked away from Luke.
Luke just sighed figuring whatever it was that happened was too hard for Noah to talk about, though he sensed there was more to it then that. Noah slid off the bed, glad that the older boy had stopped asking those questions, he didn’t want to talk about it, to even think about it and Noah wasn’t sure how much he could trust Luke. Noah looked at Luke for a minute.
     “You know my name but I don’t know yours.”
     “Luke Duke. Thank for helping to find my cousin Bo.” Luke said, hoping that he could trust Noah and this wasn’t some kind of trick to keep him away from Bo.
Noah only nodded, his eyes looked pained and haunted, Luke wished there was something he could do to help the young boy, after reading the papers he felt he kind of understood why Noah’s eyes looked that way.
     Luke followed Noah through the many hallways of the old house. Neither of them spoke a word, they both seemed equally afraid of the old house. They stopped atop a large staircase, with wide red velvet covered stairs, and a gold banister. Noah seemed to tremble and he backed away from the stairs, his eyes wide with fear. Luke watched as Noah began to vanish.
     “No wait . . . where are you going?” Luke asked, worriedly. “You have to help me find my cousin, please.”
Noah didn’t seem to hear Luke, he seemed to be somewhere else, in another time. He backed further away from the stairs. Luke reached out and put a hand on Noah’s shoulder. Noah screamed and then seemed to come back to the present, he stared at Luke with wide eyes.
     “Are you okay?” Luke asked.
Noah just looked at Luke for a moment; he could hear genuine concern in the other boy’s voice. Noah decided to tell Luke about what had happened, he liked Luke and felt he could trust him. Noah opened his mouth to tell Luke, but broke down crying instead.
     “It’s okay, don’t cry.” Luke said. “Is there where you were killed?”
Noah nodded slightly, the memory of that awful night still etched into his mind.
     “Do you want to talk about it? My Uncle Jesse always says it helps to talk about things that are bothering you.”
Noah nodded again and began to tell Luke what happened, his voice trembling. “Everything started to get strange before it even happened. My grandma came to live with us a month before. I always had to have lessons to play the organ . . . I hated going up the stairs to it afraid I would fall . . . I guess I was wrong about the stairs that I would fall down. Then a lot more people kept coming and going I didn’t really know any of them . . . they all scared me. Everything around me started to change. My father grew really strict and my mother was really distant most of the time. They spent a lot of time in the basement. I was scared to even go near the basement door, there was always strange sounds filling the house at night. I wanted to run away, but my parents had me looked in my room most the time . . . they even locked the window. Then came that Halloween night . . .” Noah said, his voice trailing off.
Luke was listening intently. “What happened that night?”
     “They forgot to lock my bedroom door so I decided I would try to runway. I packed a small bag and left. I didn’t see my parents by the stairs until the last second . . . it was like they just appeared there. My father started yelling at me . . . everything went all weird. I can’t even start to describe it, just all these flashing lights and strange sounds. My parents didn’t seem to be the same. I wanted to just runaway and hide.” Noah said, tears starting to streak his cheeks. “My father started to tell me what a disappointment I was to him . . . his looked like they were glowing. I was too afraid to do anything . . . I was a coward.”
     “No you weren’t. I’d be scared to.” Luke said.
     “You seem very brave to me.” Noah said softly.
     “I am only doing what I have to do to save my cousin.” Luke said.
     “I just stood there and then he shoved me . . . my father shoved me down the stairs. I don’t remember much after that until I woke up outside my own body. I watched the police come and go . . . and some more strange things . . . terrifying things. Then I just vanished into the shadows of the house. I’ve been hiding ever since.”
     “Why did you come back out now?” Luke asked.
     “I wanted to help you and your cousin . . . I don’t him to suffer . . . like I did. I want to make up for being such a coward.”
     “You aren’t a coward Noah, you are quite brave.” Luke said.
Noah smiled softly. “Thank you.”
     “Is there another way down?” Luke asked.
Noah shook his head. “No. But I think I can handle it . . . as long as you stay with me.”
Luke nodded, and the two of them started down the stairs.
     Bo sat quietly in the corner watching the events taking place before him. He was too numb, mostly from fear. A woman with long blonde hair and green eyes walked over to him. She gently patted the side of his face.
     “It is almost time.” Carolina, Noah’s mother, said.
     “Time for what?” Bo asked softly.
     “For to join us.” Carolina said.
     “I don’t want to. I want to go . . . I want Luke.” Bo said.
     “Hush, we have no choice you will join us. Look around don’t you want to be part of this?”
Bo looked around the dingy basement, which was lit by many candles glowing brightly. He couldn’t see what was in the center of the room and decided he didn’t want to know. There was many people down in the room, though they weren’t people most of them were ghosts, when he got a closer look at some he saw they were hideous creatures.
     “I want to go home.” Bo said, near crying from fear.
     “This is your home now.” Carolina said.
Bo shook his head and started to cry. Carolina softly hushed him, drawing him into her arms and hugging him closely. She gently rocked him while speaking soft soothing words. Richard, Noah’s father came over and stood beside his wife.
     “It is almost time.” Richard said, handing her a large, wooden glass, which was carved with many strange markings.
Carolina smiled as she took the glass.
     “Here drink this, it will make you feel better.” Carolina said.
Bo raised his head, and sniffed at the content of the glass. He turned his noise up at the horrid smell.
     “It smells awful.” Bo said, shoving the glass away.
     “Just drink it.” Carolina said, her voice firm.
Bo shook his head. “I don’t want to.”
Richard grabbed the back of Bo’s neck firmly, pulling his head backwards.
     “OW!” Bo complained trying to struggle to break free, but couldn’t escape Richard’s grasp. Carolina pressed the cup to Bo’s lips to make him drink, but Bo pressed his lips together firmly. Richard squeezed Bo’s neck harder, when Bo went to complain Carolina poured the contents of the glass into Bo’s neck. The taste was worse then the smell and Bo tried to spit it out. Richard grabbed Bo’s jaw in his other hand and clamped Bo’s mouth shut, forcing him into swallowing. After Bo had swallowed Richard let him go, and Carolina sat holding his trembling body in her arms. Bo sat with wide eyes, his whole body trembling, not making any noise. Bo’s eyes began to grown glassy and distant, and the whole aura surrounding him seemed to change to black. He pulled away from Carolina and looked up at her and smiled.
     Carolina led Bo through the room. The creatures that lurked within the dark shadows no longer frightened him. He didn’t seem to notice them at all. All ghosts and creatures stopped working as he walked past. Most the ghosts looked bedraggled their flesh hanging loosely from their rotting bones, their clothes tattered and torn. The creatures all ranged in size the smallest being the size of a large dog, the biggest standing over eight feet tall. Each creature was hideous and grotesque looking as though it came straight out of the deepest bowels of hell. Bo held his head high as though he were royalty and the ghosts and creatures were nothing more then servants to him. He stopped before a creature that resembled a large dog, only its skin appeared to be black leather. Its large eyes glowed red, long teeth hung down from the corners of its mouth. Bo patted the creature’s head, and it rubbed against his hand staring up at Bo. Carolina led Bo over to a far wall deep within the shadows, there Alec, Rod and Larry, were chained to the wall. They looked up at Bo with wide frightened eyes.
     “Help us Bo.” Larry begged.
Bo only stared at the three of them with hallow eyes.
     “Sorry about scaring you before . . . it was only a joke.” Alec said.
     “Yeah man. Please get us out of here.” Rod begged.
Bo only smiled at them, though there was nothing friendly about the smile, nothing of Bo in the smile, only darkness could be seen in the smile.
     “Enjoy the last minutes of your pitiful existence.” Bo said coldly and walked away.
The three boys only stared after Bo’s retreating form, their eyes filled with more terror then before, wondering what Bo had meant by ‘last minutes.’ Bo walked to the center of the room and looked down into the large hole that was being dug. Richard walked over and stood behind Bo.
     “You are the key to opening the door. Lacarfina will rise again tonight and the dead will walk the Earth.” Richard said.
Bo looked up at Richard and smiled, his eyes void of any independent thought, his thoughts not his own, his mind and body controlled by some unseen evil force, slowly changing him into someone else.
     All the ghosts and demonic creatures formed a circle around the completed hole in the center of the room. Richard drug over Alec, Rod and Larry, who were all chained together. They were all trembling with fear, begging for their lives. All the ghosts and creatures began to softly chant: “Ohmina carsimin periot lackin” over and over again. Richard stood at the edge of the circle and raised his arms high above his head.
     “Lacarfina master of the undead, we offer these three sacrifice to you so their blood can make you strong.”
Richard unchained Larry and drug him over the edge of the pit, and held him from behind with one arm, in the other hand he held a silver knife, with a wavy blade and a golden handle.
     “No . . . please . . .” Larry begged, but his words seemed to go unnoticed.
In one swift movement Richard cut Larry’s throat and shoved him into the pit. Larry’s body was sucked beneath the surface of the dirt. Rod and Alec watched with wide eyes, screams locked in their throats, knowing that they to would suffer the same fate. Richard sacrificed Rod next and then Alec. The dirt in the pit glowed red, glistening with blood. Then the pit filled with a lava like substance, straight out of hell. Richard turned and looked at Bo.
     “It is time for the gate to be opened so Lacarfina can be set free.” Richard said.
 Noah and Luke finally reached the door to the basement. Luke tried the door and frowned.
     “It’s locked.” Luke grumbled.
Noah vanished through the door and opened it from the other side.
 “It is not locked any more.” Noah said, with a smile.
Noah and Luke started down the long flight of stairs.
     “It is sure hot down here. Feels like summer in Death Valley.” Luke joked.
     “It most have started already.” Noah said, his eyes full of fear.
     “What most have started?” Luke asked.
     “The ritual. They tried to do it before but didn’t have the key or something like that to open to the gate.” Noah said.
Luke’s eyes filled with worry. “Does that mean we are too late to save Bo?”
     “I don’t know. All I know is we have to stop them the ritual can not be completed.” Noah said.
Luke and Noah stood in the shadows watching for moments, looking for Bo.
     “I don’t see him.” Luke said. “Do you?”
Noah was about to say no when he saw Bo standing at the edge of the pit next to his father. “There he is.” Noah said, pointing at Bo.
Bo was now dressed in all black clothing, he held the knife, that Richard had used earlier, in his right hand.
     “My blood is the key. With it the gate shall be opened.” Bo said and sliced the blade of the knife across his left palm.
Bo formed his left hand into a fist and prepared to allow the blood to drip into the pit.
     “BO NO!” Luke screamed and ran towards his cousin.
Bo’s eyes began to clear at the sound of his older cousin’s voice.
    “Luke . . .” Bo whispered softly and began to tremble. “Luke help me.”
Richard turned to face Luke, staring at him with cold, empty eyes.
     “GET HIM! The ritual most not be stopped.” Richard demanded.
The ghost and creatures all rushed towards Luke. Luke’s heart began to race with fear, knowing there was no escape.
     “NO!” Noah yelled and a bright white light flashed through the room.
When the light faded only Bo, Luke, Noah, Carolina and Richard remained in the room. Noah walked over and stood beside Luke. Richard glared at them and then smiled.
     “It don’t matter you are already too late. You can not stop the ritual.” Richard said and grabbed Bo.
Bo screamed and struggled to escape, though his attempts were futile.
     “Let him go.” Luke said trying to sound demanding.
Richard only laughed. He grabbed Bo’s left wrist firmly and held his hand out over the pit. Tiny droplets of blood dripped from Bo’s hand into the lava filled pit. The lava began to boil, and Richard laughed hysterically as he backed away from the pit. Bo felt the dirt around the edge of the pit begin to give away beneath his feet. Luke rushed forward and grabbed Bo around the waist pulling him away from the pit, knocking both of them to the ground. Bo looked up at Luke, his dark blue eyes wide and full of fear.
     “It’s okay Bo, everything is going to be okay.” Luke said, giving Bo a brotherly hug, which Bo returned.
Luke helped Bo to his feet and they walked over to where Noah still stood. Carolina walked to the edge of the pit and looked in, when something shot of out the lava, which looked like the leg of an octopus. It wrapped around her ankle and pulled her into the lava, within seconds she vanished below the surface.
     “Lacarfina will rise and together we shall rule the Earth.” Richard said, his voice nearly a laugh.
     “Not tonight . . . not ever.” Noah said and then ran towards the pit.
     “NOAH!” Luke yelled as he watched the ghost of the young boy jump into the lava.
     “NO!” Richard screamed as the lava turned into water.
Bo and Luke watched as Richard ghost melt into a pile of black goo and then vanish. Bo and Luke walked over to the edge of the pit, Luke was hopeful to find Noah, though they found nothing. Suddenly a ball of white glowing light rose from the pit, it hovered in front of Bo and Luke for a moment and then began to float away, waiting for them to follow.
     As they followed the light Luke told Bo about who Noah was and that it was because of Noah that he had found him. Bo told Luke about what he could remember happening after they were separated, tough some memories were foggy and some things he couldn’t remember at all. The ball of light led them out the back door and to a small clearing in the woods surrounding the back of the house. The ball of light then turned into Noah’s ghost.
     “This is were they buried me . . . an unmarked grave.” Noah said, an obvious sadness to his voice.
     “We can mark the spot . . . we can come back and visit to if you want.” Luke said.
     “Thank you. Though you can’t visit me where I am going.” Noah said.
     “Thank you for all your help, if it wasn’t for you I would have lost Bo forever.” Luke said.
     “Yeah thanks.” Bo said.
Noah smiled. “It is I who should be thanking you. Now I am rest in peace.”
Bo and Luke then watched as Noah vanished. They marked Noah’s grave with several small stones. They turned back around to face the house and saw it had returned to the state of disrepair it had appeared to be in when they first arrived at the house. Bo leaned against, starting to feel too tired to even stand any longer.
     “Can we go home now?” Bo asked.
Luke nodded. “I am sure it is late, Uncle Jesse is probably having a fit.”
     “What are we going to tell him?” Bo asked.
     “We’ll tell him exactly what happened.” Luke said.
     “Do you think he’ll believe us?” Bo asked.
Luke shrugged. “I don’t know, probably.”
When they walked around the front of the house they found their bags of candy, only part of the candy had been eaten. They slowly began to walk home.
     As they walked up towards the farm they saw Jesse standing on the porch waiting. Jesse gave a sigh of relief when he saw them.
     “Where have you been? It is midnight, I’ve been worried sick.” Jesse said.
     “It is a long story Uncle Jesse.” Luke said.
     “It had better be considering how late it is. Where are your bikes . . . “ Jesse started to say, then noticed Bo’s different clothes. “What have you two been up to?”
     “Can please go inside to talk about this?” Luke asked.
Jesse noticed, he noticed that both Bo and Luke looked exhausted, and he couldn’t quite place the look he saw in their eyes. Bo and Luke sat on the couch and Jesse sat on the chair facing them.
     “You see it all started shortly after we went to the last house for trick or treating . . .” Luke started to say.
Both Bo and Luke told Jesse the story of what had happened. At first Jesse was skeptical but by the time Bo and Luke were done telling him what had happened he knew it was the truth. After all nobody could make up a story so far gone and the boys had never lied to him before. The discussed it for a while longer and Bo ended up falling asleep on the couch, and Luke was close to falling asleep. Luke followed Jesse to the bedroom, as Jesse carried Bo to bed. Jesse tucked Bo in and then tucked in Luke.
     “Try to get a good night’s sleep, we can talk more in the morning.” Jesse said.
Within minutes Luke was in a sound sleep. Both Bo and Luke slept so soundly that they had no dreams, no nightmares of the terrors they had witnessed that night. There was a few times the following nights that their dreams were haunted by the memory of what happened. When either had a nightmare they both sat awake and talked until they fell back to sleep. Two weeks later the nightmares stopped and the boys got on with their lives, forgetting most everything about that dreadful night, everything except for Noah, whose memory they would forever keep with them.