The Boar’s Nest wasn’t very crowded, being a Tuesday night, though this night would be a night that would forever change the lives of all the Dukes. Bo and Luke sat at a table, talking and joking around, both excited about the up coming race that weekend. Their cousin Daisy was waiting on the tables. A man sitting at one of the tables in the back sat watching Daisy with lustful eyes. His name was Artemis Cyrier and he was new to Hazzard County, it was his first time actually going to the Boar’s Nest. As he continued to watch Daisy he became determined to have her as his own. Daisy walked over to Artemis’s table, bringing him the beer he had ordered, as she set it down he grabbed a hold of her wrist.
     “Get your hands off of me.” Daisy said in a demanding voice.
     “I don’t think so darling.” Artemis said.
Bo and Luke took immediate notice and approached the table.
     “The little lady told you to let go.” Luke said.
     “Take a hike, this don’t concern you.” Artemis said coldly.
     “I believe that it does since that there’s our cousin you’re harassing.” Bo said.
Daisy continued to try to struggle free from Artemis’s hold, though to no avail. Artemis stood up and then roughly shoved Daisy to the ground. Luke’s eyes darkened with anger and he lashed out, punching Artemis solidly in the jaw. Bo bent down to check on Daisy, he knew that his older cousin was in control of the fight and would no doubt win.
     “You okay?” Bo asked, as he helped her to her feet.
     “Yeah I’m fine.” Daisy said, leaning against her younger cousin. “Just a little shaken up.”
Bo just kept a protective arm around her shoulders as he watched Luke fighting with stranger. Artemis found that he had originally underestimated his young opponent, finding himself greatly outmatched. Luke, who normally an excellent fighter, always put more into his fights against people like Artemis who harassed any of his family. Artemis only ever managed to land a couple punches, Luke maintain the upper hand in the fight the whole time. Artemis charged blindly towards Luke, who easily grabbed the older man and flung him over his shoulder, crashing onto a nearby table. Artemis scrambled to his feet took one last look at Luke and his cousins then ran out of the Boar’s Nest.
     “Way to go cousin, you sure showed him.” Bo said walking over and giving Luke a pat on a back. “Though you must be slowing down with old age he did get a couple of punches in on ya.”
     “Not like you were much help.” Luke said jokingly.
     “You seemed to be doin’ fine, no sense in doin’ any work you don’t have to.”
Daisy walked over and stood between her two cousins, putting an arm around each of them.
     “Well why I don’t I buy you “knights on white horses” who so bravely came to my rescue, a beer.” Daisy said, joking around with her cousins.
     “That’s downright kind of you little lady.” Bo said.
The three of them breaking into laughter. None were aware that this barroom brawl would not have such an easy end to it.
     About an hour later Bo and Luke left the Boar’s Nest and walked over to their car, General Lee. They were both still joking and laughing, with no idea of the danger that was lurking in the shadows of the night. They slid in through the windows of their car, and Bo was just about to start the car, when a strong arm grabbed him from behind.
     “Now just hold on there a minute blondie.” Artemis said, and pressed the muzzle of a gun against Bo’s temple.
Luke turned slightly in his seat, so he could see Artemis. “Let him go.”
     “You ain’t the one giving the demands here boy I am.” Artemis said.
Bo just sat calmly, after all it wasn’t the first time there had been a deranged gun man in the backseat of the car, and he held all faith that Luke would figure a way out of this mess just like all the times before.
     “This is between us, why don’t you let him go and while step out of the car and finish the fight we started.” Luke said.
     “I don’t think so.” Artemis said. “Now start the car, we are gonna take us a little drive over to my place.”
     “Sorry don’t know where that is guess I can’t drive ya there.” Bo said.
     “Well I tell you ya how to get there and you LISTEN.” Artemis said.
     “You ain’t gonna get a way with this. You got no call . . . “ Bo started to say, as usual tending to mouth back to the person holding the gun, but his sentence was cut short when the arm around his neck tightened.
Luke saw Bo flinch causing his own muscles to tighten wanting to attack Artemis. Artemis noticed, and looked at Luke. “None of that boy, I could pull this trigger before you could even move an inch.”
Luke glared at Artemis, though said nothing. Bo began to worry, this didn’t seem like one of their normal “tight” spots, and he glanced over at Luke, his dark blues questioning. Luke could read the question in Bo’s eyes as clear as though he had spoken it and Bo could see the answer ‘I don’t know.’
     “Now drive blondie, don’t try no tricks or we’ll see how far you splatter. You know at this range I wouldn’t miss.” Artemis said.
Bo turned the key and the powerful engine roared to life, the tires spewing gravel as they sped away.
     Three days past and the state police were searching, along with the Hazzard County sheriff’s department for Bo and Luke’s whereabouts. Daisy told them about the man Luke had fought with at the Boar’s Nest, and they all figured he had something to do with their disappearance. It seemed as though Bo and Luke had both vanished from the face of the planet, Artemis cabin was hidden deep within the Hazzard swamps a place nearly impossible to find. Jesse and Daisy tried to keep their spirits up, but it seemed that it would be less likely, as time past, that they would ever find the boys alive. The only trace that had ever been found, was the General Lee, that Cooter had found abandoned on one of Hazzard’s many back roads.
    Luke glanced over at his younger cousin, who seemed to be sleeping, at lest for the moment, there had been very little sleep for either of them the past three days. Luke knew that all attempts to escape were in vain, and they had given up even trying to think of an escape plan as they couldn’t even manage an unsuccessful attempt, as the chains were unbreakable. The lack of sleep, as well lack of food and water, had taken its toll on both Bo and Luke, psychically as well as emotionally. They were shackled to the wall, on opposite sides of the room, both gratefully they had not been separated. Luke sat watching Bo’s sleep, thinking it was best that at least one of them stayed awake in case their captor returned. Even though he could feel his mind drifting towards sleep, his body longing for rest he forced himself to stay awake. He saw Bo’s body began to tremble and could hear his younger cousin, making soft-frightened sounds, as his sleep became haunted by a nightmare.
    “Bo wake up.” Luke said, wishing he could go over to his younger cousin.
Bo still remained asleep, his mind trapped in a horrifying dream.
     “Wake up, Bo.” Luke said, speaking firmly this time.
This time Bo snapped awake and he looked across the room at Luke. Luke could clearly see the fear in Bo’s eyes.
     “You okay?” Luke asked, his voice filled with concern.
     “Yeah . . . just a bad dream is all.” Bo said.
     “Want to talk about it?” Luke asked.
Bo shook his head. “No, I would just rather forget about it.”
Luke nodded understandingly. Bo took a deep breath and slowly released it as he tried to clear the dream from his thoughts.
     “Do you think that we are ever going to get out of here?” Bo asked.
     “I don’t know cousin, I hope so.” Luke said.
     “I miss Uncle Jesse and Daisy.” Bo said.
     “So do I.” Luke said.
     “At least we got each other. I don’t know what I’d do without you Luke.” Bo said.
Luke wasn’t sure of what to say he was never as good as opening his emotions up as Bo was.
     “What if we don’t get out of this mess?” Bo asked, his voice sounding like that of a scared child.
     “We will, everything will be okay, I promise.” Luke said. ‘I promise I won’t allow anything to happen to you, I promise to always protect you.’ He added in thought, words he felt he could never actually say to Bo.
     Artemis, walked into the room, an evil glimmer shone in his eyes and an evil smile curled on his lips
     “You boys ready to have some more fun?” Artemis asked.
     “Go to hell.” Luke said.
     “That’s not a very nice thing to say, Luke.” Artemis said, thinking of how much harder it was to break the older boy.
     “Just please let us go.” Bo said in a soft voice.
     “The game is not over, Bo, I can’t allow you to go anywhere.” Artemis said, walking over to stand in front of Bo.
     “You won’t get away with this.” Luke threatened.
     “Boy, I already have.” Artemis said, and without warning struck Bo across the face.
     “Leave him alone.” Luke said, wishing he could get his hands free to teach Artemis a lesson that he would never forget.
Artemis merely smiled, and grasped Bo by the chin and forced the young boy to look him in the eye.
     “You are afraid, aren’t you?” Artemis asked.
Bo knew he couldn’t hide his fear, he couldn’t even stop his body from trembling. “Yes.”
     “Do you fear death?” Artemis asked.
     “Yes.” Bo replied, in a small frightened voice.
     “Leave him alone, get away from my cousin.” Luke said demandingly.
Artemis stepped away from Bo and walked over to Luke.
     “You aren’t in any position to be making demands.” Artemis said.
Luke just glared coldly at him. “You are a coward. Do you think beating up those chained to a wall makes you a big man?”
Luke knew that he shouldn’t be saying anything to anger Artemis, that not only might Artemis beat him for it he would also beat Bo, though he was too far beyond angry to think clearly.
     “Watch your mouth boy.” Artemis said angrily.
     “Why, can’t handle the truth?”
     “Shut up.” Artemis said and struck Luke across the face, hard enough to form an instant bruise.
     “Why don’t you undo these chains and fight me fair, or are too big of a coward? I took you down once before and you know I could do it again.”
     “I told you to shut up.” Artemis said and clamped his hand tightly around Luke’s throat. “I am not actually crazy enough to go up against you again in a fair fight.”
Luke struggled to breathe, and the tight hand restricted his breathing. Bo only watched silently, feeling too afraid to voice his objection, wishing that he were braver, like Luke. Luke could feel darkness trying to over take him and he fought to stay awake, he knew that he had allowed his anger to go too far and now not even his Marine training could save him. Artemis let go of Luke’s neck and turned to look at Bo, he smiled wickedly at the young boy.
     “Are you ready to watch your cousin die?” Artemis asked.
     “No . . . please no.” Bo said, his voice was soft, not even above a whisper.
Artemis turned his attention back to Luke, striking him in jaw, twice, with his balled up fist. Luke bit his lower lips refusing to cry out in pain.
     “Are you afraid to die?” Artemis asked Luke.
Luke just looked at Artemis with unwavering eyes, he was afraid but didn’t allow his fear to show, there was only one reason he was afraid of death, when he was gone he couldn’t protect Bo. Artemis punched Luke for nearly five minutes, in jaw, along the side of his and down along his chest. Luke gave into the pain and screamed, after which Artemis continued to use Luke as a punching bag for another five minutes, while Bo could do nothing but watch. Luke raised his head weakly and looked over at Bo, he could see Bo’s fear in his dark blue eyes, which watered with tears.
     “It’ll be okay Bo.” Luke mouthed.
Artemis removed a hunting knife from his belt, and pressed it against Luke’s throat, drawing a small trickle of blood. Artemis traced the tip of the knife down along Luke’s chest, and a short distance down his chest. Without another single word being said he plunged the knife into Luke’s chest, slicing one his lungs, just narrowly missing his heart. Luke’s face paled and his mouth dropped open in a soundless, wounded gasp, his body trembled and his eyes shone in pain.
     “NO! LUKE!” Bo screamed loudly, the sight before his eyes was almost too much for him to handle.
Artemis twisted the knife, and Luke heard Bo scream again, it was the last thing he heard before his world went black.
     Bo just stared at Luke’s dead body, the sight of the blood making him feel sick to his stomach. He tried to block what he had just seen from his mind but the images refused to leave him. He opened his mouth wanting to curse the man who had just taken his older cousin’s life but could only manage a choked sob, his voice seemed locked in his throat. Artemis stepped towards Bo, thinking it also time to end his life, when there was a loud banging on the door.
     “STATE POLICE!” A loud voice yelled.
Artemis cursed under his breath and fled through the window, avoiding capture.
     Three state police troopers came into the room with Rosco following close behind. One of the troopers checked out Luke’s  “condition” while the one, who was in obvious command walked over to Bo.
     “Alright son, where’d he go?”
Bo didn’t respond, his eyes still transfixed in Luke’s direction.
     “I asked you a question boy. Where did he go?”
     “Oh just leave him be.” Rosco said.
The man turned and stared at Rosco. “He is the only living witness, he has to answer my question.”
     “Oh tidily. I don’t think he feels too much like talk not after seeing that.” Rosco said motioning over to where Luke was, he walked over and knelt down next to Bo.
     “Well he had better answer my question.”
     “Bo is the VICTIM not the criminal.” Rosco said, as he began to untie the chains that held Bo captive.
     Luke’s body was taken to the morgue, and Bo was taken to the hospital. The state police left Bo in Rosco’s custody, while they searched for Artemis, a search that would prove unsuccessful. Rosco called the Duke’s while the doctor tended to Bo. Jesse was the one to answer the phone.
     “Duke residence, Jesse speaking.”
     “Jesse, its Rosco.”
     “Rosco, have you found my boys yet?” Jesse asked, the mere mention of Bo and Luke got Daisy’s attention and she walked over to stand in the door, watching her uncle talk on the phone.
     “We found ‘em.” Rosco said.
     “That’s great.” Jesse said, tears of relief watered his eyes, though he wondered why Rosco sounded so upset. “Are they okay?”
     “I . . . I can’t tell you over the phone, why don’t you and daisy come on down the Tri-County hospital.” Rosco said, trying to keep his voice from trembling, he didn’t know how to tell them that Luke was dead.
     “We’ll be right there.” Jesse said and hung up the phone.
     “Are Bo and Luke okay?” Daisy asked.
     “He didn’t say.” Jesse said.
They both feared the worse, knowing there could be only reason Rosco wouldn’t tell how the boys were over the phone it meant bad news.
     Jesse and Daisy arrived at the hospital twenty minutes later, meeting Rosco in the nearly deserted waiting room, Rosco was the only one in there, waiting for the two Dukes.
     “Are Bo and Luke okay?” Jesse asked.
     “I think it’d be if you both sat down.” Rosco said, his sad expression making him appear years older then he actually was.
Daisy grabbed a hold of her uncle’s hand, fearing the worst, as they both sat down.
     “I don’t rightly know how to tell you this . . .” Rosco said his voice trailing off.
     “Just tell us Rosco.” Jesse said.
     “We didn’t exactly find them in time.” Rosco said.
     “NO!” Daisy screamed burying her head in Jesse’s shoulder.
Jesse held her in a comforting hug, as his own tears he had been trying so hard to hold back began to streak his cheeks.
     “Are they both . . . dead?” Jesse asked, finding it to be one of the hardest questions he had ever asked in his life.
     “We got there before he killed Bo . . . he had just killed Luke.” Rosco said.
Jesse took a deep shuddery breath and slowly released it. “Is Bo okay?”
     “The doc hasn’t said nothin’ yet . . .though he didn’t seem to be critically injured.
     “I want to see Bo.” Daisy said lifting her head.
     “You can’t right now, we have to wait for the doctor.” Jesse said.
     A few minutes later, a doctor walked over to the Dukes and Rosco, his hair was just as white as his jacket.
     “I assume that you are the Dukes?”
     “Yes.” Jesse said.
     “I am Dr. Marque.”
     “How is my boy?”
     “I am afraid I have some bad news. While all injures that I can treat will all heal, I am afraid there has been some psychological damage that may be permanent.” Dr. Marque said.
     “What do you mean?” Jesse asked.
     “Everything that was done to him, everything that he had witnessed has caused him to pull into a catatonic state.” Dr. Marque said.
     “You mean like watching that sicko kill Luke.” Rosco mumbled.
Dr. Marque nodded, in agreement.
     “Can we go see him? Perhaps if he sees us he will talk.” Jesse said.
     “It is worth a try.” Dr. Marque said.
     Jesse and Daisy entered the room and it pained their hearts to see how Bo looked, his skin was pale and his eyes were wide and haunted. Jesse walked over and placed his hand on Bo’s.
     “Bo, can you hear me, it’s your Uncle Jesse.”
Bo made no response. Both Jesse and Daisy spent the next hour trying to get Bo to talk, to no avail. Dr. Marque stepped into the room.
     “You may have to place him where he can get the help he needs.” Dr. Marque said.
     “I  can’t do that.” Jesse said.
     “It may be the only way to help him.” Dr. Marque said.
Jesse nodded he knew the doctor was right. “If after Luke’s funeral he ain’t better . . . then we can discussing place Bo somewhere.”
     “No, Uncle Jesse you can’t do that.” Daisy cried, feeling if that was done it would be as though she had lost both of her cousins.
     “Daisy, we have to think of what is best for Bo.” Jesse said.
Daisy turned back to look at her younger cousin, holding his hand between her own. “Please say something Bo, just say anything . . . please.” Daisy begged, not bothering to hide her tears.
Though her plea remained unanswered as Bo lay there just as quiet as he had been since back in the cabin.
     The day of Luke’s funeral was a cold dismal day, everyone in Hazzard County showed up for it, even Boss Hogg. They all offered their sympathies and condolences to the Dukes, and said that Bo was in all their prayers. Bo’s condition hadn’t changed at all, he hadn’t even made the slightest sound. Jesse had to take Bo to the funeral in a wheelchair, as his young nephew wouldn’t even walk on his own. The small funeral home was filled with many flowers, seeming as though the Hazzard flower shop had been bought out. Luke’s casket was simple and plain, being the best Jesse could afford, Lulu had offered to buy a better one but Jesse refused to allow her to. It was an open casket service, which both daisy and Jesse found to be difficult as that way they had to actually admit it was really Luke’s funeral. By the time, the graveside services started, it was pouring rain, a rain that would last for several days.
     Only a few hours after Luke’s funeral Bo started to show some signs of improvement. He moved around on his own, though he never spoke a single word to anyone. He stood in the room he had always shared with his older cousin, looking around at everything, though not really seeming to see things for how they were, his mind having snapped. He stared to tear the pictures off the wall, knocking them haphazardly to the floor, the frames shattering. Jesse and Daisy came into the room, standing in the doorway.
     “Bo, what are you doing?” Jesse asked.
Bo spun around to face his uncle, his dark blue eyes appearing to be even darker, filled with a cold rage unlike any they had ever seen in Bo’s eyes before.
     “Just calm down son, I know that you upset, this ain’t the way to handle things.” Jesse said.
     “Don’t go telling me how to handle thing. I’ll do whatever I damn well please.” Bo said, speaking for the first time. “So just leave me alone.”
     “C’mon sugar just settle down.” Daisy said, taking a couple steps towards Bo, unnerved by the look in his eye.
     “I said leave me alone.” Bo said, ripping one of the few remaining pictures off the wall, and threw it across the room, just narrowly missing Daisy, shattering against the wall beside the door.
     “C’mon on Daisy . . . let’s just leave Bo alone for a bit.” Jesse said.
Daisy nodded reluctantly and followed her uncle from the room. Jesse closed the door and they could still hear Bo continue in his grief stricken rage to trash the room.
     “Uncle Jesse . . . why is Bo acting like that?” Daisy asked.
     “He’s just upset, we just have to give him some time to calm down.” Jesse said.
     “I don’t like seeing him like that . . . it scares me.” Daisy admitted.
     “Me to, but we just have to give Bo some time to deal with his emotions in his own way . . . remember he has been through a lot.” Jesse said.
Daisy nodded, glancing back at the closed bedroom door. ‘I just hope he can deal with this.’
     Bo trashed the room in only a few minutes times, when he was finished he dropped to his knees in the center of the room. His whole body was trembling and tears of rage and heartache burned in his eyes, he closed his eyes tightly and fought them back, burying them deep in the recess of his soul. He swayed back and forth the cold rage he felt consuming his mind, body and soul. He allowed the grief stricken rage to overtake him and change him and not for the better, he was unable to deal with everything that he had seen everything that had happened. Watching the cousin he loved like a brother murdered before his eyes, not being able to save him, was too much for him to handle and caused something in his mind to merely snap.
     Over the next couple of days Bo slipped even further into a state of cold rage, filled with anger and hate. He shoved his family further and further away from himself. After only three days he left the farm, without so much as saying a single word, telling nobody where he was going. He ended up in a bad neighborhood in Atlanta. Drowning his grief in the use of illegal drugs, his rage seeming to intensify, he wished to find the man who murdered Luke and do the same thing to him. By the end of the week Bo was no longer the same person, in any way, that he had always been before. His heart was cold, his spirit shattered, revenge was all he thought about, anger and hate his only emotions.
     Darkness shrouded the cemetery, the pale light of the moon provided little light to see by. A crow flew down and landed on top of one of the gravestones, the stone of Luke Duke. The crow let out a loud caw, which broke through the silence of the night. The soft mud began to shift, and the crow cawed again, a hand emerged from the dirt, followed by a second hand. A moment later the head of Luke Duke appeared, and he slowly pulled himself up out of the ground. He lay on the muddy ground for a few moments breathing deeply, his body and clothes covered in mud, his dark hair matted. Again the crow cawed and Luke raised his head, pulled himself up into a sitting position and turned to look at the crow. Luke was fully aware of what had happened when he looked into the crow’s eyes, his spirit had been unable to rest due to the sadness he carried with him, the tragic nature of his death and his feeling that he had failed to protect Bo. Thus the crow had carried his spirit back to the land of living to give him a chance to set the wrongs right, not only for revenge but other wrongs that plagued mankind. Luke got to his feet and the crow flew over to land on his shoulder, he walked toward the edge of the cemetery, his bare feet, sinking slightly in the soft mud, he could feel the cold mud squishing between his toes. He knew that he had to get cleaned up, but he wondered if he could go home, as he thought about if he should go home another fact dawned him he didn’t even know if Bo was still alive.
 Luke turned his head and stared into the crow’s deep black eyes, finding the crow’s eyes were like a window and could show him what he needed to know. An image played out before him just as though he was watching a television. He could see Bo sitting in a small dingy apartment, the sound of traffic and people yelling filled the air, but none of the noise seemed to bothering Bo. Luke noticed Bo’s dark blue eyes looked clouded and he realized that his younger cousin was strung out. Luke watched as Bo took out a needle, and injected the substance into his left arm, which shocked Luke as Bo always had an extreme fear of needles. He could see Bo’s body trembling, even though he was angry with his cousin from taking the drug he could help but feel pity for his younger cousin. Bo closed his eyes and laid down on the dirty old mattress falling into a drug-induced sleep. The scene before his eyes changed and he could see the outside of the building, Chester Flats Apartments, and he knew that it was in Atlanta. Luke blinked his eyes and everything returned to normal, he knew the first place he was going to go after he cleaned up would be to Atlanta, to save Bo.
     Luke walked a short distance, when he heard a flapping noise a short distance to his right, he followed the noise, curiously. To discover that someone had hung their clothes out to dry and had forgotten to bring them in. Luke smiled seeing some clothes were his size, he pulled off a pair of black jeans, and a black, long sleeved, button front cotton shirt, from the line. He continued on through the darkness, until he came upon a cabin, it was one owned by Boss Hogg, so Luke knew it had running water. Luke looked around, finding that there was nobody around, he made his way into the cabin.
 Luke walked through the dark cabin, making his way to the bathroom. He turned on the lights and looked at his reflection in the mirror.
     ‘I look like death warmed over.’ Luke thought to himself. ‘I guess I kinda am though.’
He stepped over to the shower and turned on the water, he found the water temperature didn’t seem to matter much, as it ran over his hand. He took off his muddy clothes and tossed them into the sink, then stepped into the shower, the warm water washing away the mud, that had already dried. After several minutes stepped out of the shower and got dressed, glad that the “new” clothes fit so well. He picked up his old mud caked clothing, figuring it would be best to dispose of them elsewhere, thinking it was best to not allow his presence to be known. He left the cabin, leaving no evidence behind that he had ever been there. Luke walked to the edge of the mud, and wrapped his old clothes around a big rock and threw it into the lake, hoping that they would just merely sink. Luke took a deep breath then almost seemed to vanish into the darkness as he headed towards Atlanta.
     Bo lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, allowing his mind to float away, the drugs he had taken still holding tightly to his mind and body. Though it still didn’t seem enough to Bo, his heart still was heavy with grief, his mind clouded with a cold rage desiring nothing but revenge. Bo didn’t see the crow land on the windowsill of the open window, nor did he notice the figure in black sitting outside the window, on the old fire escape. Luke felt pity for his younger cousin, thinking of how Bo really appeared to be no more then a scared lost child, though he was angry at Bo for how he was handling things, he couldn’t understand how his cousin could fill his body with the toxic waste of drugs.
Luke climbed through the window, and Bo turned to see who was there, unable to see the person in the dark room.
     “Who are you? You had better get the hell out of here.” Bo said, his voice cold, and sounding so different then what Luke had remembered, almost sounding like a completely different person.
Luke didn’t say anything, he instead walked over to the lamp, beside the bed, and turned it on. Bo’s eyes widen with surprise and then seemed to darken over.
     “Get out of here.” Bo said, a cold rage in his voice.
     “Just calm down, Bo.” Luke said.
     “No. I don’t know who you “think” you are but I think you had best leave, NOW!” Bo said.
     “You know who I am.”
Bo shook his head. “This has to be a hallucination.” Bo mumbled.
     “Listen cousin . . .” Luke started to say but Bo cut him off.
     “You ain’t my cousin. My cousin is DEAD . . . I saw him killed with my own eyes.” Bo said, and Luke could hear the pain in Bo’s voice.
     “I can explain, Bo. I know what you saw happen.” Luke said, and put a hand on Bo’s shoulder, wanting to ease his younger cousin’s pain.
Bo pulled away, and scrambled off the bed, to his feet, and stood facing Luke.
     “GET OUT!” Bo yelled. “You ain’t my cousin, Luke is dead, I saw him murdered.”
     “If you would just calm down for two minutes I could explain this to you. Yes, I was killed . . .” Luke said, his voice trailed off as he tried to think of how to explain it to Bo.
     “I don’t want to hear it . . . you ain’t real, you can’t be real.” Bo said, and moved over to his dresser digging out a bag of pills.
     “Drop those.” Luke said demandingly.
Bo ignored Luke acting as though he had never heard his older cousin. Luke practically leapt across the bed, and ripped the bag from Bo’s hands, before he could take any pills, the pills all fell to floor. Luke grabbed Bo by the shoulders and gave him a firm shake.
     “Those ain’t no good for you, all you are doing is destroying yourself by filling your body with that toxic waste.” Luke said.
     “Let go of me.” Bo said, struggling to break free, glancing down at the pills that lay on the floor.
     “Damn it, Bo would you look at yourself, what you have become.” Luke said.
     “Leave me alone you ain’t Luke . . . Luke is dead.” Bo said. “Let me go . . . I have to take those . . . I need them.”
     “NO, you don’t.” Luke said, and roughly shoved Bo down onto the bed, pinning him by the wrists. “I may have been killed, but what you are doing is killing yourself.”
Bo struggled to escape from Luke’s grasp. He was afraid of “whoever” or  “whatever” this was in his apartment. Bo’s eyes were wide and filled with fear as Luke held his wrists tightly.
     “Have you come here to claim revenge . . . for allowing my cousin to die?” Bo asked, in such a frightened voice that it pained Luke’s heart.
     “No, Bo, I came here to save you from certain death if you keep putting all these toxins into your system . . . I am here because my soul couldn’t rest.” Luke said.
Bo didn’t seem to be listening, and Luke could feel Bo trembling, he went to say something further when someone opened the door and stepped into the room.
     “Hey, who are you?”
Luke let go of Bo and approached the person, his crystal ice blue eyes shone with pure anger, he knew this person was nothing more then a low life scum, a drug dealer. Bo sat up on the bed, his knees drawn tightly to his chest and he watched what was happen, with wide eyes.
     “How dare you feed Bo these drugs, filling his system with toxic waste that for sell.” Luke said, his voice low, and edged with anger.
     “Hey, all I am doin is supplying a solution to that kid’s problem.”
Luke narrowed his eyes at the other man. “You don’t even know what his problem is, and that garbage is not the answer all they do is add to problem. You care nothing of anyone’s problems all you want to do is make money.” Luke said.
     “What are you man, some kind of cop?”
Frankie, the drug dealer, drew his gun and aimed it at Luke.
     “That’s not going to do you any good.” Luke said, a small dark smile curling on the edge of his lips.
     “We’ll just see about that.” Frankie said, as he pulled the trigger.
The shot exploded, resounding off the walls, the bullet hitting Luke square in the chest, but Luke still remained standing.
     “Now you went and ruined a perfectly good shirt.” Luke said, poking his finger through the hole in the shirt, he undid the button, reveling the where the bullet had struck, the wound slowly closing itself.
     “WHAT ARE YOU!?” Frankie screamed in fear.
Luke looked up at Frankie his face having taken the “crow” features, his face was sheet white, back vertical lines, ran down the flesh an inch above and below his eyes, with dark circles around both eyes, and there was black horizontal lines, an inch in length from both sides of his mouth, his lips black.
     “I am your worst nightmare.” Luke said.
Frankie didn’t know what kind of creature was standing before him, but he was sure it had to be some kind of trick, he ran at Luke, determined to take him down. Luke performed a flawless spinning backe kick, connecting solidly with Frankie’s chest. Frankie stumbled backwards, the charged again, throwing a punch in Luke’s direction. Luke caught his fist and squeezed it tightly. Frankie grimaced in pain, dropping to his knees as he tried to twist out of Luke’s hold. Luke bent down and picked up the previously dropped pills from the floor.
     “You don’t even take the toxins you sell . . . the death you sell to those like Bo lost souls who need solutions to the problems that plague them.” Luke said. “You know you are killing them and you don’t care.”
     “So what?” Frankie asked.
     “It is time you pay for that, for all the deaths you have caused.” Luke said, and crammed the handful of pills into Frankie’s mouth, clamping his hand tightly over his mouth so he couldn’t spit them out. “To make you pay for hurting my cousin.”
Luke forced Frankie to swallow them and dropped him to the floor, the drugs taking an almost instant effect as they coursed through his blood, causing the older man to overdose.
     Luke stood up, his face returning to normal, and walked over to the bed, where Bo sat with wide frightened eyes, his body trembling, positive that he was going to be the next to die.
     “Bo, look at me.” Luke said.
     “I know you are going to kill me.” Bo said, not looking at his cousin.
     “No I am not cousin, you are the one that has been killing yourself.” Luke said.
Bo shook his head. “It was the only solution . . . I couldn’t find him to get revenge . . .”
Luke grabbed Bo by the arm and roughly pulled him to his feet, he was determined to get through to his cousin one way or another. He pulled Bo to the bathroom, and stood him in front of the mirror, holding him tightly from behind.
     “Look at what you have let yourself become.” Luke said.
Bo stared into the mirror, really looking at his reflection for the first time.
     “You have destroyed yourself.” Luke said.
Bo bit back the tears that burned in his eyes, he still didn’t think this creature was Luke, but a rather a demon in his form come there to make him pay. Luke knew the only way he was gonna get through to Bo was with force. Luke gave Bo a firm shake.
     “Is this what you want to be? Do you want to die?” Luke asked.
     “I . . . I don’t know. I deserve to die . . . I couldn’t save Luke.” Bo said, and Luke felt his heart ache for his young cousin but knew he had to be firm.
     “Do you want to die? Is that why you have been trying so hard to kill yourself?”
Bo could no longer hold back the tears and they began to streak his cheeks. “I don’t know. I really don’t know . . .I am afraid to die . . . afraid that even then I won’t be able to see Luke again.”
     “Who do you think I am?” Luke asked.
     “You can’t be Luke . . . I saw Luke killed . . . I saw him die.” Bo said, his voice choked by the tears.
     “I know that was hard for you, Bo . . . I died knowing I couldn’t protect you when I was gone, I didn’t even know if you were alive when I came back.” Luke said.
Bo suddenly felt like his legs were made out of rubber and felt like would surely collapse, and he would’ve if Luke hadn’t been holding him.
     “I’m sorry . . . I’m sorry.” Bo repeated over and over again.
Luke turned Bo around and pulled him into a comforting brotherly hug, thinking of how when they were children he always did the same thing when Bo had a nightmare. Bo leaned Luke, returning the brotherly hug, allowing his tears to freely flow.
     “Luke . . .”
     “Yeah what is it, Bo?”
     “Thanks cousin . . . thank you for saving me.” Bo said.
     “Anytime, Bo.” Luke said, he closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he had saved his younger cousin from certain death.
     Bo took a step back and looked at Luke.
     “I just don’t understand how you can be here.” Bo said.
     “Why don’t we go back out there and talk about it? Luke said.
Bo nodded and followed Luke out to the bedroom. Bo glanced at Frankie’s body, and Luke noticed Bo’s face pale.
     “Just go sit down, I’ll take care of this.” Luke said.
Bo nodded and walked over and sat down on the bed. Luke picked up Fankie’s body carrying him across one shoulder, he walked over to the closet and shoved his body inside, knowing eventually someone would find him there. Luke walked over and sat down on the bed facing his cousin. Luke noticed that Bo looked pale.
     “You okay?” Luke asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
Bo nodded. “Yeah just in shock I guess.”
Luke nodded in understanding. “It’s kind of an unbelievable story.”
     “After tonight I’ll believe anything . . . but I guess I always have believed anything you said, for the most part.” Bo said.
     “When I died, my soul was not able to rest, not with what had happened. I came back to put things right.” Luke said.
     “So you are alive again, right?”
Luke sighed. “No, Bo, I died, can’t change that fact, death has a way of being final.”
Bo closed his eyes fighting back fresh tears, he hated the thought of Luke actually being dead forever and always.
     “Don’t worry about it, Bo. I mean after all I am here now ain’t I?” Luke asked.
Bo looked at Luke and gave a small smile. “Yeah I guess . . . just don’t like the thought of you being dead.”
     “It’s not that bad really at least I can be here.” Luke said.
Bo nodded. “So you are like invincible then, right?”
     “Yeah.” Luke said.
     “That’s kinda cool.” Bo said, then his smile faded. “I couldn’t stand to watch you die again.”
     “Yeah.” Luke said, then thought to himself, ‘I just have to worry about watching you die . . . if I fail to protect you again.’
     “You are back permanent then?” Bo asked.
     “To be honest I don’t really know.”
     “Oh.” Bo said, the disappointment in his voice obvious.
     “Just don’t worry about it, Bo.” Luke said. “You look tired why don’t you try to get some sleep.”
Bo just nodded and lay down on the bed, and closed his eyes. Luke stood up and covered his younger cousin with a blanket, and sat down on a chair to watch Bo sleep.
     As the night wore on, Bo began to toss and turn, his body becoming entangled in the blankets, his body covered in a cold sweat. Bo snapped awake and sat straight up, his dark blue eyes cloudy as he stared at his older cousin. Luke walked over to the edge of the bed and put a hand on Bo’s shoulder, and could feel him trembling, and he knew his young cousin was suffering the symptoms of withdrawal, he sat down on the bed next to Bo.
     “Just relax, Bo.” Luke said.
Bo shook his head. “No . . . I want one of the pills.”
     “Not a chance.” Luke said.
     “Just one . . . that’s all I need, just one to stop the pain.” Bo said.
     “You don’t need that toxic waste.” Luke said.
     “Yes I do.” Bo insisted.
     “I am not about to allow you to go pollute your body and mind with those drugs any longer.” Luke said.
     “How can you be so cruel? All I want is one to stop the pain.” Bo said, tears swimming in his eyes.
Luke just shook his head, he knew it would be a long night, though he wouldn’t leave Bo alone to suffer through withdrawal alone.
     “Please, Luke . . . please.” Bo begged, collapsing forward against his cousin.
Luke placed a protective arm around Bo’s shoulders and he could feel that Bo was burning up with a fever, and gently laid Bo down on the bed. Luke stood up, and walked towards the bathroom.
     Luke walked over to the tub and turned on the cold faucet, allowing the tub to fill with cold water. As the tub filled he walked back out to the main room of the apartment and picked Bo up off the bed. By this time Bo was quite delirious and didn’t even appear to be at all aware of what was happening. Luke carefully set Bo down in the tub, clothes and all, and stopped the water. Luke knelt beside the tub, and supported Bo’s head with a towel, at the back of the tub, to be sure his head wouldn’t sink below the surface of the water. He took out a second towel and used it to sponge the cold water over Bo’s face and neck. For nearly the next hour Bo mumbled incoherently, his words making no sense. After a while Bo grew silent, and his eyes began to appear to be clearer, his lips trembling.
     “I’m cold.” Bo said.
Luke said nothing, he helped Bo out of the tub, wrapping a large towel around him, then led him back to the other room.
     “Luke?”
     “Yeah what, Bo?”
     “What . . . I mean . . . I don’t really know how to ask this . . . when you killed Frankie you were different, what was with that?”
     “I am a crow.” Luke said.
     “A crow, like the bird?” Bo asked.
     “You see a crow is said to carry the spirit to the land of the dead and if that soul can’t rest, like mine, the crow carries the soul back the land of living. When I am a “crow” I can set the wrongs right.” Luke said.
     “So you aren’t really you?”
     “I am still who I have always been . . . enough questions okay? I don’t really understand this myself.” Luke said.
     “Okay, I don’t really care as long as you are back.” Bo said.
They sat in silence for a while, though it was a comfortable silence, the mere presence of the other seemed to be more then enough to make up for the lack of conversation.

Chapter Two: Return To Hazzard