Jaime swallowed, closing her eyes before turning and opening the door, saying perfectly calm.

"Yes Mom.."

"You wanna tell me what you and that Duke boy were talking about so adamently?"

Jaime shook her head a little, shrugging.

"Nothin' much....just seein' what he remembered before he wound up there..."

"Oh is that so?" asked her mother not believing her for a second.

"Yes..."

Jaime replied, swallowing lightly.

She shook her head. "You don't seem to understand what could happen if we let your secret out Jaime...people could use you...exploit you...hurt you"

Jaime swallowed backing away from the door, holding her scarred wrists.

"No...No Mom please...please don't put me down there again..."

"You leave me no choice Jaime."

Jaime shook her head more, starting to cry a little, falling over the chair that was sat by her desk and landing on the floor.

"No Mom...No..."

"Go on with ya...you know what to do."

Jaime sobbed, shaking her head.

"Mom I have to help Luke....I have to...please Mom..."

She frowned. "And if you get caught...what then?!"

Jaime swallowed, thinking maybe she had got through to her mother...although she had a horrible feeling she might just make things worse.

"I...I won't..."

Her mother shook her head. "I don't like it."

Jaime continued to sob as her mother kept coming towards her.

"No...Mom please don't put me down there again!"

"I've had enough of this." Her mother grabbed her by the arm and dragged her down stairs , glad that their guest was sleeping again. "Now you get in there and I don't wanna hear a peep out of you. I'm running into town and seeing if anyone is asking questions about Luke Duke.... meanwhile you stay in here..where you're safe." With that she locked Jaime in the dark room and left.

Jaime huddled into a corner of the dark room, thankful at least that her mother had not chained her to the wall again. She sobbed softly as she rocked back and forth, arms wrapped round her knees, hugging them to her chest.

Luke had been sleeping restlessly when he woke up to utter quiet. "Hello? Jaime? Where is everyone?"

Jaime didn't answer, afraid. She didn't know if her mother was back or not, she didn't even know if her mother was there...but she didn't want to risk it. She knew what happened when she was bad in the dark room...

Luke was having one of his famous gut feelings. it wasnt about Bo this time though. Something was wrong. Carefully he pushed himself up and slowly moved therough the house. "Hello? Jaime?"

Jaime shuddered as she sensed what Luke was thinking, knew he was trying to find her. She tried to contain the sobs that were trying to escape her throat...she hated the dark and she hated small spaces ever since her mother had locked her here once her power had developed.

Luke heard a small noise coming from what sounded like beneath the stairs. "Jaime?!"Running his hand along the wall he discovered what looked like a hidden door under the staircase. opening it, he called out "Jaime?!"

Jaime whimpered quietly as Luke opened the door, praying he wouldn't come in and find her...she didn't know what would happen if Luke did...

"Jaime?!" he called hearing the whimper. "Jaime are you..." he swallowed as he found her huddled in a corner, in front of a wall with chains attached. He swallowed and took the girl in his arms, asking no questions, just getting her as far away from the darkness as he could.

Jaime sobbed as Luke took her into his arms, huddling into him fearfully.