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Chapter 2

Lydia felt the darkness before she saw it. At first, she was afraid she was dead because all she felt before she even opened her eyes was cold. Not just any cold though, the type of cold that made her wonder why she wasn't frozen, it was cold like dry ice, not like the winter river snow that she wanted. When that filled her lungs, Lydia couldn't keep her eyes from bursting open, and screaming one name, all she wanted was that man to appear. She wanted the cold that was her Beetlejuice's arms, but all she found was darkness. A cold darkness that made her question if this was some sort of hell. That was why his name left her lips repeatedly. Lydia knew what this darkness was. She knew it to be the same darkness Beetlejuice had suffered in after they were married. She couldn't stop thinking of him, standing in this same darkness, alone, because of her. Maybe that was why she was here now, so she could know his pain. Lydia couldn't be sure, but circling the darkness she continued to scream his name.

"Beetlejuice!" screamed Lydia wanting him to appear, but just like before when she was in trouble, he was nowhere to be found and circling the darkness again, Lydia felt fear again that that man might appear again to strike her down.

"Is this my punishment for leaving him in the dark so long?" thought Lydia remembering that time before they fell in love when she had been so scared of him, now she felt nothing, but silly for that. Then she was too afraid to let him out; was this the hell she had subjected him to? Guilt ached in her heart as she thought of that time in their life. Lydia knew she couldn't change the past, but looking around her that did not change that guilt. It was that guilt that made her realize that only one thing was missing from this darkness. There was no window, Beetlejuice had had a window, but looking for it now, Lydia found nothing. This was different. This was complete darkness and that is what scared her most of all. That fear made her run, run across into the nothingness, and then suddenly the window did appear. So suddenly that Lydia nearly collided with it.

"Beetlejuice?" breathed Lydia her voice softer now as she peered into the thin glass hoping to see him, but instead she saw nothing. But there was nothing there even as Lydia ran through the darkness that was all she found. That was when she appeared, the woman in white, and that was when their voices sounded above her too. The first only reassured her that it might all be alright. The second is what brought tears to her eyes. The first voice was Juno's, the second Beetlejuice, and they were speaking of her. But not just her. They also spoke of the man that did this to her. The one Beetlejuice had promised as she slipped into darkness that he would destroy for her.

Juno and Beetlejuice were in a hospital room. They weren't concerned with each other in that moment, their eyes were on the center of the room; on Lydia. They came to stand on each side of her only Beetlejuice daring to reach out to touch her. As he did a thought ran through him. He always knew someday Lydia would die and that then they could be together in death, but looking at her he sighed. Now, was not the time, and this was not the way. She would not die by the hands of another and that was when he looked at his Lydia closer, his anger there as he remembered that someone had tried to hurt her, and put her where she was now. She lay motionless on the bed, automatically Beetlejuice thought it wrong that everything around her was white, the black of her hair standing out against it all. For a moment, he was reminded of that girl he'd met, the one who made the deal with him to save the Matelands, his fragile Lydia. Looking at her then Beetlejuice realized that she still was that girl; he had forgotten that over the years.

"Lyds," whispered Beetlejuice tenderly allowing himself to move her hair out of her eyes as he leaned down to kiss the pale skin of her forehead.

His forehead connected with hers afterwards and it remained that way. All was silent as Juno allowed him his moment with his wife, if was a beautiful moment; it was like he was trying to send his thought into her mind. When he rose again, Beetlejuice looked only a Juno his eyes relaying the same question he had been asking since she arrived. He wanted to know who. Who had done this to Lydia? And he wasn't going to let her leave without answering him. It was a question Lydia heard this time from the darkness.

"Tell me what you know, Juno. Who is this guy and why did he come after her?" snapped Beetlejuice his voice more serious then Juno had ever heard it. In fact, seeing him like this stopped Juno short. She had known him so long, but not once had she seen him so protective, so sincere, but most of all so scared. For though he tried to hide it, Juno saw it, and looking at him she finally realized just how much he had changed.

"You don't want to know. Just be assured that when the time comes I will see to it that you and Lydia stay together. There is nothing else you can do. He is worse then even you," said Juno in response sighing finding she couldn't look at Beetlejuice as that burned bloody face entered her mind. Freddy Kruger was the most feared ghost she had ever encountered.

Juno hated having to deal with the victims of Freddy Kruger. They brought her such sadness because they could never truly rest in peace because of what that man put them through. Looking at Lydia, she hated seeing her become one of them. She hoped she had the strength to maybe survive even half his torture. And then she looked at Beetlejuice. Once, she had thought him as bad as Kruger; looking at him only now did she see how wrong she had been. Beetlejuice had never been that bad, that evil; not when compared to that burned monster that chased innocence in their dreams.

"For once since I've known you, Beetlejuice, please. Listen to me, you can't go up against Freddy Kruger, he is worse then any ghost I've ever seen. No one can beat him…none are powerful enough not even you. Beetlejuice, let this happen with the reassurance that you will not lose Lydia to death as many others have," exclaimed Juno seeing that her words were useless even as she spoke. Beetlejuice had always thought himself invincible and when it came to his wife she had no doubt he would seek to prove that. She could see that he didn't understand. He didn't know the evil he was up against and looking at him, she knew he would learn only through trial and error. Beetlejuice would try to save his wife or try until she was a ghost at his side. In a way, Juno understood it, she knew now what Lydia meant to him, and looking at the poor girl Juno frowned. Part of her, actually hoped he could destroy Freddy once and for all, but looking at him again, she knew that was not going to happen. This was only the beginning of something very bad. Fred Kruger had attacked his wife and for her, Beetlejuice would fight, and closing her eyes Juno knew what was coming.

"This will be worse then any living war," whispered Juno hoping the words spoken out loud would show Beetlejuice just what this was.

"Who?" said Beetlejuice one final time before he took Lydia's hand and as they sat around her Juno started to tell him.

"Why are you here?" asked Lydia her eyes on the woman in white as Juno began her story only receiving silence in response.

"He was the bastard son of hundreds, thousands maybe of rapists and murderers. The fact that his mother was a nun could not redeem him because he became a child murderer himself. His name was Freddy Kruger and when he was alive the police couldn't touch him, and now that he's dead neither can I. The parents of the children he killed took revenge. They burned him alive because they thought that was the only way to bring an end to the reign of terror. But they only made him more powerful. As a ghost, he was worse then when he lived," whispered Juno her eyes downcast as she folded her aged hands her voice cracking. Juno didn't want to go forward. She didn't want to speak another word of him, but she knew as the silence drew out that Beetlejuice would make her. He had to know, and she knew that he did have a right to know.

"He was a monster in life and in death he became worse then a monster. He is the devil," whispered Juno looking at Beetlejuice imploring him to understand.

"He's just a ghost, Junes. I've destroyed many like him before and I can do it again. Just tell me where to find him," said Beetlejuice his voice that narcissistic lisp of his that made Lydia smile within the darkness. That tone was reassuring to her in the darkness. She knew her ghost with the most would save her, protect her; that he would destroy Freddy. But then Juno's voice cut through making her stomach churn with fear again.

"No, Juice, Freddy Kruger is not just a ghost. He is a monster, he was when he was alive, and when he died he only became one more so. After he died, Freddy went after the children in their dreams, he's killed so many, and though many have tried he won't stay dead. Freddy Kruger always comes back, you can't beat him," screamed Juno moving towards him now. In that moment, she pointed at Lydia, and shaking her head for the first time Beetlejuice saw the old ghost cry.

"It is over. He has signed her death certificate. Freddy has his eyes set on her being his next victim and she has no chance of survival. If Freddy doesn't kill Lydia, Beetlejuice, Lydia will. Like all his victims eventually do, she'll give up, and give herself to him. She'll stop being about to sleep without him being there, she'll stop sleeping altogether until she sleeps without knowing it. And you can do nothing. You just have to let it happen, Juice," said Juno hating the words as they left her lips. Lydia heard every word she said and looking at the woman in white, she felt her heart drop when she only stared back. It was like she was confirming everything Juno had just said. It brought tears to her eyes. The woman didn't say anything, she just kept looking at her, and Lydia found that alone made her angry. Why wasn't she saying anything? Why was she here?

"Say something? Is all that true? Is he going to kill me? Do I even stand a chance or should even bother opening my eyes? Tell me…tell me" screamed Lydia more tears coming. These tears were angry and sad and so many things. The woman still said nothing choosing to look at her with a blank stare that confounded her. Until suddenly the woman touched her arm. It was her silent answer.

The woman in white nodded, saying yes, Lydia was going to die at the hands of Freddy Kruger.

"Why me? Why does he want me?" exclaimed Lydia next the tears streaming like rain down her face, but it was with that nod that the woman started to fade away until she was gone, and Lydia found herself alone.

"Beetlejuice!" screamed Lydia in that moment falling over onto her knees.

"Beetlejuice," exclaimed Lydia again and again trying endlessly to leave the darkness to return to him. All as Beetlejuice was screaming at the top of his lungs at Juno.

"I will not lose her, Juno. She has been mine since the moment I laid eyes on her and he can't have her. I will protect her until she is a ghost by my side and then I will protect her more. I love her, Junes, I have to try because I love her," exclaimed Beetlejuice looking into the eyes of the old ghost wanting her to only understand. And Juno did. But that didn't give her the peace of mind that any of this would end well. There was no way it could. That is why, Juno only stood there in front of him understanding even as she promised herself she would remain neutral. Juno only stood there the smoke forming around her as she shook her head.

"Good luck, Juice," said Juno as she disappeared until suddenly Beetlejuice stood there alone. They both stood alone in silence until suddenly sitting on the bed, Beetlejuice touched her face, and Lydia almost felt it. He kissed her fingers and looking at her he silently waited. She would wake up and he would be here when she did. He would not leave her again. No one could make him this time.

"It's all going to be alright, Lyds. I'm right here and I'll always be right here. I'll protect you from Freddy and every other ghost that ever comes around to hurt you. You are my girl and I love you," said Beetlejuice gently kissing her hand again. His kisses continued then as he kissed her cheek then her temple, then her foreheads again. Finally, he ended at her lips, his eyes looking into her closed ones silently begging them to open.

"I love you too," whispered Lydia from in the darkness the tears fresh on her face. She would still scream for him, that one name, the name of her husband, the man she loved. Beetlejuice. But just like before he didn't come.