To put it bluntly, I was scared. I did not mean to stay out so late, first at the library and then later at the cemetery.
I had just wanted to have a little space for once, given the house was so goddamned crowded (not that I was complaining, I just got overwhelmed sometimes).
I had noticed my trail a few minutes ago, and even cutting through various side streets did nothing to lose my follower. Why did I think that leaving my bike at home was a good idea?
Turning a corner, Kira bumped into someone.
"S-Sorry but I really must be-" I trailed off as a hand grabbed my upper arm and I looked up towards the face of a young man.
He smirked and looked round behind me, giving the other young man a nod.
I jolted awake, banging my head on something... metal, perhaps? I let out a whimper finding myself gagged. This was not good. Really really not good.
No one knew where I was- heck I did not even know where I was, tied up (and down) in some kind of small compartment that was loud and vibrated.
Back at home, Adam, Barbara, Skye, Lydia and Beetlejuice were watching a movie and noticed it was late and wondering where I am.
I should have been home hours ago. I know Adam, Barbara, Skye and Lydia are worried Beetlejuice was seething.
"Where could Kira be she should have been home hours ago?" Skye said.
"Maybe she was at the library for a while then the cemetery she needed space cause she was overwhelmed I used to do that" Lydia said.
Beetlejuice looks at her.
"I remember that Kira is only 2-years-old she should have brought her bike and rode it home I hope she is ok" Beetlejuice said.
Only when I felt something run down my cheek, did I realize that I was crying.
Was I ever going to see my family again? The Maitlands? Skye? Lydia? Beetlejuice? I had gained so much since the incident, I did not want to lose it just because of a stupid decision.
It seemed it was too late for regrets though, as the noise stopped followed shortly by the vibration.
Stifling my breathing, I strained my ears to hear something, anything. There! Was that crunching? Shuffling? Some kind of in between. It was impossible to tell however until my compartment opened, revealing the two men from before.
I tried to shuffle away from them but there was no where for me to go, my back just bumping against the back wall.
"Come on, Missy." Troy grabbed me once more by the arm and dragged me out, being none too gentle.
In this situation there was only one thing I could do. Thrash. So thrash I did, though given that my arms and feet were tied up it was more like doing the worm vertically.
Something soft covered my mouth and the world went dark once more.
I cracked my eyes open, finding myself tied down to an operating table, sending me into a fit of panic. I couldn't move, I was still gagged, and at some point during my unconsciousness those- those assholes had changed me into a pale hospital gown.
Scrunching my eyes shut, I counted breaths, trying to calm down.
Noah wheeled a metal trolley towards me, and I began to thrash anew, doing my best to try and get out of those blasted cuffs and off the damn table.
"I reckon we should remove that gag, this job is always so much lovelier when their screams ring true." Noah said, a nasally voice reaching the child's ears as he ripped off the gag.
I yelped, tears prickling my in my eyes as I watched helpless. These men were arranging tools- implements, murder weapons- on the trolley, eventually deciding on what would presumably be the first one of the night.
Noah turned around, some variation of scalpel in hand, his expression twisted into a cruel smile.
In that moment, my life flashed before my eyes. Moving to the country, Adam, Barbara, Skye, Lydia, even him. My eyes widened as I realized that there was a way to survive, and I scrunched my eyes shut and yelled.
"Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice BEETLEJUICE!"
Adam, Barbara, Skye, Lydia and Beetlejuice were very quiet he heard me call his name 3 times.
"Kira's calling me I will bring her back home don't worry" Beetlejuice said.
Troy and Noah snorted
"What was that a cry for? Some new dietary supplement."
"She meant me, Breather."
A gravelly voice rang out in the room, which despite everything caused me to relax. At least I knew what I was getting into with that undead man.
The two would be murderers turned around, suddenly seeing what looked like a walking corpse. Flesh as pale as the moon, dark circles around his eyes, green hair that stood up at odds and ends, a strange tattered black and white striped suit.
The strangest thing of all to these mortal men was the fact that this stranger had gotten into the building as quietly as he did.
Their attention to me forgotten, they turned to the stranger in the room, one lifting up a scalpel, the other a hammer.
"So, Kiddo, we both know that I need something in return here-"
"Still not old enough!"
"What do you mean not old enou-"
If the stranger's already pale skin could, it most definitely would have paled further.
"You're not even a legal adult yet?!"
I glanced at the two men with weapons.
"Can we have this discussion AFTER I'm not tied to a table to be dissected?!"
"Fine! Fine! I'll be back soon, Kira."
Beetlejuice squinted his eyes and grabbed the two men, disappearing with a very over the top flash and a poof of smoke.
Allowing myself to relax slightly, I rolled her eyes. If there was an opportunity, the demon would be extra™ no doubts about it.
After what had felt like hours, but was in all most likely actually just minutes, the demon returned, dusting his hands off. With a single gesture, he freed me and magicked some less revealing clothes onto me.
I slowly sat up, bringing my legs up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. I did not care the demon was there as tears started to flow.
I could have almost DIED. What would have happened to me? Would I have been stuck haunting this cursed place? I shuddered as a sob wracked through me.
I could feel Beetlejuice standing awkwardly to the side, but just ignored him.
"Hey, uh, Kira. Look, I know I was not your first option. I was probably your very last option considering what exactly happened the last time we met. You're my Pal, (despite the whole killing and betraying me thing, granted I kind of had that coming but that's neither here nor there)."
He approached slowly like he was approaching a wild animal, a blanket suddenly in his hand, that when he was close enough he gently wrapped around me.
"I'm glad to see you again Kira, but I had hoped that it would have been under better circumstances."
I lifted my head up, my red, puffy eyes staring at the demon with a tear stained face. Both of them were still for a moment before the child buried herself into Beetlejuice's chest, clinging to him tightly and continuing to cry there.
The demon froze in shock before tentatively returning the gesture, a sad but fond smile gracing his face.
Eventually, I spoke up, my voice barely a whisper and sounding more like it came from somebody several years younger than myself.
"Can we please leave? I- I don't want to be here. I hope Skye won't ground me for being out late"
He ruffled my hair.
"Sure thing, Kira! she won't ground you she's just worried as is Lydia and Adam and Barbara Oh! let's go home it's way past your bedtime!"
Keeping me in his arms, he teleported the both of us far far away from that cursed building.
When the whooshing noise stopped we were back home. Adam, Barbara, Skye and Lydia ran over and hugged me I just stayed in his arms asleep. Adam, Barbara, Skye and Lydia noticed and smiled.
"We are glad she's back home safe" Barbara said.
"Yeah she shouldn't have been out late I know she was at the library but the cemetery we don't know why she was there" Adam said.
Skye looks at them.
"I guess that's her favorite place to be I won't ground her but she should have been home earlier" Skye said.
"Skye you know how she is when she's in a world of her own" Lydia said.
Beetlejuice teleports us to my room, magics my pajamas, and lays me under the covers. He sits next to me. I open my eyes and look at him smiling.
"Thank you for rescuing me I was scared cause I was trying to get away from my follower but somehow they both found me I told them I had to leave but they grabbed me and took me to that building I think they were trying to dissect me the only thing I could do was call your name 3 times" I said.
"Your welcome scarecrow we were worried about you and didn't know where you were but, I'm glad you called me cause none of us want to loose you" Beetlejuice said.
We both fall asleep him on top of the covers Adam, Barbara, Skye and Lydia teleport to their rooms, get ready for bed and fall asleep. We all sleep through the night.