Chapter 4
Meanwhile, among the leafless trees of the Western Woods, a ghost, a girl and a man were exploring. Dr. Notrub had his psychokinetic energy reader out and he was scanning the area. "Any trace, Dr. Notrub?" asked Lydia. "No trace of anything. If there even is something from the Neitherworld in these woods, its probably not a ghost," said Dr. Notrub.
"Just keep a look out, guys. If this skeletal creature is under Dr. Grim's control, then we might have to fight. We must be ready to use the equipment," said Beetlejuice as he searched through bushes. "If I were some creature from the Neitherworld, this place would definitely be a good place to hide out," said Dr. Notrub.
"Do you think that this creature appearing might not be a Neitherworld creature? Could it be the ghost that's reputed to haunt these woods?" asked Lydia. "I'm afraid not, Lydia. First of all, I said that it is not a ghost. Secondly, the ghost is supposed to be mounted on horseback and he lacks a head. The sightings that we've read about are nothing like that. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if that ghost was wandering around here too. Who knows what kind of psychic disturbance Dr. Grim drummed up when he disrupted the barrier between the worlds? Theoretical examples would be awakening of spirits or disruptions between other worlds," stated Dr. Notrub. "You believe in a lot of unnatural things, don't you doc?" asked Beetlejuice. "Well, I am standing in these woods with a ghost so I find it easy to believe that even the most impossible things can be possible," replied Dr. Notrub.
"Wait a minute. Quiet, guys," whispered Lydia. "What is it, babes?" asked Beetlejuice. "I heard something from over there," said Lydia pointing toward a row of trees. Beetlejuice and Dr. Notrub gazed at the trees.
At first they thought that Lydia was seeing things. But then they saw something move. Something skeletal and impossibly thin moved among the trees. It was shrouded in the darkness of the trees so they couldn't get a good look at it. The three of them turned around in a huddle.
"That must be it. Whatever it is," said Lydia. "Let's sneak up on it. I don't think it knows we've seen it. We must move steadily and stealthily. Got that, Beetlejuice?" asked Dr. Notrub.
But Beetlejuice was gone. They turned around and saw Beetlejuice pursuing the mysterious figure. The creature was running away from the ghost. "No, Beetlejuice!" called Dr. Notrub. Lydia sighed. "Sometimes, he is impossible. He just has to do things his way," she said. "Come on. Let's go after him," said Dr. Notrub as he and Lydia ran after the ghost and the mysterious creature.
'Boy, this guy is fast. Must be because he's so lightly built,' thought Beetlejuice as he pursued the skeletal figure. But he wasn't getting any closer.
'I'll have to use my powers. But I better keep it limited to a simple teleportation. Here it goes,' thought Beetlejuice as he vanished. Then he reappeared in front of the creature dressed in a policeman's uniform. He blew a whistle and held out his hand in a stopping motion.
But the figure didn't stop and collided right into Beetlejuice. And it just so happened that they were at the edge of a hill and they rolled down the side of the hill. They grunted as they crashed into a tree. Beetlejuice got up, dusted himself off and took a look at the creature.
It had long, thin arms and legs. Its hands had no flesh or skin. They were just bones. It was wearing a black tuxedo with small white lines all over it. A bat bow tie was on its fleshless neck. It had a round head with no skin. Its eye sockets were empty. It rubbed its skull. Beetlejuice was a little shocked.
"Who are you? I've never seen you around the Neitherworld," said Beetlejuice. "Neitherworld? What is that? And for that matter, you have some nerve to try and attack me. Is this how you treat people like me in the real world?" asked the skeleton standing up. "Hold it, bony. I'm not through asking questions. I repeat: who are you?" asked Beetlejuice.
"My name is Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweenland. And you had no right to attack me," said the skeleton sounding very aggravated. "Halloweenland? I've never heard of that place," said Beetlejuice. "I'm not surprised. Not many people in this world know of the holiday worlds," said Jack. "What are holiday worlds?" asked Beetlejuice.
"You don't think every memorable symbol that comes with holidays appears out of thin air. There are many holiday worlds and the residents spend every day of the year planning it. When it comes time for a holiday, the real world is opened to the holiday worlds and the residents are able to come here. I've visited this world several times before on every Halloween. Many residents of Halloweenland come to the real world. But no one really notices them because they are thought to be people in costumes when they are really monsters and ghosts. Now that I've explained my background, would you care to explain about yourself?" asked Jack.
"My name's Beetlejuice and I am a ghost from the Neitherworld. It's a parallel world much like these holiday worlds that is inhabited by ghosts and monsters. It is also in unreality, the afterlife. And I'm sorry for attacking you, Mr. Skellington," said Beetlejuice.
"Well, you seem to be an okay ghost. Apology accepted," said Jack extending his bony hand. Beetlejuice took it and shook it. Suddenly, some insects crawled from under his sleeve onto Jack's hand. Jack wrenched his hand away and shook off the bugs. "Sorry Jack. I always have something up my sleeve," cackled Beetlejuice. "Perfect. Of all the people I had to meet, I have to meet a ghost with a warped sense of humor," said Jack in a disgusted tone.
Then, from the top of the hill, Lydia's voice called, "Beetlejuice! Where are you?" "I'm down here, Lyds! I've solved the mystery of our skeletal figure. Come on down!" he answered. Lydia and Dr. Notrub ran down the hill to where Beetlejuice and Jack stood.
"Well, what have we got here?" asked Dr. Notrub. "Lydia, Dr. Notrub, meet Jack. He's a skeleton, but he's not from the Neitherworld. He's from a place that brings Halloween to this world," explained Beetlejuice. "What kind of world is that?" asked Lydia. "Holidays need symbols or else they would be forgotten. Creatures from Halloweenland invented the concept of Jack-O-Lanterns and Trick-Or-Treating. But in truth, no one really knows the true origins of the holiday worlds or how they started. All I've known is that as long as Halloween has existed, Halloweenland has been around," said Jack.
"Hmm. I wonder if holiday worlds are the products of human thoughts and beliefs. That's only a theory of course. There are such things that can't be explained like the Neitherworld Beetlejuice is from. Such things are confusing. But that's just the way things are, I guess. I do have a question Jack. Since it's nowhere near a holiday, how did you end up in this world?" asked Dr. Notrub.
"I'm not really sure. The lat thing I was doing was taking my nightly stroll through the Halloweenland cemetery. Suddenly, the ground began to shake. The tombstones began to distort. Then the ground opened up into a white vortex. I fell in and then I blacked out. When I came too, I was in these woods. After I got a glimpse of the town and saw all the humans, I knew I was in the real world. But I didn't know how I got here. It's nowhere near Halloween," said Jack.
"I bet I know how. Doc, you said that a side effect of Dr. Grim using my powers in that machine of his to go to the Neitherworld would be disruption of other worlds. That might've happened in Halloweenland when a portal to this world opened up. And unfortunately, Jack fell into it," stated Beetlejuice. "You might be right, BJ," said Dr. Notrub. "I'm sorry. But I don't understand what you are talking about," said Jack.
"We'll explain later. For now, I propose we go back to the mansion and try to work this out," said Dr. Notrub. "Good idea. Let's get to the hearse," said Lydia. The four of them started to walk away.
Meanwhile, among the leafless trees of the Western Woods, a ghost, a girl and a man were exploring. Dr. Notrub had his psychokinetic energy reader out and he was scanning the area. "Any trace, Dr. Notrub?" asked Lydia. "No trace of anything. If there even is something from the Neitherworld in these woods, its probably not a ghost," said Dr. Notrub.
"Just keep a look out, guys. If this skeletal creature is under Dr. Grim's control, then we might have to fight. We must be ready to use the equipment," said Beetlejuice as he searched through bushes. "If I were some creature from the Neitherworld, this place would definitely be a good place to hide out," said Dr. Notrub.
"Do you think that this creature appearing might not be a Neitherworld creature? Could it be the ghost that's reputed to haunt these woods?" asked Lydia. "I'm afraid not, Lydia. First of all, I said that it is not a ghost. Secondly, the ghost is supposed to be mounted on horseback and he lacks a head. The sightings that we've read about are nothing like that. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if that ghost was wandering around here too. Who knows what kind of psychic disturbance Dr. Grim drummed up when he disrupted the barrier between the worlds? Theoretical examples would be awakening of spirits or disruptions between other worlds," stated Dr. Notrub. "You believe in a lot of unnatural things, don't you doc?" asked Beetlejuice. "Well, I am standing in these woods with a ghost so I find it easy to believe that even the most impossible things can be possible," replied Dr. Notrub.
"Wait a minute. Quiet, guys," whispered Lydia. "What is it, babes?" asked Beetlejuice. "I heard something from over there," said Lydia pointing toward a row of trees. Beetlejuice and Dr. Notrub gazed at the trees.
At first they thought that Lydia was seeing things. But then they saw something move. Something skeletal and impossibly thin moved among the trees. It was shrouded in the darkness of the trees so they couldn't get a good look at it. The three of them turned around in a huddle.
"That must be it. Whatever it is," said Lydia. "Let's sneak up on it. I don't think it knows we've seen it. We must move steadily and stealthily. Got that, Beetlejuice?" asked Dr. Notrub.
But Beetlejuice was gone. They turned around and saw Beetlejuice pursuing the mysterious figure. The creature was running away from the ghost. "No, Beetlejuice!" called Dr. Notrub. Lydia sighed. "Sometimes, he is impossible. He just has to do things his way," she said. "Come on. Let's go after him," said Dr. Notrub as he and Lydia ran after the ghost and the mysterious creature.
'Boy, this guy is fast. Must be because he's so lightly built,' thought Beetlejuice as he pursued the skeletal figure. But he wasn't getting any closer.
'I'll have to use my powers. But I better keep it limited to a simple teleportation. Here it goes,' thought Beetlejuice as he vanished. Then he reappeared in front of the creature dressed in a policeman's uniform. He blew a whistle and held out his hand in a stopping motion.
But the figure didn't stop and collided right into Beetlejuice. And it just so happened that they were at the edge of a hill and they rolled down the side of the hill. They grunted as they crashed into a tree. Beetlejuice got up, dusted himself off and took a look at the creature.
It had long, thin arms and legs. Its hands had no flesh or skin. They were just bones. It was wearing a black tuxedo with small white lines all over it. A bat bow tie was on its fleshless neck. It had a round head with no skin. Its eye sockets were empty. It rubbed its skull. Beetlejuice was a little shocked.
"Who are you? I've never seen you around the Neitherworld," said Beetlejuice. "Neitherworld? What is that? And for that matter, you have some nerve to try and attack me. Is this how you treat people like me in the real world?" asked the skeleton standing up. "Hold it, bony. I'm not through asking questions. I repeat: who are you?" asked Beetlejuice.
"My name is Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweenland. And you had no right to attack me," said the skeleton sounding very aggravated. "Halloweenland? I've never heard of that place," said Beetlejuice. "I'm not surprised. Not many people in this world know of the holiday worlds," said Jack. "What are holiday worlds?" asked Beetlejuice.
"You don't think every memorable symbol that comes with holidays appears out of thin air. There are many holiday worlds and the residents spend every day of the year planning it. When it comes time for a holiday, the real world is opened to the holiday worlds and the residents are able to come here. I've visited this world several times before on every Halloween. Many residents of Halloweenland come to the real world. But no one really notices them because they are thought to be people in costumes when they are really monsters and ghosts. Now that I've explained my background, would you care to explain about yourself?" asked Jack.
"My name's Beetlejuice and I am a ghost from the Neitherworld. It's a parallel world much like these holiday worlds that is inhabited by ghosts and monsters. It is also in unreality, the afterlife. And I'm sorry for attacking you, Mr. Skellington," said Beetlejuice.
"Well, you seem to be an okay ghost. Apology accepted," said Jack extending his bony hand. Beetlejuice took it and shook it. Suddenly, some insects crawled from under his sleeve onto Jack's hand. Jack wrenched his hand away and shook off the bugs. "Sorry Jack. I always have something up my sleeve," cackled Beetlejuice. "Perfect. Of all the people I had to meet, I have to meet a ghost with a warped sense of humor," said Jack in a disgusted tone.
Then, from the top of the hill, Lydia's voice called, "Beetlejuice! Where are you?" "I'm down here, Lyds! I've solved the mystery of our skeletal figure. Come on down!" he answered. Lydia and Dr. Notrub ran down the hill to where Beetlejuice and Jack stood.
"Well, what have we got here?" asked Dr. Notrub. "Lydia, Dr. Notrub, meet Jack. He's a skeleton, but he's not from the Neitherworld. He's from a place that brings Halloween to this world," explained Beetlejuice. "What kind of world is that?" asked Lydia. "Holidays need symbols or else they would be forgotten. Creatures from Halloweenland invented the concept of Jack-O-Lanterns and Trick-Or-Treating. But in truth, no one really knows the true origins of the holiday worlds or how they started. All I've known is that as long as Halloween has existed, Halloweenland has been around," said Jack.
"Hmm. I wonder if holiday worlds are the products of human thoughts and beliefs. That's only a theory of course. There are such things that can't be explained like the Neitherworld Beetlejuice is from. Such things are confusing. But that's just the way things are, I guess. I do have a question Jack. Since it's nowhere near a holiday, how did you end up in this world?" asked Dr. Notrub.
"I'm not really sure. The lat thing I was doing was taking my nightly stroll through the Halloweenland cemetery. Suddenly, the ground began to shake. The tombstones began to distort. Then the ground opened up into a white vortex. I fell in and then I blacked out. When I came too, I was in these woods. After I got a glimpse of the town and saw all the humans, I knew I was in the real world. But I didn't know how I got here. It's nowhere near Halloween," said Jack.
"I bet I know how. Doc, you said that a side effect of Dr. Grim using my powers in that machine of his to go to the Neitherworld would be disruption of other worlds. That might've happened in Halloweenland when a portal to this world opened up. And unfortunately, Jack fell into it," stated Beetlejuice. "You might be right, BJ," said Dr. Notrub. "I'm sorry. But I don't understand what you are talking about," said Jack.
"We'll explain later. For now, I propose we go back to the mansion and try to work this out," said Dr. Notrub. "Good idea. Let's get to the hearse," said Lydia. The four of them started to walk away.