They returned and Claudia got an idea. Setting the town model up on one side of her room, she put the house together according to Beetlejuice's directions right next to it, so if he wanted to, he could have a "walk" around the town.
Beetlejuice approved and strolled around the cemetery, finally planting himself on one of the tombstones.
"So how do you like it?" she asked.
"Well, it's not like being big, because they're no humans to scare. But it'll do." He teleported to the very pinnacle of the scale model of the house they were in on the hill.
"But it's gotta be so cool, to have an entire 'town' all to yourself," Claudia commented excitedly. "I wish I could be in there!"
Suddenly, everything went black. Claudia fought to open her eyes and when she did, she realized something was insanely wrong. She was standing on a street in the middle of town. But everything was deserted. No lights were on; there was no movement anywhere.
She spun around and around, trying to find some sign of life. All of a sudden, Beetlejuice was next to her. But he was huge! Life-size!
Or…was she…
"In the model, Clauds! You wished it, welcome to it."
A terrible sinking feeling hit the back of her stomach. Her bottom lip trembled as her eyes went wide.
He's life-size…compared to me…oh God, no…
She had noticed a flash of insight hit his face. Slowly he let an evil grin escape those lips.
A flood of adrenaline hit her, and she instinctively swung her foot up and caught the side of his face.
As he spun back, dazed, she sprinted. Having absolutely no idea where she was going except hopefully away from him, she thanked the Lord for that Tae Kwon Do class she had taken last year.
Claudia ran up alleys and down streets and finally turned up the hill leading to the model of her house. From there, she could see where he was, even if she stuck out like a sore thumb until she got under cover.
She plodded up the hill, all the while looking over her shoulder. Finally, she reached the "porch" and hid herself in a shadow. She kept making nervous glances about, wondering where in hell he was…
"Nice view, huh babes?"
Making a silent prayer to God that he wasn't where she thought he was, she turned slowly and laid eyes on his two eyes peeking out from the shadow.
It had all been a trick; he had known where she was going and actually turned into a shadow for her to hide in. She was surrounded; there was no escape.
Letting an inhuman groan escape from her chest, she sank to her knees, looking up helplessly as he materialized and stepped forward, grinning maniacally. She shut her eyes tight as she waited for the inevitable…
Suddenly Claudia's eyes snapped open. It was dark. Crickets were chirping.
She was lying down. Struggling against some soreness in her arms, she sat up, her mind racing.
Claudia was in her bed, and it was night. A cold sweat was all over her face, and she wiped it off with one arm.
"A…dream?" she muttered. Then, "Beetlejuice!"
She heard a snore from beneath her covers. Flipping them up, she laid eyes on the small, sleeping figure of him against her pillow. He looked rather peaceful.
"It must have been…but…why are you in my bed?" she demanded of the sleeping spook. He didn't stir.
Well, it's been a few hours so far, I guess I can let him slide for the rest of the night.
She turned over and went back to sleep, not noticing the small smirk playing on the ghost's lips. It had appeared either from a wonderful dream he was having, or the wonderful effect he had intentionally caused on her dreams.
