Picking up a pair of scissors from her bureau drawer, she crossed the room menacingly, opening the blades.
"Wait! Wait, don't do that! Please! It was a moment of weakness! I plead temporary insanity! I plead bribery! I plead the Fifth!" he attempted pitifully.
"Ha! You're permanently insane; you were bribed by your own libido; and it's too late to plead the Fifth because you already admitted your guilt!" she snarled, coming closer, scissors poised to be plunged into the fabric.
"You don't do pity, do you babes?" he asked calmly.
"No! And I…am not…your 'babes'!"
She cut into the apron, slicing out ribbons of striped print with the drive of a madwoman. Finally, the apron in shreds, she collapsed to her knees and sighed heavily. Maybe he was gone for good! Maybe he had gone to where ever Adam and Barbara had gone! Maybe-…
"Your mother isn't going to be happy that you ruined her favorite apron," came the familiar voice from her dresser.
She spun and stood at the same time, an unholy fire burning in her eyes.
"Beetlejuice!"
A cold wind blew through the room, chilling Claudia to the bone. She saw his wide-eyed expression and realized her incredibly stupid, stupid mistake.
"If you know what's what, you will never say his name, not even once. Three times and then he really will be able to hurt you."
In only the past half-hour, she had said his name three times.
