Separation is Murder

Part 2

Using Old Juice

The suns of Saturn (Sandworm land/dessert outskirts) began to rise over the horizon and the cool winds of the night began to dissipate allowing the scorching light of the suns to heat up the sand.

: Wake up worm bait.

A large shadow loomed over the slightly frozen and slumbering ghoul named Beetlejuice. Again in a feminine and elderly voice that sounded like it suffered from harsh lung cancer, the shadow spoke again a bit angrily.

: WAKE UP! You zombie haired waste of skin!

Beetlejuice tossed in his sleep mumbling.

Bj: No granny zzz five more millennia zzz I don't wanna zzz go to zzzzz pancakes zzz.

Sandworm: Reeeaaarrrggghh!

Immediately Beetlejuice jumped out of his boots screaming.

Bj: IT'S IN MY HAIR! Oh…bad dream.

Beetlejuice wiped the sleep from his eyes as he floated back to his boots which lay empty on the flat rounded rock.

Bj: Coulda swore I heard a sand worm.

Beetlejuice didn't notice the giant figure waiting behind him. He gazed about his sunlit surroundings and sniffed the natural air.

Bj: Glorious mornings…ya know I hate'm.

Beetlejuice began putting his boots on.

: You're about as bright as a new moon.

A little startled, Beetlejuice spun around and looked in front of him. A large pink and purple striped figure towered above him. He slowly directed his gaze in the vicinity of the figures face. Shadowed by the sunlight behind its head, the elderly-looking sandworm gazed down upon him with annoyance.

Beetlejuice froze up and fell to pieces.

Sandworm: You spineless bag of bones, get up! I wouldn't put you in my mouth to save my afterlife!

Beetlejuice's dismembered pieces slowly reconfigured into their original soggy shape.

The sour sandworm lowered her head to get within socializing distance.

Beetlejuice flinched thinking it was for biting distance.

Sandworm: Don't you recognize me?

Beetlejuice built up a little composure and looked carefully.

Bj: No, not really, all you sandworms look the same to me.

Sandworm: You soggy nipple head! I'm your grandma!

Beetlejuice glared at her, as if he was considering what she told him.

Bj: Look lady, I don't know what kinda mind game you think your running here, but my grandma is NOT a sandworm. So if you think your old sandworm nag tricks can fool me into becoming a meal, you can think again. So now that your cover has been blown, and I can obviously out run your wrinkled old tail, I'll just be moseying on out of here and forget you ever bugged me.

Before he could finish another thought the sandworm disappeared in a flash of light and was replaced by the sight of a knotted old cane swinging into his face. Before he could react the cane bashed him in his skull and knocked him flat on his back.

Grandma Prunejuice: You self-centered unearthed half-wit! What monster with the capabilities to think, would even consider eating you! Let alone want to claim they are related to you? Even I don't like admitting I'm related to you! Talking sandworms…ARE YOU KIDDING! What are you, Brainless!

Bj: Actually-

G.Pj: Clamp you noise-hole, and come have tea with me.

Bj: (She missed me)

G.Pj: And no thinking! You're gonna give yourself a tumor!

The two ghouls floated off of the round rock and headed for Prunejuice's ram-shackled cottage that hung and teetered in the sky impaled on a tall and jagged rock a few yards away.

G.Pj: You're lucky I saw you out here on my property before the sand worms did. I almost decided to go into a coma today and whittle the day away inside my home.

Beetlejuice just mimicked his grandmother's nagging silently by copying her facial expressions as she boasted to herself. Without looking behind her, she nagged some more.

G.Pj: Don't make faces like that at me or I'll make sure your face stays that way!

Immediately he stopped mimicking her, and put his hands in his pockets with a fearful-monotone expression. The sound of shifting sand diverted his attention to the ground. A large vortex of sand whirled around the base of the jagged rock her cottage sat upon as if it were live quicksand.

Bj: When did you get a sand lion?

G.Pj: Oh, your brother Donny gave it to me for my Death-day. That dunder headed goody-goody finally got me something useful for once.

Beetlejuice sulked in brief anger as he thought about Donny.

Bj: (He's always gotta show me up on Death-days.)

G.Pj: Oh don't sulk! That sewage shooter you gave me has been put to good use. I let it run loose outside, it drives the sandworms crazy and keeps them fairly far away.

As they began to reach the edge of the porch the sand lion jumped out of its trap and chomped at Beetlejuice.

G.Pj: Cerberus! What did I tell you about attacking mommy's guests!

Grandma Prunejuice batted the creature on the head with her cane, and it hid back in the sand yelping.

G.Pj: One more time and I'll turn you into jerky!

Bj: You named it? You've never named the monsters we've given you before.

G.Pj: Well he's a good worm hunter, so I decided he deserved one.

Bj: You old softy, just can't help getting attached to a vile creature after you tame it can you?

G.Pj: I'm letting you into my house. That should say enough.

Bj: Very funny.

The two ghastly relatives finally landed on the porch. Grandma Prunejuice pulled out a giant key with a spiked skull attached to the handle from out of her pocket. She held it like a mace in her hands as she approached the door.

G.Pj: OPEN UP! Or I'll BASH you into FIRE WOOD!

The front door unlocked itself and opened quickly to let her in.

Bj: Wow! You finally got a skeleton key for this stubborn old house.

G.Pj: Your mother, Bee sent it to me for Mother's day last year. Such a thoughtful woman. Unlike your senile old man Gnat. Useless excuse for a son got me a neck tie!

Grandma Prunejuice stuffed the oversized key back into her small pocket as she entered her misshapen home.

Bj: Whoa.

Beetlejuice looked around noticing the house was a few stories bigger on the inside then it was on the outside.

Bj: What's with all the extra rooms and hallways? Thinking of building a labyrinth?

G.Pj: Most of these rooms are storage for all the gut-retching gifts I got over the years from fans, clients and other putrid types of folk that knew of me. I'll get the kettle on sit down and don't touch anything.

Prunejuice's house was cluttered with all kinds of nick-knacks and antiques. Making it hard to see the whole house or even get around. Shelves and bookcases were packed full of jars containing various oddities like eyeballs, and soil, teeth and spiders etc. stacks of books piled 4 ft high or more lined most of the walls and some of the walk ways. Several odd-looking small creatures crawled from place to place every so often, making their own unique sounds as they moved through the clutter.

Bj: Wish I had as nice a place as this.

Beetlejuice continued following his grandmother through the maze of collectables. They finally reached her "kitchen" which looked more like a witch's cauldron room. The walls were hidden behind cabinets and shelves that housed all manner of containers holding thousands of different herbs, ingredients and strange objects. A small chimney opening in the wall with a large iron pot served as an oven, kettle, and stove in one easy to make fire. From between some stacks of pots and pans, she whipped out a teapot, lighted a fire with a flick of her hand, filled the pot with some water from a pump in the middle of her floor, placed a small bag of herbs inside the pot and hung the kettle above the small flame.

G.Pj: What in Grimm's name are you following me around for? Why don't you go clear us a spot on the table in the main room?

Beetlejuice wormed his way around the junk trying to find the main room.

Bj: Oh no. IM LOST!

From behind one of the piles of books Granny peered through a hole at Beetlejuice's face.

G.Pj: Sit on the couch behind you bright eyes.

Grandma Prunejuice hovered to the couch from around the corner of collected trinkets.

G.Pj: So, what brings you out here in the far reaches of Saturn? Were you not able to talk your way out of trouble this time? They all finally decide to throw you to the sand worms?

Bj: Well, it's kind of a long story.

Beetlejuice waited for his grandma to reply with an "Oh" and not have to talk about it but-

G.Pj: I'm not getting any younger, spill the beans! Don't worry about staying too long, time works normally here inside my house. You don't have to worry about being gone from the Neitherworld for too long. Not like anyone will miss you.

Bj: Oh my ghouls! LYDIA! I hope I'm not too late! Sorry Granny I have to get back to the Neitherworld!

Beetlejuice stood up and began heading to the door.

G.Pj: Do you realize how far away from the city you are?

Beetlejuice turned around a bit confused.

G.Pj: You're still a good 3 days walk from making it back to civilization…if that's what you want to call it. That would be around ten years for your friend. How long have you been out there, before I found you?

Beetlejuice sulked realizing he's been missing from Lydia for a long time by now.

Bj: About a day and a half. Maybe more, I was driven out here and dumped…by myself.

G.Pj: Well obviously by yourself! You're alone! Do you think I'm senile!

Bj: No, I mean, there's another ME out there and he dumped me out here to get rid of me. And to make things worse, he has Lydia.

Granny tried to think of something to say to him to let him realize he did something wrong, but secretly; she liked Beetlejuice best out of all of her relatives. Her heart broke for him, and her features went soft and caring.

G.Pj: I can help you get to your friend.

Bj: Come again? I don't think I heard you right.

Beetlejuice used his pinky to rub out some ear wax that was possibly ruining his hearing.

G.Pj: Let this old crab use her old juice to help you get home.

Bj: I swear you gotta be slurring your words. Say again?
Grandma Prunejuice became angry and whacked him on the head with her cane.

G.Pj: I said I can get you home faster, you ungrateful ghoul! We'll give that grandson imposter a taste of some REAL family juicing!

Meanwhile in the outer world.

Demon: You now belong to us flesh bags! If you act like an animal you get fed like one too, obedience is your only option, so treat your new masters with respect!

Later…

Cowboy Monster: Well I reckon this one'id do good, he's got nice strong arms and legs on'em. And check out those pearly-whites! I'll take him!

The tall rugged hair-beast chained the boy up and nearly dragged him to the ghoulish truck full of skeleton cattle.

Cowboy Monster: You best keep your mouth shut at all times boy. I ain't talk'n about talk'n. At my ranch, I breed lots of mean dogs, they won't attack you unless you run, or smile at them. To them, smile'n's like showing yer teeth in anger. You smile at them then they's a gonna rip yer pretty face right off. So, I'd think twice and put your priorities in order, keep your face? Or brush your teeth? It's your choice.

Two years later…

Cowboy Monster: Sick'em Gravedigger! Find that ungrateful little meat bag!

GraveDigger: Roarf roarf!

Cowboy Monster: He can't run no where's, he's in the dessert. There ain't no where's to hide. Either Gravedigger will find him or the sand worms will.

The monster's truck started up, and the head lights shined behind him. His wide body prevented him from seeing the lights turn on. The truck blazed right for him. He turned around hearing the sound of the monstrous truck's engine shifting gears.

Cowboy Monster: SON OF A-!

Present day…

Girl: Oh, come on. Come to church with me and my parents, they have been dying to meet you! Besides, the church has benches, we can hold hands and pretend we're listening, what do you say?

The Boy followed the girl inside the church building. As he opened the door, he accidentally opened it to fast and it hit the wall, cracking a bit of the stain glass design on the door.

Girl: Its ok, it happens all the time. This building isn't built to be wind-friendly, sometimes the wind opens the door more then you want.

The couple proceeded into the building as the organ music began to play.

The girl didn't notice, but the boy realized the farther he entered the more cracking noises he heard. He looked up at the many stain glass windows. Each time he passed parallel by a window, it would crack down the middle. Each time it got louder, and the cracks would worsen on each new window.

The boy put his head between his shoulders cringing to the sounds.

A few people began to notice the windows cracking.

The girls parents turned around to see them walking towards their bench.

Father: Hello pumpkin. Is this your new friend?

Mother: Why he's so handsome!

Girl: This is my father, and stepmother-

Boy: So nice to finally meet you!

They all shook hands and the couple sat next to the girl's parents.

As the boy listened to the sermon, he heard the wood of the bench making a grinding noise. The people behind him started whispering. And the people next to him were scooting over even his girlfriend. He looked around to see the finish and the wood itself was rotting and spreading from the spot he sat on. A bit startled the boy jumped up and tripped over the bench in front of him. He pulled him self up by holding onto the altar. As soon as he placed his hand on the gold cross attached to the front of the altar, the entire oak alter burst into flames immediately and the fire almost reached the ceiling.

The priest and the boy were blown back by the force of the flames.

The townsfolk began screaming and running for the door. The windows gave way and began shattering one at a time. Before he could witness anymore destruction the girl grabbed his wrist and pulled him outside to safety.

As people ran for their cars and some stood and watched the building burn, the girl and the boy ran for her parent's home. As she pulled him across the street a giant diesel truck ripped him from her hands.

Boy: AAAHHHHHH! (Gasp) (Pant)

He looked at his surroundings as he sweated and gasped for air in his bed.

His bedroom door opened and the lights flicked on.

A shirt-less man with long blonde-white bed-hair wearing sweatpants stumbled in the boy's door way

Endri: You having that nightmare again?

Kyle: Yeah…

Endri: I thought so. I heard that scream you make when you have that dream. Damn thing wakes me up every time. You ok?

Kyle: Yeah sorry. I haven't had this dream since before we came here. But ever since we went into that girl's house, I have been having it every night. Except tonight, tonight it was different.

Endri sighed as he looked at his watch, and pulled up a chair to his friend's bed.

Endri: OK. Tell me all about it. You should get it off your mind and talk about it I suppose. (Yawns)

Kyle: Well, it didn't start out like usual, I don't see me get kidnapped, I'm just already in the slave cart. And then at the end, I'm here in town with a dark haired girl. I can't tell who she is because she wears her hair half way over her face. I guess we go to school together in my dream. But I've never seen her at school in real life before.

Endri: Well I'd say you're getting over this dream if there is less of it when you dream about it. Besides at the end your hormones give you a pretty girl instead of you being crucified by an angry mob.

Kyle: That's just it. I go to church with her. And literally burn it down just by standing in it. And the townsfolk in the church look just like the mob in my other version of this dream. Except, she pulls me from their sight before they even look for me. She saves me.

Endri: (Yawn) Good sounds like you're working this thing out in your mind.

Kyle: Then I get hit by a truck while she takes me to her house.

Endri put his hand to his forehead and ran it down his face in frustration.

Endri: Ok. So it seems the dream is worsening for you. You've had this dream for years now. And it hasn't happened. You're always your present age in this dream, and it's always happening in the town we live in, this thing is just a nightmare about your past. It's half of the reason we're always moving. And your fears keep changing it. I don't think you need to worry about this dream. You just need to forget about it, and maybe it won't keep haunting you.

Kyle: But what about the part where I get this!

Kyle pulled up the sleeve of his shirt.

Kyle: It is one thing to have a dream about being tortured. It's another to wake up with the scars! This dream is telling me something that I can't remember.

Endri sighed knowing he would never be able to get his friend over his fears of the past.

Endri: I know buddy, our search for answers has led us this far, so don't worry, we'll find out who did this to you. I have a feeling we're close. We'll get this ugly mess all settled, and we won't have to run from those bastards anymore. Get some sleep, we have a big day (Looks at watch) (sigh) ahead of us tomorrow.

Endri rubbed Kyle's white hair and turned off the lights as he got to the door way.

Endri: Want me to check under your bed?

Kyle: HA HA very funny.

Endri: Night.

Kyle: Goodnight.

Lydia sat Indian style facing her mirror half asleep as the sun rose through her windows the next morning. She mumbled as she began dozing off.

Lydia: Beetlejuice…beetle…juice…Beetlejuice…beetle-…beetle…juice.

As her elbow slipped she shot up awake again.

Lydia: Beetlejuice? Sigh.

She looked at her mirror again.

Lydia: Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. Sigh. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice………

She looked over at her clock and began to cry. As her feelings of defeat took over, she sobbed into the palms of her hands.

Charles came down stairs to the kitchen with a sad expression of pity on his face.

Delia: Is she ok? She hasn't come to breakfast even. School starts in an hour.

Charles: I don't think we should bother her today. It sounds like she wasn't able to get a hold of Betty last night. I think she was up all night crying.

Delia: Oh no. her poor little friend. I sure hope she's ok. Why don't we offer to take Lydia to the hospital to look for her?

Charles: I don't know, let's wait for her to come down and talk to us first. I don't want her to think we're prying.

Delia: Poor little dear. Should we check on her in a little bit?

Charles: She locked the door. We'll have to wait.

Lydia got off of the floor, and laid-down on her bed. Looking at her wall, she noticed her favorite Frankenstein doll on her dresser. Lydia got up and picked the doll up. She got back in her bed and fell asleep holding it.

The school bell rang and the students of Ms. Shannon gathered in the trailer class room outside of the school. The class took their seats, all but Lydia and Claire. The students whispered amongst themselves as they waited for Miss Shannon to show up.

Prudence: Where is Lydia?

Bertha: I haven't seen her. But I heard Claire is missing.

Classmate: Yeah me too. I Heard the butler found her gone with the door open.

Prissy follower: OH MY GOD! Who will help us with the spring dance!

Followers: Oh my god your right! Without Claire we doomed for social down fall! We like, so don't even have a concept for the dance.

All of Claire's followers looked at each other and screamed.

Bertha: What if Lydia was kidnapped too?

Suddenly Ms. Shannon burst into the room.

Ms. Shannon: Quiet down, quiet down. I have a few announcements. You may have already heard but Claire Brewster is missing.

Bertha raised her hand eagerly.

Ms. Shannon pointed to her in recognition.

Bertha: What about Lydia?

Ms. Shannon: Lydia lost a dear friend in the hurricane and won't be with us today.

Followers: What about us? Claire is missing, how come we have to come to school!

Ms. Shannon looked at them a bit surprised.

Ms. Shannon: Excuse me?

Prissy Follower: Nothing. Sorry Ms. Shannon.

Ms. Shannon: Despite the recent events, let's open our text books to page 346.

Later that day at lunch.

Kyle walked around the lunch room and out side to the other hang-out spots of the students looking for the dark haired girl, wanting to make sure she wasn't real. Suddenly he saw a thin girl sitting with her back to him and her arms out in meditation. Her long black hair moved with the slow breeze. He quickened his pace to catch her before she thought about leaving. He stood right behind her and grabbed her shoulder to get her attention.

The dark haired girl jumped out of surprise and without looking at him, turned around and punched Kyle in the face knocking him onto the grass of the soccer field.

Girl: What the hell do YOU want? You jocks are all the same, no respect for a ladies personal space.

Kyle attempted to get a good look at her with his one un-injured eye.

She stood up leering at him with an insulted sneer on her face. She was much taller then the girl in his dream. Her hair was somewhat flat and thin, she had it tucked behind her ears so the wind wouldn't blow it in her face. Her faded blue and heartless eyes were covered in dark black mascara. She wore a lot of crosses on her person. Cross ear rings, cross necklace, ring with a cross on it. And her back pack and diary had a cross on it too. This was definitely not the warm hearted girl of his dreams.

Kyle: Sorry, I thought you were someone else.

Girl: Well in case you get confused again, I am Samantha. Be afraid, be very afraid. And don't ever touch me again, or next time I'll put you in so much pain, you'll WISH you were the opposite sex when I'm done with you…If you catch my drift.

Kyle: Yeah…sure…

Kyle stumbled up to his feet as he got as far away from her as possible.

Kyle: Yikes, Psycho Bi-.

Jock: HAHAHAHAHAHA! Look what the black cat dragged in. Dude you must be new if you're hittin on that old wench.

Kyle: No I-

Jock: Dude she's the scariest girl in school. Probably not into guys if ya know what I mean. Plus people say she's a real witch too. Literally, you're lucky she didn't turn you into a frog or something.

Kyle: That bad huh?

The jock nodded agreeably with his eyes wide open. She's got a bear trap hidden in her underwear.

Kyle forced a laughed at his remark, trying not to make the jock's attempt at friendship seem too immature.

Kyle: Well I gotta go. But thanks for the warning. What was your name?

Jock: Well, um, you got a pen?

Kyle: Why? Can't you say it?

Jock: It's hard for most people to pronounce it, so I'll just right it down.

Kyle: Yeah um ok. Here.

The jock scribbled on the paper.

Jock: There. Don't say it too much, or you'll wear it out.

Kyle: OK…um-

Kyle tried to read the pronunciation of the name on the note.

Jock: My friends just call me B-man. Use that.

Kyle: Ok. (What a strange guy)

Kyle continued his search and passed by a blonde haired girl that he didn't even bother looking at. As he passed by she watched his every move with a passionate manner.

Lacey: Oh Kyle…sigh.

Suddenly Samantha came from the other side of the hill and slowly stopped in her tracks as she watched her best friend's gaze follow Kyle's every move as he walked back into the school building.

Samantha: OH brother! Don't tell me you like him! Join the waiting list. Every other girl in school has been drooling over that sad excuse of a new guy. Especially Claire Brewster, What she wants, daddy gets her. So you can forget having him Lace.

Lacey: Yeah well I'm feeling lucky today, I think he'll notice me today.

Samantha: And why the hell do you think that?

Lacey: Claire Brewster is missing.

Samantha: Really... that's amazing. I bet you anything whoever took her, brings her back without a ransom. I know I would.

Lacey: I hope they keep her until she learns some real emotions.

Samantha watched Lacey stare longingly at the door Kyle went into.

Samantha: Just go talk to him. It's the perfect chance. Besides I think he's looking for someone, a girl to claim as his own. Without Claire around to annoy him I bet he can't wait to put someone next to him to get Claire off his back.

Lacey smiled a bit at the thought and then became bright red with blush.

Lacey: OH NO! I can't go talk to him, I'll choke up! He'll laugh at me. I'll look so stupid in front of him and he'll tell his friends how goofy I am. And I'll be forever ruined!

Samantha rolled her eyes at Lacey's over reaction.

Samantha: How about we do a confidence spell for you? We got 20 minutes until the bell rings.

Lacey: Well…

Samantha: OH COME ON! You know you want to!

Samantha immediately grabbed Lacey's hands and began to chant.

Claire Brewster screamed with her eyes shut as tight as possible as she endured the twirling and tossing of the trip through the vortex, which for everyone's first time, seems like an eternity, for Lydia and Beetlejuice it was merely a moments time, if that.

The twirling ceased and Claire continued to scream until finally her lungs could eject no more air for her to scream with. Betel-cat held his cut-up ears down until her screeching voice stopped.

Claire: AAAAAAAAAaaaaa..aahhhhhhh…h…hhh…hhh……h…

The silence caused Betel-cat to look up at her and make sure she hadn't imploded from her own frequency.

Betelguese: Ugh. Fina-

Claire sucked in a deep breathe and the color of her face returned to normal.

Claire: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

She continued screaming still not realizing she had stopped falling through a vortex. Betelguese was so taken by surprise at her continuance that he changed back to his true form on accident. The sound of the transformation caused her to look up and see the cat become an ugly, greasy, dead guy.

Claire: AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

The ground around her began to quake from her pitch of voice.

Betelguese amazingly heard a familiar sound in the background, a sound that even himself with all his accumulated evil trembled at.

Betelguese: (Whispering) …sandworms…

He looked down at the screaming girl who sat in front of the awkwardly shaped door that had closed entrance to the portal between the two worlds.

Betelguese: SHUT UP! Yur gonna bring them over to us! Do you wanna die!

Claire sniffled as she tried to stop crying.

Claire: My...sniff…my makeup is all runny…sniff, sniff.

Betelguese could not believe his ears.

Betelguese: Ok, your screaming is attracting BIG scary and… um, unfashionable creatures over to us. Now, do you want to die young…in THAT dress?

Claire: OH my GOD! I CAN'T be caught dead in my BATHROBE! My WHOLE social life will like totally wither! I will never be able to go into public ever again, if my body is recovered in my BATHROBE! WAAAAAAAAAAHH!

Betelguese rubbed his face with his palm in frustration.

Betelguese: The POINT is to SHUT-UP! So we don't DIE!

Before any more words could be exchanged a sandworm pushed its way through the road and stared down at the two potential snacks.

To Be Continued…Separation is Murder Part 3.