AN: Language. I just can't write this without a little creative swearing. So, apologies. Don't swear in real life-- it stunts your verbal growth!

Disclaimer: Beetlejuice and all related characters belong to Warner Bros. I wouldn't take responsibility for BJ if you paid me. No way, baby.

Chapter 7: Broken

The room was so dark, when Lydia finally roused herself, that she thought for a moment that she had been locked in a closet. A moment of frantic exploration assured her that she was still in her room, and she was able to flick on her desk lamp and peer groggily around. Empty. She was alone. Oh, bloody hell.

A flicker of memory burned through her. Had she actually said his name? A wash of cold air, a flash of sharp teeth, and a voice that rumbled within her like an underground river. "Yes…" And now it appeared that he had vanished. Her eyes closed in frustration for a long moment. This was not happening. It must be a dream. And then she heard the screaming.

Shit. Not a dream.

Lydia was through the door and down the stairs before she had time to formulate something that even resembled a plan. But once at the bottom of the stairs, she realized that the screams were not coming from the house, but outside. Even worse. Fuck the plan. She tore open the door and dashed madly outside, screaming his name at the top of her voice. "Beetlejuice!"

From the top of the hill, she could see the town hall. It was meeting night, she realized, because the parking lot was full of cars of families that drove in from the sticks. Except that the lights were blazing, and people were streaming out of the building. She grabbed her bike and ran full speed down the hill, barely able to hang on as she jumped onto the seat.

By the time she reached the town hall, only a few minutes later, the crowd had thinned considerably. She heard snatches of conversation. "--huge snake!" I've never--"

"--and then it slithered right across Bobby's shoe! I just about—"

"—strangest markings! Like a black and white King snake! But huge!"

By the time she got to the door, she had a pretty good idea of what had happened. And she had also had the time to get really really angry. An older gentleman tried to stop her at the door. "No—there's a snake in there! We've called the animal control people, but they won't be here for a while, and—"

Lydia nodded and smiled tensely. "I'm sorry, but I think my friend's brother is in there. I'll be careful!" And before the man could protest further, she had opened the door and slipped inside.

All the lights were on. She blinked for a moment, and then shouted, "Beetlejuice!" Her voice echoed in the great hall. "Come out come out, wherever you are!" She heard the dry sound of a giant rattlesnake rattle, and put her hands on her hips. King snakes didn't even remotely have rattles. Fury like she had never felt welled up inside her. "Beet--!" In an instant, a cold hand covered her mouth from behind, and then she was pulled off balance back against him.

"Uh uh, Lyds. That's twice already and quite enough, thank you very much." He growled in her ear, and she struggled frantically against his hold on her, but she could have been fighting a stone, for all the good it did. Finally, she relaxed against him and let out a deep breath. She felt his cool lips brush her ear. "Promise not to say my name again and I'll let you go, little Lydia."

Lydia twitched away from his touch, but realized that he would be able to stand there much longer than her already-trembling legs would hold her. She nodded, and was relieved when he released her. She spun around. "You promised that you…" Oh. He wasn't at all what she had expected. She swallowed and continued on. "…wouldn't…hurt anyone." She blinked, feeling a little self-conscious in the physical presence of the ghost. He was not much taller than she was, and his skin was a delicate pearlescence. Sunken eyes, filthy blond hair, and a horrifically bad suit of black and white stripes. But his mouth was a sensual bow, fixed in an appraising smirk at the moment, and his hands long-fingered and elegant. She had expected Night of the Living Dead. Not… certainly not. What was she thinking?

"Did I?" He waved his arms around at the hall, but his striking jade-colored eyes were still fixed on her. "See any bodies?" She dragged herself back to the topic at hand, forcing herself to look away.

"Killing is only one small type in the realm of possibilities that is hurting, B! These people are old! There could have been heart attacks! And King snakes do not have rattles," she added primly. She remembered her anger of the moment before, but felt sapped. What had just happened?

"Ah!" He rocked back on his heels looking smug, and then waved a slender pale finger under her nose. "But there weren't!" And then he raised both eyebrows, as if he had made an unassailable point in court. She scowled, her eyes narrowing. And then she heard the sirens.

"You need to come home with me now." Beetlejuice looked at her consideringly, as the sirens got louder. "Now! Or I'll say your name…" She quirked an eyebrow at him in challenge. He bared his teeth at her in something that might have been a grin, if it hadn't looked so wild.

"Your wish, my command." Without warning, he lunged for her, and she had no time to block him. His arms were around her, and she cried out as she felt a powerful tug in her belly. Then darkness slammed down like a curtain, and silence.