Lyria stretched and rubbed her head. She hadn't gotten much sleep after the horrifying conversation she had with her mother. Nor did she believe her mother on how all would be honkey dory if she just didn't say Betelgeuse's name. Lyria had a feeling this was far from over. So shaking off the thoughts and images of the night before, she brushed her hair and tied it up in a ponytail.

Betelgeuse watched her vividly from his place in the Neitherworld. His eyes followed Lyria until she ran out of the room to her enraged father. Turns out she was late for school. Betelgeuse's rotting hands curled into fists, and put on a murderous glare as he saw Lydia kiss Nigel with a laugh.

"Look at Lydia, all happy...Makes me sick. Oh she's had it good, maybe too good. But things are about to change..." Betelgeuse laughed with a scowl, "No way a mortal is going to get the best of me, I'll just wait until they're all asleep...and then." Betelgeuse laughed hysterically and popped the bubble from where he was watching them. "It's Showtime."

BG

"Good afternoon, Lyria." her grandmother welcomed as Lyria stepped into the house.

"Grandma? Grandpa? What are you guys doing here?" Lyria said with a puzzled tone, "I thought you guys were in your timeshare in California."

"Nonsense, dear! We thought we should drop by. Don't sound so disappointed." her grandfather smiled hugging her tightly.

Lyria saw her father put his hand on her mother's shoulder. She looked away with a distant, depressed stare. Lyria felt her heart skip; her grandparents must have known about her visit by Betelgeuse. Lyria's face went purple with rage.

"I get it, you guys think I'm going to summon that freak or something so your inviting the entire side of Mom's family to baby-sit me!" She snapped, "You think I'm going to call Beetlejuice form his grave!"

Everyone hissed and ushered her to be silent, "What did we say about saying his name! You have to be careful!" her father replied frantically.

"This is exactly what I'm talking about! You all think I'm a big baby, always telling me to be careful! Lyria don't stay out so late! Lyria don't be alone! I hate it! You guys don't trust me at all! I CAN'T TAKE IT!" she screamed and ran out the door.

"LYRIA! Wait! No come back! Lyria!" Lydia called with horror, "Nigel! We have to go find her! She could be in grave danger!"

"Your right, he could be out there." Nigel whispered.

"Now I see why she ran away, you guys are too protective!" a woman said as she and her husband descended the stairs.

"Barbara, Adam! No time for: I told you so's! I know he's going to try something, I just have a feeling." Lydia mumbled and the Maitlands nodded in agreement.

"You guys go, we'll stay here if she decides to come back." Adam directed and waved good-bye to the Deetz and the Gosses as the rushed out the door.

BG

"Perfect! We're lost! Way da go, Luigi!" a man growled as his brother scanned a map.

"Sorry! All the towns look the same on this thing!"

"What the hell are you talking about! They do not! We should ask for directions, look here comes somebody." the oldest brother stepped out of his van which read: the Mario Brothers.

"Hey, Miss! Can you help us?"

Lyria looked up and wiped the tears from her face, "Sure, where do you want to go?"

"New York." the youngest brother shouted from the van.

"You keep your trap shut! If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

"Give me a break, Mario!"

Lyria held back a laugh as the brothers shouted at each other. "What's so funny?" Mario shot.

"Nothing." Lyria smiled, "It's just that I had a hard day and well, you guys brightened it up for me."

"With his brilliant navigation skills? Eh, we'll probably laugh about it later when we're back in Brooklyn." Mario smirked, "By the way I'm Mario and that bonehead is Luigi."

"Hey! I'm not deaf!" Luigi shouted and climbed out the van.

"I'm Lyria Goss." she introduced, "Have I seen you guys before?"

"Probably on the news, we're heroes you know." Mario said proudly, "Saving the world from dinosaurs and their Ruffle-head leader, King Koopa." Luigi looked away with grief.

"Hey, you okay?" Lyria said as she walked over to Luigi.

"Yeah...it's just there was this beautiful princess..." he sighed and looked away, "I rather not talk about it."

Lyria put on a weak smile. "I'm sure you'll see her again."

"You know, maybe you're right. Thanks."

Mario cleared his throat and pointed to his watch. Luigi nodded and turned to Lyria. "We have to hit the road again, you need a ride home?"

"No, I'm fine. Nice meeting you." Lyria walked away past closed shops and looked into the graveyard.

Something stirred and a cat sat down in front of her. It looked up and meowed with its bright yellow eyes. "Hey there." Lyria scooped up the cat and it hissed, biting her hand. Lyria swore and dropped the cat, watching it run into the graveyard. It had stole her favorite bracelet.

"HEY! Get back here!" she yelled chasing after it.

The graveyard's gate slammed shut as soon as she entered. The cat sat with her bracelet in its mouth on top of a gravestone. Lyria crept up toward it with an extended arm. "Here, kitty. Come on, give me the bracelet." she cooed with annoyance.

The cat purred and dropped the bracelet on the grave below. Lyria walked over and picked up her bracelet angrily; the grave beneath her caved in. The cat began to snicker as Lyria tried to climb out with frustration. She looked at it hopelessly, hoping it could see the urgency in her eyes and find help. Nether less, the cat sat with a look of enjoyment.

"Hey there, babes. My, you look just like your mother." the cat jeered and Lyria dropped her jaw. "What's a matter, cat got your tongue?" the cat laughed and Lyria screamed. The ground beneath her was moving; snakes and beetles were swarming around her feet.

"Now, here's the deal. I could leave you down here and by the time your parents find you, you will either be a skeleton or a twitching crackpot or you summon me out of this relm. I don't really care, but the first option is more fun to watch and gives you that satisfying feeling of accomplishment."

Lyria knew who was speaking to her. It was Betelguese.