A/N: I don't know how often I'll be able to update this. I also apologize ahead of time for any grammar mistakes. Just point them out to me and away they will go.
Disclaimer: Ok, since the message in this is NOT going to change any time soon, this is going to be the last disclaimer I put up. I DO NOT own Beetlejuice, no matter how much I wish I did.
Read on and Enjoy!
"Beej!" Lydia howled after her best friend. They were charging up twisted Lost Souls highway, near the turn-off to the Roadhouse. "What was that for? You come back here!"
Beetlejuice's reaction was to stick his tongue out at her and keep running.
"Ah, c'mon Lyds!" he laughed over his shoulder. "It was just a couple'a beetles! Besides, I thought you liked bugs!"
"Not in my hair!" she shot back, speeding up, and gaining on him. Lydia wasn't actually mad (in fact, controlling her laughter was becoming harder and harder), but the chase was much to fun to give up.
She allowed herself a grin as she drew up behind him. With a triumphant shout, Lydia lunged forward- only to have her hands close on empty space. She pin wheeled for a moment, and then fell to the ground.
A crazed cackle issued from the air. Lydia glowered at the floating form above her.
"You are a terrible, awful cheater." She told Beetlejuice.
"Of course I am! And Lyds, it was SO funny!" BJ gasped mirthfully, clutching his stomach as tears streamed down his face. "You shoulda seen your face!"
Immediately, he imitated her expression from a moment ago-flawlessly. Then he howled with laughter once more.
It was Lydia's turn to stick out her tongue, although a pink one is much less exciting than purple and green stripes.
"I'm SO glad you're amused." She said, though now she too was smiling. As Lydia moved to stand up, a red-fingered hand suddenly presented itself to her. She looked up in surprise.
"Why, I didn't think you cared." She said sarcastically to the now ground-bound BJ, taking the offered help nonetheless. With a sudden strong pull, she on her feet, and inches away from Beetlejuice.
This too close for absolute comfort thing seems to be happening a lot lately, she mused to herself. Not that she minded. In the two weeks she had back from college, she'd realized that, for reasons she would not admit to herself, she actually enjoyed these strange little moments she and BJ seemed to share quite often now.
"Lyds, was that sarcasm I heard?" her ghoulish friend gasped, widening his eyes dramatically so as to impart his full shock.
"Yeah, well, I learned from a master." She replied, before pulling away and turning towards their original destination.
"There's the Roadhouse, Beej." She said as she set off again. Behind her, she could sense Beetlejuice floating along, but didn't turn around. She was too busy banishing the sensation of long, red-tipped fingers entwined with her own…
Stop that, she snapped in her head. You're being an idiot. I mean, you're acting as if…as if…
"Lydia." She stopped abruptly, thankful for the distraction, but still on guard. Beetlejuice really only said her full name on the rare occasions he was being serious.
"Yes Beetlejuice?"
Still, she didn't turn around. The feeling of sudden tension between them was intense, and Lydia wasn't so sure she could handle facing BJ at that particular moment. She noticed, too, that he had remained behind her.
"Lyds, um, I wanted to ask you somethin'…" he trailed off nervously. Lydia's heart leapt into her throat, and rabid excitement gripped her- though she still staunchly refused to acknowledge what she was hoping for.
"Yes, BJ?" She repeated her earlier question, but softer this time.
Beetlejuice, for his part, felt like a fool. He knew exactly what it was he had wanted to ask, but upon getting those first words out, his poor, scared mind had rebelled. There was no way he could ask, not here, not now, not HER. He swallowed uncontrollably, and raced to think of a cover-up. Oh buddy, you've really done it this time, he mentally berated himself. No matter what you say, you're gonna sound like an idiot. Why couldn't you have just kept your big stupid trap closed, you-
But Beetlejuice didn't have a chance to finish his thought.
A tremor shook the ground he and Lydia stood on, and he swayed dangerously. Lydia stumbled slightly, and flung her arms out to steady herself, finally turning to face him.
"Beetlejuice, what was-" she began, but a mighty clap of thunder cut her off and sent her leaping fearfully into BJ's arms.
He held on tight as the earth shook again, and the bright orange Neitherworldian sky darkened to a deep red. Lydia, in a state of mild panic, subconsciously registered the color as that of dried blood. The ground was quaking violently now, and the thunder had started up again, deafening her.
A single spot in the sky continued to darken, until it was near black. Beetlejuice fixed his now terrified gaze on that point as the center of this…storm? Attack?
"What's going on?" He yowled, though at whom he was not sure.
To his shock, he received an answer. Thought the thundering noises did not cease, a new sound emerged. A deep, rumbling roar that echoed in both Beetlejuice's ears and mind. He knew instinctually that it came from the black spot, and couldn't tear his eyes away as he realized that the sound was. A voice.
"Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz!" the voice boomed. Lydia screamed in pain and covered her ears. It did nothing to quell the pounding, however, as the speaker continued just as noisily in her mind.
"The both of you, ghost and mortal, have together…lampooned…the barriers between the lands of dead and living." Though the inflection did not change, both Lydia and Beetlejuice could feel the Voices distaste.
"For the past decade, The Council has deliberated your crimes, and punishment." Cold dread settled over Beetlejuice. He knew now who spoke to them, and the possible endings this unwanted meeting could yield.
"Today, at 2:04 pm, Neitherworldian time, a decision was reached."
Lydia had no idea what was happening. She felt she should be fleeing, but was trapped by the shaking of the ground- and her own panic-stricken legs.
"Of the ten Laws of Life and Death, set during the first Meet of The Council, in the early days of Existence, you have broken seven. There is only one punishment for such heinous deeds: Destruction."
Once again, BJ and Lydia could sense the emotions of the voice. Through their minds now coursed cruel pleasure…and eagerness.
"Oh shit." Whispered Beetlejuice, finally finding his voice. His words seemed to shake Lydia from her terrified shock, and she moved so quickly he nearly lost his balance.
"BEETLEJUICE, RUN!" she screamed, leaping forward and simultaneously grabbing his hand. A rush of adrenaline filled him, and he raced along beside her. Above them, the Voice screeched in anger at their actions, as the twisty road they tore along suddenly began to crack.
"To the door, to the door!" howled Lydia. Somewhere in his fear-consumed mind, Beetlejuice found the space to be astounded at her quick thinking. The door to the Outerworld was nearer than the Roadhouse, and actually posed a good possibility of escape. Hope, and with it, more energy, filled him, and BJ sped up, tightening his hold on Lydia's hand.
"Faster Lydia!" he yelled, leaping across a narrow chasm as parts of the road disintegrated. The path was falling apart in front of his very eyes! That newfound hope sputtered and died. A strangled scream escaped his lips as he realized there was no way, they could never make it, they would fall, this was it-
"FLY!" cried Lydia, barely dodging a sudden hole in their path. As the obviousness of her statement sunk in, BJ smacked himself over the head. With a leap, he took to the air, yanking Lydia along behind him.
"FOOLS! YOU CANNOT DEFY THE COUNCIL!" The Voices rage was punctuated by a lightning strike near Beetlejuice's head. With a yelp, he dodged and ducked, barely managing to keep their goal in sight. Stealing a glance at the ground, he saw that the twisty path that had once been Lost Souls Highway was all but destroyed. It was at this moment that a bolt hit its mark.
Burning pain grazed Lydia's wrist. She screamed, and her hand went limp, immediately dropping from Beetlejuice's grip. Suddenly, empty air was rushing by her, as she fell to certain doom.
"Beetlejuice!" She screeched, both hands, injured and not, reaching out to the ghost as she plummeted.
Even as he realized Lydia was falling, momentum still carried Beetlejuice forwards.
"Lydia!" he cried, spinning himself around. She was dropping towards what could only be Sandworm Land, terror in her eyes and death her only possible fate. Without hesitation, he dove.
Tumbling through space, Lydia screamed and screamed. She was going to die, right there and then- and in the land of the dead, no less. She couldn't see up or sideways, there was only down, down, down…. And a sudden striped blur.
Strong arms caught her, and then she was rocketing back upwards. Choking and sobbing now, Lydia clung to Beetlejuice's shirt as he shot towards the door to her world. Though she knew she should be trying to help BJ, all that registered was the fact that she was, indeed, still in one piece. At least for the moment.
Beetlejuice didn't allow himself a moment for relief. Instead, he used his charge of emotional energy to speed towards the door. It hung in midair, and they were so close, so close now…
With a final push, Beetlejuice and Lydia tumbled through into the large room between Outer and Neither worlds. The Voice filled their minds with anger.
"Do not think you can escape that easily! You will answer to the council!"
A final bolt of lightning caught BJ's foot as he flew away from the doorway and up the stairs. He bit back a cry of pain, and flung himself through the final door, and into Lydia's bedroom. With a gasping moan, and a sob from Lydia, the two escapees collapsed on the bed.
A/N: So, do you like so far? I know it's probably terribly confusing, but that's why there's a next chapter! Send me a review telling me what perplexed you, or needs fixing (no flames, please) and I'll do my best to fix it up. FYI, I'm using italics for all thought processes. I know this isn't proper novel organization, and maybe I'll change it later (you could tell me what you think about this plan…in a review….), but for now I think it works. Hope you're enjoying!
-Mel