I dedicate this second last chapter to mywickidlyweirdnature, who was dedicated enough to review all my chapters so far (you sir, are a committed reader -) Oh and to Stephen King's "The Shining", which had inspired me to write this (this creepily anyway)
Lydia backed into the corner of her room at the Daremore Asylum. Harry's eyes glared down from above her as he descended from the ceiling. "Hello, Lydia." he grinned crazily. Lydia began to tremble and gave up trying to be courageous in front of this lunatic, she screamed as loud as she could. "Shhhh, it's only me. Besides, you are in a sanitarium…screaming doesn't mean anything here…" Harry laughed as he pushed Lydia against the wall and put the locket on her.
"There, now don't you look special." he whispered kissing her on the cheek; Lydia wished she had enough strength to pry him off of her. "Now don't you fret, it'll be over soon enough…I'm going to take you to the Afterlife and end this little miserable chapter of your life." he said in her ear pushing her off the wall.
Lydia shook her head with disbelief, 'What could he possibly do to me know?' then realizing what a stupid question that had been she held in a laugh. He was going to kill her. All of this was finally going to be over.
"Before we leave, you're going to do something for me…" Harry grabbed her wrist and slit it with a knife. Lydia winced but didn't scream, he had done worse to her. "You're going to write a suicide note on that wall," he bore an even more insane grin now, "with your own blood."
"No." Lydia said with a bold stare. "I don't want them to think I was that insane." What was she saying!
Harry's smile faded slightly and he struck her in the stomach. Lydia stood her ground with the little stamina she possessed. 'The worst thing he can do to me is kill me.' she thought calmly.
"You are going to do it," he laughed quietly and her spine began to throb. "You're going to do it or I'll posses you myself and hell…I can make you do more than write a suicide note…"
She groaned and fell to the floor. Harry grabbed her by the neck and stood her up coldly. "Do it."
Lydia looked away quickly, to be sure that if she accidentally glanced into his eyes, he wouldn't overshadow her. 'I have to do it…Or he will.' So Lydia dipped her finger in her blood and with a sob began to write: By the time you read this, I will be gone. Gone forever. Because no one listened.
Harry read her handiwork with a maniacal grin. "Perfect…love the ending, because it's from the heart." Lydia crumpled to the floor once more. The throbbing had spread to her brain and the note had drained her of even more energy. She looked at the locket and saw it had begun to glow…Harry grabbed her wrist and the room spun out of control; green lights swirled around her body until there was a rumble of thunder. "Welcome home." Harry laughed; Lydia knew this place…Adam had told her about it…she was in the Afterlife.
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Harry dragged Lydia to the bathroom with a sudden hunger in his eyes. In fact, his entire appearance had turned more deranged…
"The trip…has sucked some of my powers…but I can fix that…" he whispered with a sudden shortness of breath (if the dead could breathe anyway) He held her on the floor with his foot and began to wind duct tape around her wrists and ankles. "I'm…going to…finally become…the most powerful spirit…this side of the Afterlife…" he continued as he wound some cords around her body. Lydia realized they were missing their installation… "And you're…my ticket…to supremacy…"
It clicked in her head. He was going to electrocute her and some way absorb her soul! "What!" Lydia gasped as he began to tie some cords around her mouth.
"You'll be the fifth…person I ever killed…but my first victim I killed…as a ghost…My last was a beautiful…mother who just wouldn't…let go of her husband…so I helped her out…they say he as soon as she…died…a slow, self-inflicting death…" Harry placed Lydia into the bathtub of water, throwing in a couple of appliances on top of her. "And you know what I love…they all thought it was suicidal…"
Lydia looked into Harry's eyes with undeniable horror as he grabbed the plugs and inched toward the wall outlet…any second her throbbing spine and tortures before would look harmless. She wanted to scream or try to escape her porcelain prison but she was over swept with terror. 'This is it…' her mind cried… 'He's going to win.'
But Harry paused as the sun disappeared in a wall of yellow clouds, making half the room vanish in the shadows. A wind shattered his bathroom window and the yellow clouds leaked in like water. Harry's eyes darted around the room nervously "Who dares enter my premises!" he demanded firmly, "Show yourself before I get angry."
"Why, Harry. It's only your good, friend…BJ." A heartless voice announced, coming from every direction.
"Betelgeuse? What is the meaning of…" Harry was flung through the wall with a snap of a striped tail that had appeared from the shadows. A roar echoed through out the room and yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness.
"You lied to me! About everything!" Betelgeuse screamed hitting Harry with his tail again; Harry finally grasped that Betelgeuse was in the form of a snake.
"Why does it matter, she means nothing to you anyway…"
"She's just a kid! AND WHAT YOU DID TO HER!" Betelgeuse screamed again but this time Harry dodged the tail and slashed it with his now demon nails.
"Stay out of this Betel, I am more powerful than you know…just let me finish her off…" Harry returned, his eyes glowing an eerie green.
"Like you did to Liz?" Betelgeuse hissed examining his bleeding tail with hatred. Harry's smile faded and to Lydia's surprise, it was replaced with an astonished glare.
"How did you know about her? She was after your time…"
"How old do you honestly think I am?" Betelgeuse returned with spite lunging at Harry; Harry morphed into a green tiger and lunged at him as well.
"Hard to say. Your powers make you look a couple centuries." Harry answered smartly swiping Betelgeuse across the face. Betelgeuse recoiled and let out a piercing scream which shattered the mirrors in the bathroom; limbs sprouted from his slender body as well as armadillo like armor which covered his scales. Lydia couldn't believe how much power Betelgeuse had, especially after all the blows he had taken from Harry.
Betelgeuse flexed his dagger like claws that were now dripping with Juice. 'That's right Harry...the more you piss me off, the more Juice I create…'
(Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry)
He laughed at that very thought. He was just like Bruce Banner, but this Hulk did more than grunt and smash cars with his Herculean strength…and Harry was about to be his guinea pig. Betelgeuse was about to find out how far he could go with his powers…without destroying him or Lydia anyway.
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Lydia had witnessed some pretty unbelievable things in her lifetime. How her father could marry Delia Deetz, it's not like she had a talent in her profession or cook; the first time she met the Maitlands; the first time she laid eyes on Betelgeuse. This was above and beyond unbelievable. She was at the mercy of two psycho lunatics who happened to be dead and she was in the Afterlife. She wasn't sure if she should be rooting for Betelgeuse or Harry… 'This was Betelgeuse's idea in the first place.' she reminded herself.
Harry was just as baffled as Lydia. 'Perhaps this ghoul is more than he appears…anger seems to be his strength…perhaps I should attack him from within…' he thought evilly, "Well, Betel. This fighting is getting us no where; care to discuss our problem about dear little Lydia."
"She's is not the problem…YOU ARE!" Betelgeuse screeched and a yellow mist expelled from his mouth. Harry began to waver as he prowled toward Betelgeuse and Lydia coughed from behind her gag.
'Poison!' she thought with terror, 'That's poison coming out of his mouth!'
"Can't we talk…before you do something you will regret…" Harry retorted slowly as his mind began to melt away and his muscles throbbed at every step.
"Humor me." Betelgeuse laughed heartlessly.
"Lydia was the one who blew your chance…of escaping your prison…she betrayed you…"
"Pathetic, Harry. Truly pathetic! I honestly expected something more dramatic or cliché but pinning the blame on a Mortal teenager?" Betelgeuse scolded with a maniacal grin as Harry's body continued to shut down.
Harry had enough of this. 'No way is some amateur going to destroy me… he knows nothing about murder…wait…' Harry's face wound into a conniving smile. 'Is this who I think this is? He has to be…' "Do tell me, Betel…what is your real name?"
Betelgeuse's gleaming eyes glistened with hatred. "Is that your final request, you ing son of a bitch?"
"I suppose."
"Brian." Betelgeuse said shortly, "Brian Edward Jackson. And never forget it."
"That's right," Harry continued with a sudden addition of energy. He could feel Lydia's soul fading away from the poison and as soon as it disappeared from her body, the locket would trap it and Harry would become…
(Invincible)
All Harry had to do was drag this conversation on a little longer and everything would work out according to plan. "…Elizabeth did mention you to me…How you killed her minute Mira…how you broke her heart…"
Hearing this, Betelgeuse shook his head with a mix of dismay and emotion. 'No Idiot! He's lying to you! Stand your ground! He's almost dead…dead for the dead! Finish him off!' a horrible voice beckoned inside of him. But Betelgeuse couldn't…Harry was telling the truth…
"Oh how she wanted her life to end, there was nothing left for her now after her only child died at the reckless hands of her father…is it true you dropped her down that Ravine in Winter River and carried her home dead in your arms?" Harry questioned gaining more strength as Betelgeuse became weaker and weaker. 'It appears the tables have turned, Brian…now to deliver the final blow…' "So she told me to kill her Brian…to end her suffering…and I couldn't refuse…she was the only victim I ever pitied…"
Betelgeuse moaned with sorrow and morphed back into his ghostly self; falling to his knees. 'He's right…he's right!' a voice squeaked from inside of him; the forgotten Brian. 'Imbecile! LISTEN TO ME!' another ordered with ferocity. Betelgeuse was caught between two sides of himself, unable to believe any of them.
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"NO!" Lydia screamed but it turned out to be a stifled cry, which only caught Harry's attention. His eyes were twinkling with triumph. Lydia could hear them saying…
(Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you...)
But she hoped Betelgeuse would hear her. She hoped that he'd finish Harry off so he could finish her off. She prayed that if that being the case, he'd make it quick.
(He wouldn't have to, you're all ready dying)
'HARRY IS A LIAR! KILL HIM!' her mind pleaded insanely…maybe she really did belong in an asylum. 'KILL HIM BEFORE HE KILLS US!'
(Us?)
That's when Lydia realized that she and Betelgeuse were in this together. They had to destroy Harry before he destroyed them… 'I need to help him! How can I?'
(Why don't you call the Ghostbusters?)
"Lydddiiaaaaaaaa…" a lifeless voice whispered to her. Lydia felt a dead hand on her shoulder and a little girl, whose once bouncy brown hair had brought a smile to anyone's face now plastered with dried blood, was in the tub beside her. "Let my Mommy help Daddy."
Her voice was so chilling Lydia silently shuddered, but she knew the little girl wasn't here to try to scare or hurt her. She just wanted to help her father… 'Mira…this is Mira…' she concluded and Mira laid her head against Lydia's chest.
"Let my Mommy use part of you to get to Daddy…some of your energy…can you do that?" Mira asked quietly and Lydia shook her head grimly. Mira smiled weakly and kissed her on the cheek. "You're nice…I wish I could be your friend…but they wouldn't like it…"
Lydia's heart skipped a beat at the sudden ghoulishness in her voice; she began to wish she could push Mira off of her body…her flesh was slimy and she could feel Mira's collarbone poking out of her skin. Suddenly another body was beside her who looked alot like Mira. 'This must be Liz…'
"Lyyyydddiiiaaaa.' she stretched and placed a hand on Lydia's heart, "Hold still and don't be afraid…"
Lydia, who couldn't squirm even if she tried and the locket was sucking some much energy that emotions didn't seem to exist, closed her eyes hoping that when she opened them, Harry would be gone as well as Betelgeuse… 'He's the reason I'm in this mess.'
Liz dug her decomposed fingers into Lydia's skin and Lydia held in a moan of agony…she could feel Liz's fingers slide through her ribs and into her heart, though the pain wasn't unbearable. 'Am I really that dead?' Lydia thought with surprise and let her self sink further into the tub. There was no point on trying to escape now.
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Harry loomed over Betelgeuse with flaming hands, punching him in the face then kicking him to the floor. Betelgeuse didn't fight back. 'I deserve this…' he thought emptily and accepted another blow to his head, 'I deserve all of this.'
Harry let out a pitiless laugh and dug his boot into Betelgeuse's back. "Whose pathetic now, Brain? Allow me to end your meaningless existence…I think I'll grow to like your powers…"
"Murderer…" a wispy voice retorted and Harry turned around to see who had spoken. He screamed and jumped off of Betelgeuse backing into a corner.
"Im...Impossible! You can't be a ghost…" he stammered as Liz walked toward him with loathing eyes, "Suicides go to another realm…" Harry then laughed insanely, "Oh, why am I kidding myself…I can take you down with the slightest wag of my finger…"
"True…but can you take us all?" Liz hissed and more ghosts entered the room, all appearing to have died the same as Liz. They're eyes glowed like neon lights and were just as vibrant.
"Harrrrryyyyyy…we've come for you…you owe us…" they spoke together and closed in on him.
Harry's eyes narrowed villainously. "Back off if you know what's good for you…I killed you once I can do it again…"
The ghosts laughed airily and Liz joined in. Harry's eyes began to dart nervously. "The predator becomes the prey…" they finished in union and Betelgeuse along with Lydia winced as a piercing scream filled the room. A scream so terrible it made the wallpaper peel. A scream so tortured that Lydia began to tremble at the very idea of what they were doing to him…It made her previous anguish look like an appetizer. It was a defeated scream, and it died just as sudden as it had begun.
Betelgeuse didn't want to look beside him but some sort of twisted curiosity got the better of him. Harry's flesh had torn itself off his bones; his eyes were oozing with a green puss that was the remainder of his powers; his position on the floor explained his cries of suffering: they had wound his body as you would do to a twist tie.
Betelgeuse held back vomit but didn't turn away…was that what they would have done to him if he didn't agree to help out Lydia?
(Or worse?)
"Brian…" Liz started kneeling down beside him. "Are you hurt?"
Nothing came out of his mouth. He couldn't bring himself to speak… "Liz." was all he could come up with and in the tiniest voice that it sounded more like as if a small child had spoken.
Liz broke into tears and embraced her husband. "God, Brian…" she sobbed hysterically with a more human voice, "Brian…Brian…Why did I do this to you?"
Betelgeuse couldn't hold it in any longer; he kissed his wife with such lust and passion that Liz stopped crying instantly and returned it, running her fingers down his neck. "Liz…he lied to me…didn't he…" Betelgeuse whispered with emotion.
"Yes…Oh Brian…I…I wish we could be together…" Liz began to cry again and kissed him again, "But…I can't…"
"No!" Betelgeuse yelled with anger and desperation, "No one is going to take you away from me! YOU HERE ME! NO ONE!"
Liz got up but Betelgeuse pulled her down again, "Brian…I'm so, so, so sorry…"
Betelgeuse was flung against the bathtub by the ghosts and they grabbed Liz by her wrist. She looked back miserably before disappearing with a gust of wind.
Something moved behind him and he had forgotten Lydia was still tied up in the bathtub. Lydia screamed when Betelgeuse reached into the bathtub for her; as his hand reached for her throat…
'He's going to kill me! Oh GOD PLEASE! LET IT BE QUICK!' she prayed with mortal terror and waited for his hand to wind around her throat and to…