Chapter 33: See Ya Around
It was the day of Beetle's sentencing. Lydia sat on the other side of the delapidated courtroom, trying her best not to look at him as the withered judge called him, preparing the verdict.
Lydia's mind raced, feeling a mixture of guilt and fear. She truly hated to think that he'd despise her forever, and she knew she was completely insane just for those thoughts. She was insane for caring about the crazy poltergeist in the first place, for thinking about being married to him, drunkenly putting on his ring, and the list went on.
The judge called for the whole court to stand, and being lost in her thoughts, Lydia almost didn't, until Juno tugged on her sleeve, alerting her to do just that. She stood, inhaling and preparing to deal with the damage.
She glanced over to Beetle, who was wearing his signature striped-suit again, standing and calmly awaiting the verdict. Hopefully he wouldn't go ballistic or anything. Hopefully. And hopefully he wouldn't hate her forever. Hopefully. She began to feel that strange, warm electric feeling building inside of her chest again, and it was disturbing her more than ever now. Just what was going on with that?
"I hearby sentence you, Betel, to one decade of Neitherworld high-security prison. During this sentence, you are allowed one visit and zero other calls via phone, telekinesis, or other paranormal venues of communication. You will be released ten years from today's date."
Lydia watched him closely, as he stood, completely calm as he was again cuffed, and taken into custody. It was so unlike him to be so docile, that Lydia worried to the point of breaking. It was at the moment she most wanted to scream, that he briefly glanced her way, and she froze, feeling static fly all over her body. And there was that smirk. That tiny, ever-so-slight smirk.
Lydia stood in the checkered hallway, as Juno stepped up to her. "I've spoken to the judge. You can go see Juice now. You'll have ten minutes once you enter his holding chamber."
"Me? Why'd you tell him I was wanting to see him? He's gonna murder me! Again!" she gasped, internally freaking out in every way possible.
"It's mandatory. They have record that you're now his wife. You are permitted to see him once, so I wouldn't waste it. Say whatever you need to, cause it'll be the last time you see that numbskull for a while. And I wouldn't worry about his feelings too much, if I were you. You've always been too soft, Mrs. Juice. That's why you're with this baffoon in the first place. That dirtbag is lucky he has you. If he's smart, he won't do anything stupid to screw things up. Now go, Mrs. Juice. Then I'll escort you home and this'll all be over for a while. And for god's sake, when he gets out, try to keep him from breaking the law again!" she sighed, blowing smoke with every breath.
Lydia stood beside an officer who's undead body was already full of bullet holes, holding her breath and waiting for the high security door to open. She half-wondered if she would come out at all. Maybe Beetle would spontaneously combust her once she entered his cell. Maybe that's why he was smirking - possibly plotting which method of incineration would be more enjoyable.
The only thing combatting her fear and intense, possibly uncalled for guilt, was the strange electric hum inside her chest again. It was warm and strangely soothing, and she was increasingly disturbed by its presence.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when the door buzzed.
"Mrs. Juice. You have ten minutes." the officer stated, before gesturing for her to enter.
Her undead heart raced as she stepped in the dimly-lit room. She could see his shadow sitting on a bench in the corner, his form chained to the wall with more of those glowing cuffs. She panicked, frozen in place, unable to go any closer, for fear of his possible rage. Sure, she was used to it before, but this was afterlife-ruining shit she was dealing with. His anger could be far worse.
"Well, well, well...If it ain't Mrs. Lydia Juice...Heh heh..." he chuckled, as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.
That was all it took. Uncontrollably, she began to spill it. Word vomit. Like, literally, everywhere. "Oh, BJ! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to fuck everything up! If I'd have known all that, I would have never got drunk, and been so stupid, and put on that ring, and-" she began to sob, being the pure, crazy sap that she was. Juno was right, she was a big softy.
"Whoa, hold on, there Babe! Geeze...Ya don't have to go all Days of our Lives on me! Shit! A simple 'hi' coulda done it!" he said, exasperated. "Just, get over here! Sit down and quit...ugh...cryin' on me!" he said, rolling his eyes and motioning what little his chains would allow.
Lydia wiped at her eyes as she nodded in agreement, sitting beside him. As soon as she seated herself, the electric current seemed to triple in her body, shooting wildy and disturbing her even more.
"Heheh..." Beetle chuckled, as Lydia's face contorted in confusion. What the hell?
"What is it?" she asked, confused beyond measure.
"Ah it's nothin..." he smirked, this time very much, and very noticibly. "All that juice, and nowhere to go with it..." he remarked cryptically, bewildering Lydia even further.
"What the hell are you talking about, BJ?" she asked, now frustrated.
"Nevermind, Babe. So let me get this shit straight...I'm sittin' in the pin AGAIN, cause you got drunk and decided to fantasize about the ole' B-man! HAHAHAHA! Can't make that shit up!" he snorted obnoxiously, which somehow relieved Lydia.
"So...You don't want to burst me into flames for ruining your plan?" she asked, wincing.
"Well, I mean I could do that if ya feel like ya deserve it an' all..." he grinned, looking sly and devilish.
"Uh, no. That won't be necessary." she quickly replied, still wondering if he was joking or partly really considering it.
"Eh, wouldn't solve anything, anyhow..." he grinned, glancing at her from corner of his green eye. "Guess we're just stuck together now, Mrs. Juice. Hehe."
"Yeah. Guess so." she shrugged, half smiling and feeling wildly uncomfortable considering she was sitting in a high security prison next to a potentially loose cannon.
"Alright, enough of the small talk bullshit!" he blurted out, causing Lydia to nearly run out of the cell, screaming. "Tell me the truth, Lydia. I ain't seein' the light of day for ten years, and I'd bet my ass we got about five minutes left. Tell me about all this shit you done. Why'd ya really do it?" he demanded. Strangely, it wasn't all hostile. It was more desperate than anything. And, if anything, she did feel she owed him an answer.
She inhaled, and composed herself, nodding in agreement. "Okay. I really did get drunk, and I put on the ring - not knowing the consequences, mind you!" she added quickly to make that particular point, before continuing on. "I guess I felt bad for going back on our deal to scare Eugene. I didn't expect to flake out and let my emotions get in the way. I guess I just didn't have time to think about what you said, BJ."
"So? What'd ya think?" he asked, his brow raised in earnest curiosity.
"I...uh...wasn't repulsed by it, if that's what you were thinking..." she answered, matter-of-factly in an attempt to satisfy him enough to get him to stop inquiring.
"C'mon, you can do better than that, Mrs. Juice!" he taunted. Attempt failed.
"Fine! Geeze...I guess I thought it wouldn't be so bad..." she admitted, folding her arms and turning away in embarrassment.
"So, ya wanted me, didn't ya?" he leaned in, speaking in her ear and causing her to scoot away.
"Hey, now I didn't say that! I said it wouldn't have been so bad to be married to you. And...truthfully...you're a good friend, BJ. You've really helped me out. I'm just sorry I couldn't do the same for you." she said, hoping he wouldn't derail her serious conversation.
"Eh, coulda been worse." he shrugged. "If it weren't for you and old crevice-mug out there, I'd be lucky to get outta here at all." he mused, seeming to quit the bullshit for once.
There was a brief, nearly awkward moment of silence between the two of them, before he turned to Lydia with a strangely serious look on his face. "So...ya think you can stand bein' with me for all eternity?" he asked, as that strange, small smirk returned on his features again.
She paused briefly, strangely caught off-guard by the honest question. "Yeah, why not?" Lydia smirked back. "So, do you forgive me...You know, for ruining everything forever?" she asked, partly joking, partly, truly wanting to know.
"Heh...Well, I'm already sittin' in here with my hands, quite literally, tied. Why the hell not?" he chuckled, and for some strange reason, Lydia believed him. She just knew, for some reason, that defied all logic, that he wasn't really angry with her. She could practically feel it in the air. In the energy around her.
"So...Mrs. Juice..." Beetle said, holding out his grimy hand as far as he could reach. "Compadres?"
Lydia grinned widely, both relieved and strangely happy. "Friends." she said, reaching out her own. And as her cold, undead skin touched with his own, a huge spark of electricity seemed to shoot from his hand into her whole being, causing her to nearly gasp.
The expression on his face as this happened was one of knowing something that she herself did not. And whatever it was, he seemed quite pleased with it. He simply chuckled to himself.
What was only a brief handshake seemed like an eternity, until the cell door buzzed, alerting that her time was over.
"So, wifey? How 'bout you lay one on the husband before ya go. I know you wanna..." he leered, his grin toothy and wide.
"I said friends, BJ!" she chuckled, as the officer came in the room, signalling for her to leave.
A twinge of melancholy ran through her, as she glanced briefly back on her way out. "I guess I'll see you in ten years."
"Yup. I'll see ya 'round, Mrs. Juice..." he grinned, winking at her, as the door slammed shut.
As the space sealed between them, the surge of electricity had calmed to a tiny, almost undetectable hum. Strangely enough, she found herself a bit saddened by his capture. It seemed like the Neitherworld would be a little more dull without him around to liven it up.
"See? I told you he wouldn't hate you." Juno remarked, knocking the ashes from her smoke.
"Whew...I'm glad...I was a little worried there..." she admitted, the tension falling from her body.
"Hah! That meathead couldn't hate you if he tried!" Juno scoffed, turning and walking ahead of Lydia.
"Why do you say that?" Lydia questioned. Man, everybody was so confusing lately.
"Let's just say he's my client. I know things. Now, c'mon Mrs. Juice. Let's take you home."