Chapter 2
When he reached out to shake hands with this woman, Beetlejuice couldn't help but let his lips curve into a smile. Whoever she was, she probably didn't have a clue over what really happens when his name is called three times. He only had to wait for her to say it one more time and he would be out of here before she even noticed he was gone. His thoughts, however, were interrupted when he felt something with his hand. When he took it out of her hand and brought it a little close to his face, he was confronted with a sight that took him by complete surprise and left him baffled and dumbfounded at what he was looking at for a minute or two. He could even move from his place when he was met with a sight like that.
His right hand was miraculously brought back life, completely restored to its previous mortal state. No longer nay form of moss or green spots were to be found in there, his fingers didn't have that pale shade of red on their tips, and the nails were not crooked or broken anymore. He turned it around a few times until he was convinced that it was not some cheap illusion. He was certain it was the real thing, as he felt it warm and he could even feel something like blood circulating through it, giving him the impression that it was alive again.
The confused poltergeist rolled its eyes momentarily, and after drawing a heavy sign, he opened them again to see the now silent redhead still standing in front of him, who all this time was smoking from her cigarette and watched what was going on before her with smiling lips.
''What the hell was that for, bitch? You wanna get me on my damn nerves all the way, or you just keep on playing around for the sake of that sick game of yours? What the fuck is that all about?'', Beetlejuice exclaimed angrily.
She went to her right and started walking around him while letting small puffs of smoke coming out of her sliced throat. After the last brag, she carried on.
''Well, it was really just my way of getting the kind of attention I wanted out of you, Beetlejuice. And don't have any hopes that saying your name three times will get you of there, because it won't happen. You see, this name thing doesn't really apply in here, as opposed to the outside world, though there are other rules that we have to abide while in here, if you wish to go ahead, that is.'', the woman named Clotho said with a somewhat serious look on her face.
Still rooted to his place, not knowing how he should react, the poltergeist moved his head from the odd woman to his hand again, which he momentarily curled into a fist just for the sake of seeing the vein look alive under the pressure of the muscles surrounding it.
For her part, Clotho stopped going around him in circles and ended up on the left hand side of his head. Beetlejuice didn't really bother to look at her, as he was more focused on watching his now alive hand move and wiggle his normal-looking fingers.
She remained silent and after some deep thinking, she threw her cigarette at his head to see if he would turn around to meet her gaze. Once she saw that he hadn't even flinched from the contact of the lighted object, she pulled another pack from her left pocket and while she was trying to light her next cigar, she went on another ranting.
''If this little miracle proves to be a minor distraction, then perhaps we should stop fooling around for good, and move on because I have one hell of a tight schedule to keep in here. Off with you.'', Clotho said gesturing to the alive hand and Beetlejuice could see that it was slowly fading into the form it really was. The process was a bit slow, but the hand was fully restored to its original afterlife state in a matter of seconds.
Not amused for being forced to come back to the reality of his situation, the poltergeist turned its head to meet with the patiently waiting redhead who had finally managed to light another cigarette, letting more puffs of smoke coming from the cut in her throat, with each drag she took. She then rolled her eyes, and when she opened them again, another smile appeared on her lips.
''All right, I was a bit hard on you , but like I said, I really needed to be sure that it was and you would react pretty much the way I thought you will. As to how I knew you all along and why what I am about to show tonight still have a special amount of significance about your life's course after you little antics at the old Maitland home, as well as how could I know the living person that you tried to marry in the first place, will all be explained in a few moments, if you tried to listen to me.''
Beetlejuice remained quiet the whole time he was hearing all this ranting, with a confused look still perplexed in his face. Still, the old redhead decided to carry on her speech.
''And no, I don't mind any foul language or any cursing that you can throw me at me, but you better listen and listen well to all the possibilities that lay before you in fragments that...'', Clotho ceased her ranting when she became aware that he obviously still hadn't the slightest clue what she was trying to convey to him.
''All right, all right, look. I know this might be new for you and that I tend to get a little repetitive sometimes, when I speak, but I'm not sure how more simpler I can make it for you. That's how I normally work with all the affairs that I had. Maybe if we drifted this conversation into recounting a few details about my history with the afterlife system, as I mentioned a while ago, perhaps you'll have a different perspective on the role I have and lent me your ears after feeling more comfortable with me. I'd enjoy a real company other than my sisters and associates. But first...'', and with that, Clotho turned herself in the direction of the black horizon that surrounded the both of them and gesturing both hands in the air,something started to take form in front of them.
A few minutes passed and before them stood a white door. The old redhead paused for some time and when the door was fully materialized, she then turned to face he weary poltergeist, who didn't hesitate to show how bored he had become of this whole trick she tried to pull off.
''Oh, don't look tired now, old boy. The show is about to start.'' said Clotho, in a faint attempt to convey some of her enthusiasm to him. Beetlejuice only gave her a look that said how much e hated the whole damn process they were in.
With a heavy sign and a roll of her eyes, she continued.
''Now, while I'm going at the backstage, sort to speak, to freshen up and get ready for my big entrance, you go right ahead and see what's behind that door for you. I'd have liked to join you, but I have one other thing I need to prepare before I show up in here. Once inside, make yourself at home and I'll meet you there, okay?''
He reluctantly nodded his head and she let her lighted cigarette fall into the floor, restricting her comments to one word.
''Good.''
That was when she paused for a longer period, putting both hands inside her pockets and her head fell a little, staring down to her feet. It didn't take long for Beetlejuice to remark to himself that the short minx was lying to him all along and that the joke's gonna be on him once he opened that door. Even though he tried his best to persuade himself that today he had his full of surprises and that he should stay away from it, some inner voice told him that a little adventure never hurt anyone so what's the harm if he played along and indulged this senile, yet more attractive, open-minded and understanding than Juno, person's wish if he wanted to get her out of his way for good.
His train of thought came to an end when Clotho said rather loudly, ''Well, time to move on. You'll know what you're looking for when you see it. Just make sure you know your lines or any question that may come to mind and I will try to answer accordingly. My only advice would be to try ask the right question if you want to hear any answer, or you will get no answer at all, if you insist on going on that wrong route, that is.''
''And how the hell am I supposed to know what's right and wrong in your terms?'', Beetlejuice retorted.
Clotho gave him one last look before turning her back to him and start walking towards the blackened horizon.
''Or how am I gonna call you up if I need any help for that matter? What do you think I should do if any weird shit hap..''
He didn't get any chance to finish his last sentence when she vanished without a trace in flurry of grey smoke, without a cigarette in hand the way Juno would normally do if she wanted to fade in thin air.
Beetlejuice was left on his own and he hated the silence that seemed to permeate the entire room once again, even though he was grateful that he escaped the fuss and constant chatting that went in that crowded waiting room. Knowing that he would regret this the minute he was in, he nevertheless reached towards the doorknob and after giving it a good handle and some turns, it opened, only to reveal what appeared to be a basement. It was almost as pitch black as the room he was still inside, but without any second thoughts, Beetlejuice entered the room and closed the door behind him.
Lydia was sitting next to the model for what seemed to be a few hours, enjoying the silence in the room and having the sunset from the attic window. She stayed there because she enjoyed the feeling of running her fingers through the miniature streets and corners of the Winter River model. She also enjoyed how detailed the little plastic people seemed to be, and her eye caught sight of a peculiar item.
What appeared to be a little figurine covered in a white robe and boots had somehow come to life and moved on its own. She didn't know if this was a good sign, or some new trick Adam has perfected in making the model denizens come to life temporarily, but her curiosity got the best of her and reached in to grab the figure that was now moving towards the old Maitland hardware store.
She brought it a little close to her face and tried to get a good look at the figure. The item appeared to be a young female that had a pale face and black rings circling her eyes. Once the little person saw her reflection in the girl's brown orb, she used a miniature needle to pin her in her index figure.
''Ahhhh!'', Lydia screamed in pain, as the little figure plummeted back into the street and started running towards the hill that the Maitland house rested and hoped that the teenager didn't have the chance to see where she was headed.
Fortunately for the little figure, Lydia was checking her finger to see if any blood came out of it. Sure enough, a little bit of blood came out of the miniature wound and she used her tongue to lick the spot where she was pinched. It wasn't painful or significant to worry about, but why would the tiny person try to retaliate in that manner when she didn't explain to her that she didn't any harm at all. She only needed some answers, that's all. Even if it was a piece of plastic that pretended to be a breathing and moving like any normal person would have, she would still have the ability to talk and articulate in words what she really was. But then again, normal was never what the raven-haired girl was really acquainted with in her short lifetime.
While she was trying to think what the hell was going on, the familiar green light and aura started to appear from the wall where the Maitlands had drawn a doorway when they needed the assistance and help to deal with her family when they first moved in here, all those years ago.
She could only stare at it, with her mouth open again, as she did when she only fourteen. The wall finally opened and before her was the black horizon that was only illuminated by that green light, just like Barbara told her, and she started to hear footsteps. If it wasn't Beetlejuice, then who the hell it was?
She had a feeling that she would have her answers soon, when a old woman with red hair and blue eyes entered the scene, with the familiar black coat and cigarette in hand, and a smile slowly curling in her face.
''It's time, dear. It's time to hear the true story of your life, Miss Deetz", the lady that introduced herself to Beetlejuice as Clotho said to a confused and slightly terrified Lydia.
