[IC] Stranger Beetles

[Metronome]

"Can confirm," Beetlejuice said flatly, crossing his arms. "You fuckers are lucky enough that I don't end your sorry asses like coke ended Lindsay Lohan's career. Quit while you're ahead."

The gray suited man completely ignored both of their comments. "Our projects are no business of yours. Guards, please."

The security guards began to advance on Lydia, grabbing her under each arm. Beetlejuice bristled, and even took a threatening step towards them.

"No no no," The suited man said, as if talking to a child. "You wouldn't want your beloved pet to get...hurt, would you?"

[Beetlejuice96]

"Let go of me!" Lydia yelled as she struggled in the guard's grasp. She eventually was able to knee one right in the crotch before elbowing the other hard in the chest to knock the air out of them. Beej had taught her a bit of self defense during their time waiting for food and she fought like a rabid honey badger.

Now back on her feet, she glared at Grey Man with pure hatred and venom. "Try to touch me, asshole, I fucking dare you." She spat.

[Metronome]

Beetlejuice grinned wickedly when Lydia fought back. Yeah, you show 'em kid! He was tempted to get into the brawl, but he knew doing so would have more severe consequences than it was worth. He didn't want Lydia hurt.

"Behind you, Lyds, look out!"

A guard was coming at her with a syringe, probably filled with a tranquilizer to make her go quietly.

[Beetlejuice96]

Lydia turned around just a moment too late, crying out as the needle stabbed into her shoulder. She still tried fighting back even as her attacks grew weaker, her eyes struggling to stay open and awake. "Beej! Don't let them...put me in...solitary..." She cried out as she slowly succumbed to the tranquilizer.

If it was one thing the two hated, it was being separated when one of them misbehaved; usually that person being Lydia. She was placed in a room no bigger than a small closet with little room to move where Beetlejuice couldn't enter no matter how many times she tried. She never knew what happened to him when he did something against their mission.

[Metronome]

BJ's eyed flashed an angry red, and it took all his self restraint to do nothing. If he fought back, she would be taken from him. He wouldn't be able to help her. So he had to do nothing.

The gray suited man's insufferable smirk made it so much harder. Beetlejuice clenched his fists so hard with anger that black, oil like blood began to dribble from his palms. It hurt, as only a dead person could hurt a dead person. But it hurt his cold, unbeating heart more.

Lydia was taken back to her cell, and Beetlejuice followed silently. He hated this. He hated them.

When they were finally left alone, the demon sat down on the cot next to the girl. He pulled the thin blanket over her, pushed her hair out of her face, and tried to make her look somewhat comfortable. She was so tiny, so fragile. Years of being locked up behind these walls had taken their toll on her.

He sniffed, tears pricking in his eyes. "I'm sorry, kid," he said softly. "I'm so sorry."

[Beetlejuice96]

"Was all that really necessary?" The pale eyed person asked as they watched the whole thing play out before them. They lit up another cigarette with their finger, something that seemed to unphase the Grey Man. They slowly exhaled the smoke as they watched the demon taking care of the girl.

"You could have just told them what's going on then none of this would have happened. But no, you had to play hard ball." They said, narrowing their eyes at him.

[Metronome]

"I assure you I have no idea what you're talking about," The gray suited man said. He turned silently and left the room.

Meanwhile, across the town, a woman was sitting on the edge of her bathtub, crying into her hands. A man sat next to her, arm wrapped around her.

"We'll get through this, Barb. We have plenty of time to try again," He said softly, trying to comfort his wife. She sniffed and wiped her eyes on her hand.

"I don't think I can, Adam," She croaked, her voice rough from crying.
"I don't think I can stand to lose another one!" She buried her face again, her shoulders shaking with each sob.

[Beetlejuice96]

The person watched as the man left before turning back to look at the demon and girl. A smirk appeared as they watched, finding one little flaw that Grey Man had forgotten. The demon was still there, able to manipulate anything but wouldn't in fear of the girl getting hurt. Still, there was only so much a caged animal could take before biting the hand that fed them.

Lydia moaned softly as she came to hours later. "Beej?"

[Metronome]

Beetlejuice had dozed off at the foot of the cot, leaned against the wall with his neck at an unnatural angle. A living person would have a sore neck for a week if they pulled that crap.

"Hmmph?" He looked up when he heard his name. He turned and watched Lydia slowly coming to. "Hey kiddo. Sleep well?" He gave a little forced smile. He'd fallen asleep while scheming. The breathers forgot to force him back into the ghost plane. So here he was, summoned and ready to go.

"I've been thinking, Lyds. When those fuckers come back, what if you kicked the salt away from the door? I could get us out of here like that." He snapped his fingers. This was the first time the bastards had screwed up this badly. It would be their only shot at freedom for a very long time.

[Beetlejuice96]

"You mean it?" She asked, sitting up as she looked at him with hopeful caramel eyes. All she ever wanted was to get out of this place since a month after arriving, and that was years ago. She looked over at the window before looking back at him. "Let's get the fuck out of this shithole."

[Metronome]

"We will," he promised, "Just be patient. If we mess this up, it could be years before they screw up like this again."

He pulled one of the snacks he'd hoarded out of his pocket, a granola bar, and handed it to her. They had no idea when the breathers would be back, so she may as well keep her strength up.

[Beetlejuice96]

Lydia smiled before taking the food, reminding herself to not wolf it down despite her hunger. "At least someone cares about me in this horrible place." She sighed softly after taking a few bites. Tears started to sting as she realized she was right; a literal demon straight from hell had more of a heart than the living.

She sniffed a little, quickly removing any signs of sadness away before Beetlejuice could notice. She knew how much he hated to see her cry and hated the ones who caused it.

[Metronome]

He noticed. BJ leaned over and put an arm around her, pulling her in for a hug. It would be over soon. He would be certain these degenerates never laid another finger on her.

It was night time before anyone came into the room. Beetlejuice had almost let his guard down. His head snapped up when he heard the door unlock, and he flew to hide behind it. He didn't know who it was or why they were coming in, but it didn't matter. So long as they got the hell out of here.

[Beetlejuice96]

Lydia quickly jumped up, standing in the middle of the room to look at who entered but oddly there was no one there. Baffled, she took a hesitant step towards the door before eventually having enough courage to glance into the hallway. No one at all. Had the door just malfunctioned? It didn't matter as she moved quickly to break the salt line.

"Come on, Beej. Now's our only chance!" She said, clear excitement in her eyes.

[Metronome]

He didn't need to be told twice. Beetlejuice flew out the door, grabbing Lydia under the arms. And like that, they were gone.

They reappeared a few miles away, surrounded by dark forest. Beetlejuice had no idea where he'd taken them. All he knew was that they were finally free. He looked around and cackled, grabbing Lydia and swinging her around.

"We did it, kid! We're free!" He put her down and took a better look around. "Now, where the hell are we?" He paused. "I think you better unsummon me, kid. I'm not exactly inconspicuous here."

[Beetlejuice96]

Lydia couldn't help but laugh as well at their freedom, hugging Beetlejuice as she was twirled around. "Whoo!" She cheered happily, her cry echoing throughout the forest. She looked around before unsummoning him.

"Well, we can't be far from that Hawkins they talked about. If we can just find a road we'd be able to hitchhike into town. From there we can travel the world." She replied as she headed off in a direction, hoping that it wouldn't get them lost or return them back to the facility.

The pale eyed person watched silently as Grey Man practically exploded at the guards,a little smirk of amusement on their lips. "You have no one to blame but yourself." They said in a matter of fact way.

[Metronome]

"Well, what are you idiots waiting for?! Send out the recovery team!" The gray suited man screamed, red in the face. He ignored the stranger person's comment, perhaps because his choice response would likely get him fired.

_____________________

Meanwhile, across the town, the Maitlands were driving in from a visit to the big city. Barbara's eyes were glazed over and tired as they gazed out the window into the dark forest. One hand rested subconsciously over her abdomen, where only a few weeks prior, their would-be child had been healthy and growing. She didn't know if she could keep going to these fertility appointments. Two hours one way, in a strange town, to see a specialist who was so busy they only spent about ten minutes talking to them. Maybe...they just weren't meant to have children. She let out a soft sigh.

Adam glanced over at his wife. His eyes softened when they met her face. They would get through this, but would they ever be the same? He knew how badly Barbara had wanted this baby. Every bit as badly as she'd wanted the first one. To go through this again...it was torture. He reached over and took her hand. Their eyes met, and Barbara gave him a small smile. Movement flashed in front of the car, and Barbara's eyes darted to it. She went rigid in her seat.

"OH MY GOD ADAM!"

_____________________

He floated behind Lydia as she walked. Beetlejuice winced at every stick and rock she stepped on with her bare feet. He knew she was tough, but he also knew that that shit had to hurt. It seemed like they'd been walking for hours, but maybe it was just him. Every once in a while, he'd heard a stick snag on her thin gown, or catch her shivering. Every bit of it made him hate the place they'd escaped even more.

Finally, after they'd walked at least a couple miles, they came across a road. He lagged behind as Lydia crossed it, just up from a sharp bend. It happened in slow motion. He saw the headlights turning in the bend, and he felt his entire body grow colder.

"LYDIA!"

The screech of tires filled the silent air. Beetlejuice flew into the road.

"Nononononono! LYDIA!" He was in full panic mode. After all this, after finally earning their freedom, his kid got hit by a fucking car!

_____________________

Adam and Barbara both piled out of the car. Adam couldn't believe what had darted out in front of them. A little girl? What was she doing all the way out here?! His heart pounded in his ears as he ran to the front of the van. No dent, no girl. He sighed in relief. They hadn't hit her. His body was still shaking with adrenaline. Then, where had she gone?

"Hello?!" Barbara called into the dark forest. "Hello? Adam, you saw that girl, right?"

"Yeah...where is she? Hello! Little girl?"

[Beetlejuice96]

Lydia smiled upon seeing the road, knowing that their freedom would be closer as she ran to cross it. Sudden lights beamed down on her causing her to freeze; a deer in the headlights. Just before the car mowed her down she snapped out of it, quickly diving to the side she was heading to. She tumbled a little down the shoulder, crying out a little as some rocks bruised her frail body, tearing the medical gown she called clothes.

"Who the fuck almost runs over a kid?!" She growled to herself as she picked herself up, wincing as pain shot up her left arm. She couldn't tell from where she was but she knew the arm was either dislocated or broken. She really hoped it wasn't the latter.

Hearing the voices calling out, she walked over to them, about ready to curse them out when she got a good look at them from the headlights. A man and a woman, probably married, were calling out into the darkness surrounding them. They seemed genuinely concerned and worried. She felt a twinge of regret for frightening them before walking over, holding her arm as she did. God she must have looked either pathetic or like an escaped lunatic. "I'm right here." She said.

[Metronome]

It was a good thing he wasn't corporeal, or else Beetlejuice probably would have murdered the hell out of these two schmucks for flattening Lydia. He didn't care if they were sorry, Lydia was gone and- Oh, wait, no she was right there. BJ flew over to her and tried to wrap her up in a hug, forgetting that his arms would just go right through her.

"Lyds! You're okay!" He said. "Wait, what are you doing? Run! Those two could turn us in!"

But it was too late. Adam saw the girl, and ran to her. "Oh thank godness you're okay!" He said, before noticing how she was holding her arm. "Oh no, you're hurt! Barbara! She's over here!"

His wife came running.

"Oh sweetheart, what are you doing out here?" She asked in possibly the most momly voice Beetlejuice had ever heard. She took in Lydia's appearance, and he could see her heart melting right there on the spot. Okay... maybe these two were kind of adorable. And not half bad looking, either.

Adam took note of the hospital gown, and wondered if maybe she ran away from a psychiatric ward. But there wasn't one in Hawkins... "Sweetie, how long have you been out here? Do you need us to call someone? Do you need us to drive you anywhere?" His dorky glasses and look of utter, pure concern were impossible to accuse of ill intent. These two were a couple of labradoodles.

"Okay, maybe they won't turn us in," Beetlejuice said begrudgingly. He, too noticed her arm. "Hey, you okay kid?" This was bad. If she was hurt...would they have to go to the hospital? Those government fucks would definitely find them there!

[Beetlejuice96]

The way the couple were so worried over her reminded Lydia of her own parents and how they fretted whenever she got something small like the sniffles. All the emotions that she kept bottled for years finally broke as tears fell freely. She couldn't keep her small frame from shaking as she sobbed in front of these strangers.

"I...I don't know. I was kept away from people. I don't want to go back to that horrible place. Please don't send me back. Please...please..." Her voice cracked as she begged them. She couldn't go back, not after just gaining their freedom. She couldn't help herself as she suddenly hugged the woman- Barbara the man had called her- hiccuping into her chest.

"My arm might be broken, but I don't want to go to the hospital. They'll find me and take me away again." She said, partially replying to Beetlejuice while telling the couple the only injury she had that really hurt at the moment.