Mixed it up together: A Beetlejuice AU (collab with DemonofmyNightmares)

The Handbook...

Barbara's golden hair swayed fiercely from side to side as the Maitlands frantically paced about in the attic.

"We have to put a stop to her!"

"Can you think of a method to get rid of her?" Adam inquired, scanning his wife for suggestions.

"How can you kill a vampire?" Barbara inquired, her voice rising a few octaves in bewilderment.

"Sunlight and holy water!" We don't have it, though!" As he finished the last phrase, Adam's expression sank. "She's also a demon. Not a vampire."

"Isn't there a way to get rid of her?" Barbara was the one who inquired.

"Chop off her head?" Barbara liked the sound of Adam's suggestion.

"Yes!" she said in a deep tone that was diametrically opposed to her normal speaking tone.

"Who are we decapitating?" Lydia asked as she creaked the attic door open, startling the ghosts. She had read many stories with ghosts scaring people but not the other way round. she decided she'd have to do it more often.

"Delia!" Barbara shouted, syllabic by syllabic.

"You ought to... It'd be perfect for her!" Both ghosts groaned in reaction to Lydia's words.

"I know, hate is a harsh term, but I don't like her!" Ad am was enraged and shook his head.

"She is, without a doubt, a monster. But she did give this to me!" Lydia stated this as she drew out the handbook, focusing on it rather than on how to murder Delia. As he felt attracted towards his kryptonite, Adam's eyes sparkled.

"Is that an old book? I love old books! I'm getting thrilled!" he remarked.

"In our society, there are two types of individuals: "New-car smell" people and "Old-book smell" people!" Barbara jumped in as well.

"We like the scent of ancient books." Lydia declared as she had a glance around. They all glanced around, cautiously approaching the book and smelling it. Barbara eventually got a glimpse of the book's title. She was perplexed. "

The Handbook for the Recently Deceased?" she inquired.

"I'm going to use it to get my dad back." Lydia said, "I'm so happy! However, I require one of you to open it. Will you do the honour, Adam? "She requested, and Adam nearly jumped at the chance to read this book first. He grabbed his glasses and said,

"This is amazing!"

"Can you tell me why she gave it to you?" Barbara questioned the adolescent.

"To bring my dad back from the Neitherworld?" Lydia stated clearly. Adam cleared his throat and put his hand on top of the book, not wanting to ask Lydia for it but still wanting it. Adam took his time opening the book. He was speechless.

"Wow!" he shouted, unable to think of anything else to say. He felt like a youngster once more. He begins to read aloud. "Chapter one - the Netherworld: All ghosts should proceed directly to the Netherworld. That would have been good to know!" he continued, gazing at Barbara, who laughed and agreed.

"Is there anything in there about bringing people back?" Lydia inquired, and Adam went on. He moved to the corner of the attic and opened a box of chalk, saying,

"It says here we should draw a door." He didn't pick green for any reason. He drew three basic lines on the wall and gazed at them, waiting for anything to happen. nothing. He took a second look and realised he had forgotten a handle.

Nothing occurred when he sketched a basic circle for the handle.

"You really didn't believe that was going to work, did you?" Barbara locked her gaze on his.

"Um-" Adam shook his head uncomfortably. He cheered when he read the following instruction. "Now, knock three times," he exclaimed proudly as he knocked three times and a bright green light showed where the chalk had been drawn and a door opened up.

"Is that the Netherworld?" Barbara was the one who inquired, mesmerised. Adam's pupils contracted and his eyes widened all of a sudden.

"Neitherworld..." he said in a demonic imitation of his own voice.

"Adam?" Barbara inquired, her voice trembling with anxiety. Adam continued to stumble closer to the door, dragging his right leg slightly, his voice becoming increasingly demon-like by the second.

"Neitherworld... Neither..." Barbara, in a panic, snatched the book from Adam, shut it, and tossed it across the attic before slamming the door, jarring Adam out of his trance.

"NO!" Lydia screamed angrily.

"Be careful with that book!" Barbara cautioned, assisting Adam to a nearby chair where he sat and rubbed his temple. He felt far worse than he did when Delia possessed him for commercial purposes. "This isn't right!" Barbara expressed her frustration as she tried to keep Lydia away from the book while comforting her husband.

"What were you thinking when you did that? I had another chance to see my dad! It must be open!" Lydia shouted as she pushed past Barbara and attempted to open the book. In this dire position, Barbara sighed.

"The malevolent, immoral, and sinful demon handed you that book for no apparent reason. It's far too dangerous!" Her voice was significantly quieter as she cautioned.

"Dismiss it." Lydia yelled angrily as she walked up to the attic door.

"Wait, Lydia!" Adam begged, rising from his chair and gently grasping the teenager's hand while wiping a tear from her eye.

"We're worried about you!" Barbara explained her rationale without meaning to offend Lydia. Lydia's next remark slashed the two ghosts like a silver blade.

"You're afraid of everything, which is why you're locked in the attic and alone!" she said as she bolted out the door, nearly ripping it off its hinges. Her loud footsteps sounded down the stairs and eventually faded away. Adam, concerned, confused and upset at the same time, turned to Barbara.

"Wait, what was that?" Adam inquired, nearly in tears. He choked back tears as he remarked, "She needs a good defrosting!"

"We just had a fight with an adolescent female!" Barbara said, some ghostly tears starting to form in her eyes as well. How could they be parents if they had lived their lives (for lack of a better word) in a safe manner, taking no risks? Their unborn child's life would have been restricted and uninteresting.

Lydia was right. They were afraid of everything and they were stuck in the attic.

Adam removed his glasses, breaking the hour-long stillness, which was really just, for the two of them, only a few minutes. "We didn't make any mistakes! We should've gone to the Netherworld, according to that old, evil book! We must leave! It's our responsibility! We've already endured a lot!"

"If we could, we could. But we can't exactly go to the Netherworld, Adam," Barbara reminded him. "It's dangerous, and I don't want you to end up in a trance like state again. Not after that first time."

Barbara continued. "And Lydia's like a daughter to us. She needs us, Adam! She needs us by her side. She's in danger. She's under the influence of a demonic psycho and who knows what else could happen. We haven't a moment to lose!"

Adam looked away, considering things for a brief few moments. Then he looked back over at Barbara. "Well, what do we do?"

"Maybe we should go talk to her and maybe help her look into any safer way of bringing her father back? One that doesn't include her making deals with dangerous individuals," Barbara said, Adam nodding in response. "Maitlands 2.0?"

"Maitlands 2.0!" Adam agreed, a small smile forming across his face. A similar one crossed Barbara's face as they shared a knowing look. It was go-time.