Strange and Unusual

Something isn't right

—————Lydia's POV—————

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice trembling with fear and anger.

"Aww, Lydia, didn't you miss me?" Beetlejuice asked, his tone mocking.

"No, I didn't. You married me when I was 14," I snapped at him, memories of that dark time flooding back.

"Lyds, come on, that was ages ago," Beetlejuice whined, attempting to downplay his past actions.

"Okay, that doesn't mean I'm going to forget it," I retorted, my frustration mounting.

"You know what? I see your daughter in you now that I'm looking at you," he remarked, a sinister glint in his eyes.

"You leave her alone and stay away from her!" I yelled, my protective instincts kicking in.

"Now, Lydia, there's no need to yell," he replied, his voice chillingly calm.

I was seething with anger at this point. If he weren't already dead, I'd probably kill him again, but that scenario had already played out.

"Lydia, do you know why I came back?" he asked, changing the subject abruptly.

"No, I don't. Now, will you please leave?" I demanded, my patience wearing thin.

"No, I won't leave yet. Not until I get to be human again," he declared stubbornly.

"I swear, if you go near my daughter—" I began, but before I could finish, he shoved me, sending me tumbling down the stairs.

I tried to grab his jacket to steady myself, but he dodged, and I fell, the world spinning as I hit the ground. The last thing I remembered was a sharp thud before everything went black.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself lying in the living room, disoriented and confused. I stumbled to the downstairs bathroom, hoping to find answers in the mirror. But as I looked into it, I was met with an unsettling realization—I couldn't see my reflection.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO!" I cried out in horror, my voice echoing through the empty house. "Oh my god... I'm... I'm dead," I whispered to myself, the truth sinking in.

"Oh my gosh, what am I going to do now?" I wondered aloud, feeling utterly lost and alone. Just then, I heard the door open and saw my kids walk through the door.

Y/n POV

After school, Sam and I walked through the door to find Mom standing there, her face streaked with tears. I looked past her and saw a body on the floor, her body.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Sam asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Sam, don't you see? Mom's dead. Look behind her," I said, tears streaming down my face.

"Mom, what happened?" I asked, my heart pounding with fear.

"Beetlejuice," was all she said, and I knew exactly who she was talking about.

"He... he was the one who did this. I should have known. Barbara and Adam told me to stay away, and I listened, but I didn't know he would kill you. Why would he?" I demanded, my voice trembling with anger and grief.

"Because I killed him years ago," Mom confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You did what, Mom?" Sam exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.

"When I was fourteen, I moved into this house. That's when I met Barbara and Adam. They were great people, almost like my second parents. Then he came. We got along as friends, but he tricked me. He told me a way to see my mom again, but it hurt Barbara. I almost lost her, but Beetlejuice made me pick—kill Barbara again or marry him," Mom revealed, her voice shaking with emotion.

"Which did you pick?" I asked, my heart breaking for her.

"I chose to save Barbara. Yes, I did marry him, but then I killed him and sent him to the Netherworld. We thought he was gone forever, but I guess he wasn't," Mom explained, tears streaming down her face.

She was crying, and I couldn't help but hug her tightly, trying to offer whatever comfort I could. "Mom, who's going to take care of us now?" I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I was going to have you call your Aunt Becca and tell her everything, even about BJ. She was one of my best friends, and she knew what happened," Mom replied, her voice trembling with sadness.

"Did Dad know?" I asked, my mind reeling with questions.

"Yes, your dad was the first person I told. Then it was your Aunt," Mom confirmed, her voice filled with sorrow.

She felt cold as ice whenever I touched her, but I didn't care. "Mom, what will we do about your body right now?" Sam asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Oh god, I forgot all about that," Mom said, her eyes widening in realization.

"What if we put it in the bathtub down here?" I suggested, trying to think of a solution.

"I don't know, Y/N. It might be weird," Mom hesitated, uncertainty written all over her face. Then, after a moment's pause, she relented. "But I guess it could work until Becca gets here."

"Speaking of Aunt Becca, I should go call her," Sam said, stepping away to make the call.

While Sam was busy calling Aunt Becca, Mom and I managed to move her body to the bathtub and shut the door. "Hey, maybe you could see Adam and Barbara now," Sam suggested, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, Mom, let's go see," I said, smiling. We went upstairs, with Sam leading the way. As we entered the attic, I felt a sense of peace. Adam and Barbara were there, waiting for us.

"Hi, guys!" Sam greeted them warmly. They turned towards us, and I could see the relief in Mom's eyes.

"Can your mom see us now?" Barbara asked, her voice filled with hope.

"Yes, I can see you," Mom confirmed, a smile spreading across her face as she walked over to them and hugged them tightly.

"Oh Lydia, we missed you," Barbara said, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"I missed you guys too," Mom replied, her voice filled with emotion.

"Wait, but how can you see us now?" Adam asked, confusion evident in his voice.

"Well, you see, um... she's dead," Sam interjected, his words hanging in the air.

Mom explained, but Sam and I finished her sentence in unison. "She's dead."