Metronome

Stranger Beetles

Beetlejuice flew up one hall after another. This place was huge! How where they supposed to find one measily portal in all this? Wait, it had to be in the basement, right? All evil villains did their shit in the basement. It was like rule one of being a villain!

Beetlejuice poof'd down to the lowest level. Sure enough, green light was shining around the corner ahead of them.

"We found it kid," he said softly to Lydia. He peeked around the corner. There were guards, but those were easy to fix. He conjured up more clones, and set them to make short work of the soldiers.

Stranger Beetles

"It's okay Lyds, just rest, okay?" Beetlejuice's tone was worried. Suddenly she was strapped to his back in one of those kid harnesses. "It's a good thing you're tiny, kid."

The demon looked at the others, trying to figure out how this was going to work. "We need to find that portal..." he split himself up into three clones. "One for the Maitlands, and one for the kids. You guys split up, and if any of us find the portal, I'll know and the beetleclones can bring us back together. "

Stranger Beetles

Beetlejuice hugged Lydia back, glad to see her mostly okay. "What did I miss?" He asked, having no idea what she was acting funny.

"There was this weird, invisible explosion, and I think it came from Lydia!" Nate tried his best. "Can she do that?"

"Not that I know of..." Beetlejuice had never seen her use any sort of powers...

Adam hit the breaks as they came to the gated facility. "We're here!" He said, his white knuckle grip on the steering wheel finally releasing.

"Alright, lets try thia again. Everyone grab a hand!" Beetlejuice sprouted arms once more, and poof'd them inside the facility.

Stranger Beetles

"Holy shit!" Nate covered his head with his hands as glass flew everywhere. The Maitlands seemed temporarily stunned, until Barbara snapped back to the present.

"Drive!" She shook Adam's shoulder. He gasped and floored the pedal, careening around the bodies in the street and speeding towards the power company.

Beetlejuice suddenly appeared in the backsteat, cramming the kids against either door. "Hiya guys!" He chirped, looking as though he'd been used for target practice.

"Are those bullets holes?!" Nate asked, his eyes wide with shock.

"Hey, don't be rude," BJ quipped back.

Stranger Beetles

Cool

Stranger Beetles

So what if the Maitlands die (becoming ghosts), and that's why Charles takes Lydia and BJ in? And she finds out after she comes back from running away that he's her dad

Stranger Beetles

Beetlejuice sat on the floor in the middle of the living room, watching Lydia getting dragged away from him through the tears forming in his eyes. He had only a few seconds before he would disappear; he had to make them count! The demon closed his eyes, scrubbed the tears away, and opened them again to see red.

The soldiers were piling in, surrounding him. He saw one tipping salt onto the floor. The demon growled, low and deep, his body emanating an angry, red glow. The soldiers paused, looking at each other. Should they run? Or follow their orders? They didn't get a chance to contemplate it before the demon lashed out, inky black tentacles growing from his back and tearing into them. No doubt there'd be a blood bath to clean up.

Nate looked pale and queasy as he followed the others out. On the street, several electric utility vans were parked. The other soldiers were running past them, into the house to try and hold off the demon. Nate almost forgot the salt. He kicked the circle, opening a small gap. He hoped that was enough.

Adam and Barbara loaded the kids into their car and drove off, but were soon cut off by yet another utility van. Soldiers piled out of it, guns in their arms, and surrounded the car. One leaned down to look at Adam in the driver's seat.

"The girl," He demanded.

Stranger Beetles

"I got this!" Beetlejuice saw the fearful look on Lydia's face, and he knew he had to fix this quick. He couldn't let them take her. He sprouted several arms and held them out. "Everyone grab a hand. Guatemala, here we come!"

But when he tried to teleport with them, something stopped him. It was like hitting a brick wall, and he hit the ground with an oof. Beetlejuice sat up, a look of horror on his face.

"They've already put a salt ring around the house," he said, panic in his voice. "I can't leave!" He turned to Lydia, his need to keep her safe getting increasingly desperate. "Open the door and let them in. I'll take care of as many I can. Adam, Babs, take Lyds and the kids. Try to brush away some salt when you leave, but if you can't, just be sure to get Lydia somewhere safe."

Stranger Beetles

Sounds good

Stranger Beetles

"We can't let you kids go up there alone," Adam said. He paused, looking hesitant. "We'll come to."

"Oh, great. So now we gotta babysit two kids and a couple of labradoodles," Beetlejuice griped.

"Babysit?!" Nate repeated indignantly.

Then, there was a loud knock at the door. The room froze, and no one seemed to keen on answering it.

"We know you're in there. The house is surrounded. Give up the girl and the demon and no one will get hurt."