Flare looked over her shoulder to the cell he lay in, still peacefully sleeping. She smiled softly as the metal door slammed shut. She was lead through several hallways before being shoved into an official looking room. In the middle of the room was another glass cell, much smaller than the ones she was usually kept in.
She sat in it, patiently waiting for whatever doctor or scientist who wanted to study her today. Minutes later, a man walked in with bright orange hair and murky green-brown eyes. "Hello." She said happily, smiling at the man.
"Hello there." He sounded surprised by her cheerfulness. He must be new. "I'm Professor Douglas."
"I'm Flare." She said back, watching him as he sat in front of the computer. "What are we gonna be doing today?"
"We're going to be testing a plants anti-ghost properties." He said, typing. "This plant appears to be a very strong ghost repellent."
"Okay." She said, flinching. "Do you think it's gonna hurt?"
He turned to her, eyes full of wonder. He just watched her, thinking on the question. Finally, he turned away, unable to looks her in the eye. "Probably." She nodded and sat back, waiting for it to start.
Another scientist and doctor soon joined them, carrying a box each. Douglas welcomed them and went over the details of the experiment. Flare didn't really listen. Details are boring. She yawned as they finished.
Then they started. First, they opened one of the boxes. When she didn't react, they took something out. It was a pretty rose-like flower with deep red petals and a purple-black stem. Flare didn't recognize the flower, but some deep set instinct was telling her to stay away. The scientists gave each other meaningful looks as she stiffened before drawing the flower closer. Nothing further happened till they put the flower in with her. It was then that she truly reacted, writhing on the floor and screaming in pain.
This startled the scientists. They didn't expect such a strong reaction. It didn't even touch her! They immediately removed the flower, scribbling on their clipboards furiously as the doctor made sure she was okay. It continued like this for a while, placing the flower next to her for certain amounts of time before taking it away till she had ectoplasm leaking out of her eyes, nose and ears.
An extensive physical followed. By the end of it she was shaken and exhausted, wanting nothing more than to fall sleep like Dan. She was forced to her feet and started the long trek back. She smiled when she came in sight of the other ghosts. They didn't notice anything off, but as she neared Dan's cell they locked eye. He knew something was wrong, but she forced herself to keep smiling.
The second she entered her cell, she curled up with a long and loud yawn. "'M tired." She mumbled, falling asleep.
Dan worried about her. When she came in she looked awful. Her eyes were red like she was crying and she moved like she was exhausted and in pain. She was the one that never showed the effects, always kept it hidden. It had to have been worse than any of the other experiments. He frowned at her, moving as close as possible.
