WARNING: Gore and torture. Bad stuff, friends.

I'm not sure which I hate more: the heat, the cold, or the numbness.

It burns, oh, it burns when they run that detestable scalpel across my skin, when they peel back layers of muscle to explore further. They never use any anesthetic. They think I can't really feel it, that everything is an act.

And the cold metal table seems to want to freeze my back, these chilled restraints holding me fast. I still can't phase through, and I know the equipment would electrocute me again if I tried to escape.

But the numbness is new.

New is usually good down here, since if living is absolute hell then there's nowhere to go but up. That being said, the feeling when they discovered my core was a bad kind of new. I doubt I'll be around for long enough for that newness to wear off, though.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they're killing me, based on the strange lack of feeling currently spreading towards my core from my fingers and toes. How long do I have, I wonder? Would they care if they knew who I was?

No, I don't think they would at this point. Research trumps everything.

That thought stings, but I just need to keep chanting, reminding myself of who they are to me. So what if my voice has already long since gone raspy and broken, from my screaming? All that matters is that I keep whispering, keep hoping, keep believing.

"What are you mumbling about, ghost?" The woman asks sharply, the harsh lab lights reflecting off of her red goggles. I pay her no further mind, just saying it over and over and over and over and over and OVER AND-

"Hey, ghost!" Comes the indignant demand from a larger figure in orange, "Madds asked you a question."

I swallow thickly, and repeat it a little louder. Maybe my voice isn't as bad as I thought, since I can actually hear the words I'm saying now.

They don't have the enhanced senses of a ghost, though, so Maddie decides to make me speak up. She drives the scalpel into my exposed flesh, twisting it in the red-green mess. The unexpected pain wrenches the words out of me as a screech, "I LOVE YOU!"

Silence reigns.

Panting heavily, I whisper the rest of my chant, with no doubt that they could now hear me, "It's gonna be okay, I will come home, I love you. It's gonna be okay, I will come home, I love you."

Damn, what a time for the pain to finally start getting to me. No, I can't let myself pass out! If they see my human form, they'll-

"I-it's gonna be okay,"

But what will they do? At this rate, I don't think I'll ever wake up. Even so, maybe I can manage a quick rest…

"I w-will com-me home,"

This is too much for me. Really, what's the harm in a little shut-eye? The last time I felt this spent was… when? Where am I again?

"I love you."

The last three words are all a big sigh, and a familiar, comforting cold erupts deep in my stomach. The cold, a much better cold, sweeps over me as I finally, finally get my rest.

"…Danny?"

The next installment is a Part 2 of this one! How fun.

Word Count: 545