CW: typical themes and violence of Outlast (blood/gore, fascism, mind control, cults) - you’ve been warned.
Project Patchwork #6a:
(credit to all art featured, as well as the characters Leo and Lo goes to @the-vagabond-angel)
The following is a written addition to Project Patchwork and is very long. Sorry guys lol
“You are a messenger of hope. A beacon of righteous faith, and a will to do what’s necessary to instill that love into others.”
“There is a false god who lives deep within the woods, one who must be culled from this earth in order to stop his deviants from cannibalizing the world.”
“Sacrifice the Simulacrum, and we will let you out”
She watches the screen intently, the words “feast” “false god” and “sacrifice” flashing alongside those words.
She smells that all too familiar gas, sighing as it envelops her senses.
She gets dizzy for a moment, then her vision turns red.
Flash
Ozzy swears she feels an axe slice her open. A searing, burning pain as she feels a hand grab onto her large intestine.
She opens her eyes with a shaky breath and there he is. The new Prime Asset
Leo “The Ladykiller” Harjo.
Another flash.
And the pain is gone.
A mannequin nailed to an upside down cross struggles to get out. Either this is supposed to be the opposite of what people perceive as a Christian crucifixion or something historically accurate.
Ozzy doesn’t know, but she does know that he’s adorned with bones. Ribs around his sides, various bones at his hips. Blinded and in a dark robe, blood covering his mouth and hands.
Worst of all though, was the necklace of eyeballs that hung loosely from his neck. It smelled abhorrent.
Another flash.
The pain returns as Leo hungrily takes a bite out of Ozzy’s guts.
She tries to scream but no sound comes out, frantically struggling against her restraints.
Unfortunately she learned the hard way it hurts more when you move.
Another flash.
Leo strokes a mannequin’s cheek with his axe, gazing tenderly at her…then lops her head clean off.
How…oddly affectionate. But there wasn’t time to dwell, as another flash occurs and her guts are being eaten as she’s still alive.
At this point she barely has fight left in her, but manages to yell.
“You ok buddy?” Another reagent grumbles in pain.
“F-Fine. Thank you.” She lies through her teeth.
Another flash.
Man this is getting repetitive, she guesses she’ll have to brace again.
The crucified man lurches forwards and upwards as a fire burns on a stage behind him.
Good thing she braced because in the final sequence, guts in hand, blood dripping from his mouth, Leo takes another bite.
He crawls onto her lap and kisses her, once again stroking someone’s cheek with his axe.
Ozzy sits there for a moment as the lights turn back on.
-
“You good?” A reagent with a thick European accent asks.
“U-uh…yeah I’m fine” she clears her throat, standing shakily.
“You get used to the pain,” the same one comments.
He’s in a trash bag with a noose around his neck. His bag says “RAT” above his eyes, and is tied in a neat bow. The newspapers strapped to his back are worn and a bit bloody.
“H-how long have you been here?” She stammers.
“Bout as long as Lo” he gestures to a green feminine man with four arms, a spine-like tail, and antennae…not the weirdest thing Ozzy’s seen.
“Wanna say half a year” Lo stretches. So he was the guy who asked her if she was ok. Noted.
“Ja, that sounds right. You ready, newbie?” Rat asks.
“Yeah. Lets go.” Ozzy replies.
The three, and a seemingly nameless, silent, reagent, step into the wilderness.
Rat immediately sighs.
“My allergies are about to get a whole lot worse.” He grumbles, scratching at his arm for a moment until his hand is gently swatted away by Lo.
“That’ll make it worse, dear,” he says softly to Rat.
Ozzy’s feet clack against the ground, leaving interesting prints in the dirt.
A cow’s hooves. Only one set of them.
She scuffs the ground with her hoof, masking her track. Any hunter worth their salt could find her, had she left it alone.
The air was thick with the smell of smoke, rot, and sweat.
As our four make their way, Rat spots a large wooden building in the distance.
He immediately whips out a camera, zooms in, then takes multiple pictures.
“With their budget, I’m surprised they could make this” he chuckles.
-
The group splits directions. Lo and Rat left and Ozzy and the silent one right.
It’s a great thing Murkoff gave them the ability to talk with each other even with the distance. Otherwise this would be the dumbest decision ever.
“What exactly are we looking for?” Ozzy asks aloud.
The silent one waves their hands at her and begins to sign.
“Entryway, mannequins. Bricks, bottles, health. Usual”
Ozzy nods slightly.
“And of course the objective markers..” she adds.
The silent one nods.
“My name is Markus, you?” they sign.
“Oswald. Call me Ozzy, please” she responds, fumbling horribly on the signing, which makes Markus chuckle.
The group begins gathering items, making sure they got each other’s backs.
Eventually, Markus and Ozzy see two mannequins by a desk and a button to press. All 4 reagents must be present.
“Alright guys, follow my ping” Ozzy says.
She pings the button.
Lo and Rat are unfortunately on the other side of the map.
This may take a while.
-
While walking, Lo inspects Rat’s camera.
“Is this a Kodak?” He asks.
“It is.” Rat replies with an unseen smile.
“I love photography…do you think you could take pictures of me?” Lo asks.
Rat chuckles.
“Maybe after the important stuff is recorded, no?” He says.
“Yeah…good point.” Lo sighs.
“That isn’t a no,” Rat clarifies. “That’s a later.”
“You promise?” Lo asks.
Rat nods slightly.
Lo’s antennae light up in yellow and pink as he jumps in his steps and taps his knuckles together in excitement.
Rat cant help but flap his arms slightly in response, making a slight hum as he does.
They catch up to Markus and Ozzy, looking at the mannequins with curiosity.
Rat takes a photo of the two thickly veiled - almost featureless - mannequins, wearing all purple robes aside from the long white veil in front of both of their faces.
“Children, you must prove yourself worthy of entering The Vessel’s home. Rid this place of the trash chained along the woods. Your good deed shall be rewarded handsomely” a mannequin says in a robotic tone.
A new objective: “gain The Cult’s trust”
-
A gate opens nearby, 4 trackers placed on tables. Whatever “trash” needed disposal was similar to the witnesses, Ozzy presumed.
She takes one, and quickly the tracker is fully lit.
“Do you guys see them?” She asks.
“We got it, get the next one,” Rat says, putting his hands on the poor guy strung up.
She nods, pushing forward.
“Lo?” Rat asks.
“Yep.” Lo replies.
Through agonized screams, the “trash” is ripped from their chains, their hands and feet falling to the ground.
“You’re…really strong…” Rat comments.
“This is screwed up,” Lo chuckles, holding the bleeding, sobbing, soon to be carcass.
“That’s Murkoff for you,” Rat replies, heading towards a nearby grinder lit up by the objective tracker.
“Isn’t this guy gonna bleed out before we get to the grinder?” Lo asks.
The victim freaks out even more, flailing its limbs trying to break free.
“Und why did you say that out-loud?” Rat asks.
“Thought it’d be funny, sue me” Lo chuckles.
“Oh Lo…” Rat shakes his head with an affectionate sigh.
-
Ozzy watched her tracker until it was fully lit, looking up to see a man chained to a tree.
“Is someone there? Y-you gotta help me I- I just wanted to save my family” they sob.
Ozzy’s heart drops as Markus pulls on the guy. Markus gives up turning to her.
“Help me” Markus signs.
Ozzy takes a very deep breath and obliges, ripping the man out of his chains with an agonizing scream.
Markus carries them, because Ozzy is too in shock to do much but walk on autopilot.
Tears fall down her face, seeping into the bag over her head.
They call her “newbie” and “rookie” for a reason. This wasn’t even week 3.
She kicks dirt over her tracks yet again as Markus throws the pleading man into the grinder.
“Just 2 more…” she tells herself.
“Just 2 more.”
-
Soon enough the group had taken care of the trash - nihils is what they were called - Rat had surmised from a victim’s words.
“Well done, dear children, you have done Seroscent proud. Allow us to welcome you to your new home.” The mannequin says, both motioning towards the door to the building.
Leo walks out of the door, in a muted red ensemble that showed a lot of skin but shockingly less than his usual outfit (or the one in the hallucination). He was in a red feather boa.
“Wwh-welcome children, l-let me be the first to um…to congratulate you on your initiation..mmmh” Leo says, taking a drag on a cigarette.
Ozzy stares for a moment, seemingly in a trance. Did Leo have this effect on everyone?
“May I…uh…take your picture?” Rat asks.
“No.” Leo responds sharply. “My a-appearance is for The Vessel alone to appreciate to that extent…no pictures.”
“Pl-please, join us for mmmhhhh…dinner, wont you? The Vessel has s-snn-something special planned tonight!” Leo clasps his hands together.
His gaze meets the 4 of them, his gaze fixing on Ozzy a few moments longer than the others.
He turns his heel, humming ‘Dream A Little Dream of Me’ as he walks into the building.
-
Ozzy follows stopping short of the door to see a list of rules:
1. Always kneel in the presence of Seroscent
2. Be kind to your siblings
3. Votaries must keep a distance from The Favorite and avoid staring. They aren’t yours to gawk at.
4. All children must always report to The Vessel or his Favorite about rebellion or attempts to leave.
5. Seroscent is absolute. To question him is to question g-d himself.
Ozzy silently repeats this to herself as Markus rushes through the door.
She follows.
If those 5 rules are their commandments then she’d have to follow. They did say gain their trust, right?
-
Ozzy follows her instincts, leading the group into the building. Markus may have gotten in first but they let Ozzy take the lead.
She, unfortunately, runs right through a psychosis mine.
The trial around her warps.
She grasps at her head, letting out whines of distress as she runs, knocking into a large tendril.
She starts screaming in pain as The Skinner Man hovers right behind her, murmuring in Easterman’s voice incomprehensible phrases.
She attempts to bash him with her horns, to no avail.
She runs towards an antidote, but Rat sets off his maxed out healing rig.
The trial returns to it’s regular state as she hyperventilates into her own hands.
“You’re okay, rookie. Promise,” Rat pats her on the shoulder.
“Fuck…” she says softly, shivering.
She composes herself, then continues.
-
Eventually the group makes it’s way to a large dining area where mannequins of multiple colored robes slice their palms repeatedly, carting in and out of the large hall.
“Cut the power in the basement and steal Seroscent from his throne” appears as the next objective.
Ozzy nods slightly at the group of blood givers, beginning to wander the hall.
The other three head to the basement to cut the lights, Ozzy excusing her wandering as curiosity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Easterman watches in near silence, pulling a stack of papers from his desk.
“Is this the one you mentioned, Dr. Wernicke?” He asks.
Wernicke wheels closer to the monitors, looking at Ozzy with curiosity.
“Not one of mine, but a colleague’s.” He replies simply.
“What is he?” Easterman asks.
“She is a very interesting case. A person born and spliced with the only intent of being controlled.”
“I commend your colleague.” Easterman replies.
“Subject 725. Oswald Carter” is written on the front page of the stack.
“Assuming these papers are correct…hi-…her mind is very malleable, which is why she was guided here in the first place, our agent made sure he had the right woman. Now the question is, what to do with her…”
“Let it play out.”
“…I just might. But remember who’s in charge of this operation.” Easterman grumbles.
Wernicke wheels away, back to the sleep rooms. He knew how Hendrick gets about his projects.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ozzy begins to listen to the mannequins - the ones who can talk at least.
She happens upon a group of women in muted yellows, a white veil covering each of their faces from their foreheads.
“My sister, distance yourself from this table. You are not worthy of sitting alongside The Proxies” one says.
She steps back a little, and it seems as though the group is satisfied. Proxies, huh? Interesting name.
“Sister, do you approach us seeking guidance?” Another asks.
This one has a turquoise ring, all of the others lack one.
Ozzy nods slowly, then bows at the group in respect.
“What is your name, child?” She asks.
“Oswald. C-call me Ozzy.” Ozzy replies.
“What a pretty name. I am Jane, Eternal Servant of The Favorites. I have served many through the years. Now, child, what knowledge do you seek?”
Ozzy sits on her knees, looking up to Jane curiously.
“I joined today being completely unaware what this family is about…c-could you please tell me?” She asks her.
Somehow Ozzy senses a gentle smile. One that a mother would give to their daughter.
“Of course, my sister.” She says.
“We believe in self-sacrifice in the highest order. Our Lord Seroscent has sacrificed so much for this world that it is only fitting for us to do the same for him. It was on the 5th night that he said unto us; the only path to salvation is to embrace peace from your heart, and to devour those who would take it away.”
Ozzy nods slightly, looking around again. She sees the large pot the bloodgivers are pooling their blood into. There’s multiple corpses inside, the blood becoming an odd brine for the meal.
She looks back at Jane, bowing her head.
“I think I understand now…” she says softly, her expression reading as an odd sense of realization.
“Good. If you seek anything else, do te-”
The power goes off.
-
“C’MON OZZY WE GOTTA GO!” Lo yells.
Suddenly, Leo bursts into the room.
“WHH-WHAT HAPPENED TO THE POWER?!” Leo about screams.
“I…I…” Ozzy stammers.
“Domini, this child was with me during the outage, seeking guidance. The others, however, were not.” Jane says.
Leo squints in the darkness.
“You, nnnnhh..the devoted one. Help me find the mm-meaning of this…” Leo beckons.
Ozzy turns on her night-vision, standing and following as closely as she can to Leo without breaking the rules.
She stays quiet for a moment, not genuinely looking.
-
“Favorite, I…I heard something earlier tonight that I was about to tell Jane…” Ozzy starts.
“Oh? And mm..What is it?”
“Nonbelievers in the dwelling. Th-they must be behind this…” Ozzy says in a hushed tone.
Leo stops abruptly, turning to face Ozzy.
“WHAT. Whhh…WE HAVE TO FIND THEM!!” Leo screams, dragging his axe off from the floor and actively arming himself.
“You check elsewhere, I must see if The Vessel is alright!” Leo shouts, running towards a side room.
Neither gets far before the power returns, and Seroscent is being carried by Lo. Four arms really must make that easier.
“THERE!” Ozzy shouts, rushing towards her friends.
-
“Ozzy what the fuck!” Rat whisper yells.
“Pl-play it off ok?” She responds.
Leo about breaks the door, stumbling out into the hall again.
“SISTER! D-hhnn-DETAIN THEM!!” Leo shouts.
Ozzy immediately restrains Rat.
“WHAT THE FUCK?” Rat repeats, yelling now.
“LET HIM GO YOU-YOU NIHIL!!” Leo screams, charging at Lo with his axe.
He slashes his back, which only rips the fabric, and the axe almost bounces off the flesh.
“Nice try.” Lo sticks his tongue out at him.
“Lo! She won’t let GO of me!” Rat growls.
Ozzy’s grip tightens on Rat, and she practically throws him at Lo, running after Markus.
They had to get this done, didn’t they? But Ozzy had to do what she could. If an axe can’t hurt Lo, what would?
-
Markus starts looping Ozzy, shocked that the lady they were talking to merely an hour before was so…different.
Leo kicks down Rat, stomping on his hand when he tries to grab his foot, and charges Lo again, but it’s too late.
Seroscent’s mannequin screams in pain as his feet are nailed to the cross, agonizingly writhing as his hands are too.
The group disperses, being chased by Leo and Ozzy every two seconds.
Jesus this was gonna be so much harder than they thought.
Markus throws a brick at a purple robed man and he explodes, severely damaging Ozzy.
She falls to the ground, her mask and part of her face ripping up due to the explosion.
She screams out in pain and curls into a ball.
Fuck. Shit. It can’t end now.
She shakily manages to stand again, blood gushing from her new wounds.
She rips off her mask, throwing another sack over her head quickly.
She rushes after Markus as the trial comes to a close.
-
Leo and Ozzy both stop to see Seroscent “bleeding out”
“NOOO!! NOOOOO!!” Leo screams, rushing the three, tears streaming down his face.
To put insult to injury, Rat throws a brick at Jane.
“HOW DARE YOU?!?” He screams again.
Ozzy limps behind, blood oozing through her new mask.
Leo turns back to look at her.
“SISTER!! HELP ME AVENGE OUR GOD!!” Leo yells.
With the rest of her stamina, she chases after the group, hyperventilating.
-
“Good show, Ozzy!” Lo compliments.
“Y-yeah, thanks…” she says, unsure of herself.
“Sorry! Fuck, you ok?” Markus signs.
“Let’s just get her out of here!” Rat exclaims, slamming the button.
Leo isn’t fast enough to catch up to see the three leave, but he sees Ozzy in a hiding spot.
“You fought whh-well, sister.”
He leaves a turquoise necklace on the ground.
“Ch-Chase after themmmnhh if you can. I’ll make sure Seroscent p-pulls through.” He says.
Leo then rushes back to the dwelling.
Ozzy, trembling now, puts the necklace around her neck, and collapses into the shuttle doors.
-
She awakes in her bed.
“Hey! You’re okay! Thank goodness- Great job, seriously.” Lo says.
“I’m…I’m safe?” Ozzy asks, looking around.
“Yes but we’ve all seen your face now. It’s beautiful, you know?” Rat says.
“What happened with Leo?” She asks.
“Don’t know, don’t care.” Rat says simply. “Got good photos, things to share to our newspaper. Speaking of…Lo?”
“Yea?” His antennae light up in yellow again.
“Pose for me.”
(Rat taking a photo of Lo as illustrated by Armand)
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