The Mad One: Part Five (rough draft)

Ogle had begun life separately, never really knowing himself until the Scientist brought him together, after his individual parts had been deceased. The Scientist had come to the island to escape the advances of a man, her superior actually, who had so far respected her rejections. But slowly, he was unraveling, taking more and more offense to her constantly turning him away. He wanted a wife and children, she wanted to be left the fuck alone. Eventually, she had enough, so she ran to hide on the Island of One Thousand Corpses to escape him. Drastic? Perhaps. But the Scientist only wanted one thing in this world, to continue her work, study, further the advancement of life, and dick around on her own time.

The Scientist wasn’t the most gifted thaumaturgist, instead, her body created an extreme amount of debris, which all her life had plagued her. She had been given LA-Pin Units to help control this, but they were only able to recycle the debris she released. As a child, she used technology from the LA-Pin Units to create something that would help her debris production, wearing a mask which filtered the debris, disposing of it in a way that didn’t leave her in a cloud. She slowly modified and perfected her work, using it to catapult her into  a career as an inventor, and with some education, a scientist, well technically a doctor.

She found ways to use her excess debris to her advantage, taking the LA-Pin technology once again to create a system which could aid in the assistance of preserving life. But, due to her superior’s obsessive tendencies towards her, as well as a few who questioned how this would be tested in regards to free will, consent, and yadda yadda yadda. Frustrated that her plans never saw fruition, she continued her experiments alone. Her first success was a cat she named Fleabag, after that she had been working on something much bigger before she decided to go on the run. Once on the island, she had more than enough research material to last her decades. Hell, they brought in new material every month. Eventually, she created her first human model. It wasn’t Ogle, but his big brother Boris. After Boris there was Bela, and after Bela there was Lee. Ogle came after Lee, and was one of the Scientist’s perfected models, although she said that all her babies were perfect and unique in their own special ways. Having always wanted to be a mother, but never wanting to go through the usual ways, or touching a man to do so, the Scientist slowly built her family, piece by piece.

Ogle was the more docile of his siblings. Boris was a scholar, but had a temper. Bela was a trickster. And Lee, well, let’s just say Lee was intimidating. Ogle became his mother’s main assistant in the labs. His gentle nature, combined with his strength made him the perfect one to assist her with stitching, tearing, sawing, and whatever she needed. Not to mention, the powers given to him by the debris that flowed as his blood, allowed him to extend his limbs into multiple places, as long as it was dark. This gave him access to deeper graves where he could pull out corpses without the use of digging.

Ogle's sweet nature also made him the perfect offering to Mad One. The Scientist knew one day she would have to let her children live their lives, but the world was scary, the world was mean, and the world was filled with people who wouldn’t take no for an answer. That last bit she was growing tired of, and so, she sent Ogle out to help her keep those people away. She did not want to deal with Slasher a third time.

For Ogle, the idea of marriage had always been on his mind. Boris had lots of books, and Ogle had always been intrigued by the romances. He read them often, daydreaming of the day he’d find a romance of his own. Hopefully not as tragic as the ones he constantly read about, but a more happy ending for all. So, when the Scientist told him of her plan, he grew a bit excited. He always wanted to be a doting husband, learn how to bake, take care of his wife, maybe even have a family of his own. The idea made his heart, the big glowing pink dome, burn so bright the Scientist had to wear sunglasses in her lab.

When Ogle first saw Mad One, he grew very nervous. She was much prettier than his mother had alerted him to. Slasher had always terrified him, while they had a certain beauty to them, they were far too mean and chilling. Mad One though, her face was soft and young looking, she had gentle eyes that relieved Ogle. Her skin was soft, even with scars and bruises. Her hands were pretty. Her hair looked soft and fluffy. Her thighs were muscular and looked hard, something that excited him in a different way. But it was Mad One’s voice that really reached him. She had a lovely voice, one that could either command and mean it, or coo and sound like the song’s of birds. For Ogle, falling for Mad One felt like fate. It even felt like he had been made for her.

“See, look what a pretty face he has,” Mad One sounded so proud and happy as she introduced him to her other husbands. Her bright eyes met his and her smile grew. “These sculpted cheekbones are to die for.”

“He’s pink,” Huni Buni scoffed, calling out his wife on her very minimal set of requirements for attraction.

“My mother said I am albino due to the debris,” Ogle answered shyly, glancing away from the stares of what he already considered to be his future family.

“She’s a pink slut,” Huni Buni teased, wagging his finger playfully in his wife’s face. “You lucky patchwork quilt of a man you.”

“So what?” Mad One sniffed, unwilling to accept her fatal flaw was a pale shade of red. “He’s beautiful!”

“So’s my ass but you don’t see me shaking it every which way,” Lowe scoffed, always exhausted, always done with the world. “Tell him the plan and let’s just get going. Stop bragging about all the dick you keep finding.”

Hades had to cover his face with his hand to hide his jovial grin and laughter. “Oh my god.”

Mad One glared down at Lowe from her perch in Ogle’s lap. “You know what Lowe? Bite me?”

Lowe showed off his mouth full of dangerous teeth. “Would love to, darling.”

Mad One rolled her eyes and smiled back up sweetly at Ogle, effectively melting his heart until she could mold it like putty. “I would like to talk to your mother. Since you won’t tell me anything about Slasher, I will go and visit with her.”

Ogle smiled, feeling he had succeeded in making both his mother and his future bride happy. “Really? You mean it?”

Mad One curled a lock of his pure white hair around her finger. “Yes, I would very much like to discuss a few things with her.” For Mad One, this meant pulling whatever information she could from the Scientist about Slasher that she could. Even if it meant fighting One Thousand corpses to do so. For Ogle, this meant discussing marriage plans, the wedding, where they would take vacations, silly stuff.

“I have a boat ready for us,” Mad One rose from his lap then offered her hand to him. “So you don’t have to swim by yourself.”

“I wouldn’t have minded.” Ogle took her hand, rising and rising until he stood his full height above her. Mad One had always enjoyed being tall, but she found an appreciation for feeling tiny with Ogle.

Mad One smoothed out his coat, eyes fixating on the glowing pink dome on his chest. “No, no, I insist. You were so tired last night you passed out.”

“It wasn’t the swim, it was the drink you gave me. I always fall asleep when I have alcohol.” Ogle sighed.

Mad One felt caught, but she played along with a laugh. “Of course! Yeah-” She turned to her other husbands. “Remember what I told you.”

Huni Buni rushed up for a hug, enveloping his wife into a tight embrace. “Just be careful. Who knows whats going on there.”

Hades then took her into a hug, kissing the top of her head as he did. “Watch out for Lowe,” he whispered.

“Hm?” Mad One murmured confused.

“He hasn’t been on this island since he was a child. It could bring up a lot for him. If you can, try to keep that in mind. This could be more difficult than he bargains for.”

Mad One nodded, giving him a kiss before she parted. “Hopefully, this will all end quickly.”

“Just be careful out there. This one may seem like an angel, but there are devils on that island as well.” Lowe bared his teeth warningly up at Ogle.

“That’s just my sister Elsa,” Ogle said. “She’s not-” A sudden sad tone choked up his voice, causing his eyes to become downcast and his hand to clench around his chest. “She’s not with us anymore.”

Lowe suddenly turned from sarcastic to sympathetic. His already down turned eyes becoming more puppy-like. “Oh, sorry. I know what it’s like to lose family.”

Ogle shook his head. “We didn’t lose her, she ran away.”

Lowe became immediately done again. “Well, sometimes dogs like to shit in other people’s yards”

Mad One placed her hand upon Ogle’s arm and turned him away from Lowe. “Ignore him. Let’s go.” She led him to the boat they would take to the island’s shores. Lowe then climbed down the opposite side, swimming under the boat to watch as Mad One and Ogle got settled. He waited there, staying below the waters until they rowed off. Lowe followed behind at a slow pace. He had done this dozens of times, keeping low, hiding under the boats, but this would be his first time going back upon the land that was once his home. He’d made it point not to set foot on that island again once the corpses started walking around. It wasn’t home anymore. Actually, he didn’t have a home anymore. It was mildly depressing to say the least. Maybe though, Mad One would be able to provide him and the children a new place to call home. Only maybe.

Once the boat reached land, Lowe stayed behind in the water until Ogle wouldn’t notice him following. He went to peer out of the water and something snagged him from below. It grabbed his leg, pulling him down deeper and suddenly, pulled him out onto the beach.

“What the fuck just happened?” Lowe wheezed.

“You were following us,” Ogle towered over him.

Mad One jumped between the two, placing her hands upon Ogle and easily moving him back. “It was my idea!”

Ogle glared down at her, stitched lip curling over his teeth. “What idea?”

Mad One backed up slightly. “I’m not sure what your mother wants. I don’t know if she’s working for or against Slasher. I just wanted to protect myself.”

“My mother wouldn’t hurt anybody, she’s wanting to protect us,” Ogle was offended at the very idea. His mother had done nothing but love him and his siblings. To him, she was one of the most wonderful people in the world. It didn’t make sense that she would do anything cruel or untowards, especially to someone who would become her daughter in law.

“You never told me anything,” Mad One tried to soothe him. “For all I knew, I was coming here to be turned into the next corpse.”

“She wouldn’t do that.” Ogle seethed. “She’s reaching out. She needs help.”

Lowe stood up from the sand and brushed himself off. “From what though? Be specific or we’re not going to be able to trust you. What do you know about this Slasher character and why won’t you say anything about them?”

Ogle stood stuff, clenching his big fists by his side as he swallowed down a nervous pit in his throat. “Slasher scares me.”

Mad One placed her palm upon Lowe to make him quiet. “So you have met them?”

“They threatened my mother, they took me and my siblings until they got what they wanted. Mother then made us promise not to speak about Slasher again.” Ogle’s voice was small and quiet despite the deep rumble of it.

“I’m sorry,” Mad One stepped back towards him, taking hold of his fists and gently relaxing them until she could place her palms into his. “I’m here to stop Slasher. I won’t go home until they’ve been dealt with.”

Ogle grabbed hold of Mad One’s hands. “They are dangerous. You don’t need to face them alone.”

“I have to.” Mad One gripped his hands reassuringly. “Take me to your mother. I’d like to see what she knows.”

Ogle turned to Lowe. “What about this one?”

“I’m supposed to lead the other two in,” Lowe grumbled. “Maybe I should just wait here?”

“I’ll send one of my siblings to come get them,” Ogle replied. “You can come with us and see for yourself that no harm will come to her.”

“Ain’t her I’m worried about.” Lowe took Mad One’s hand as Ogle led them beyond the beach and through the trees.

The trees were densest around the beach, but after a while, they became sparse and opened up into a large field. The Potter’s Field was where the island got its new name once the Sunken had left. The ground was filled with the dead, first with the dead of the Sunken, and then with those from the mainland. Ogle strode through the Potter’s Field like it was a garden, but Lowe began to slow. His grip on Mad One’s hand tightened to a vice, forcing her to the stop in the center with him.

Lowe looked around, growing nauseous as he looked around. Mad One touched his face, pulling him into her arms and cupping the back of his head. How long Lowe had ignored his grief, he had lost track of the years. Mad One too had been avoiding her own, but seeing the pain and tears in Lowe’s eyes suddenly brought it up inside her. She hugged onto him, whispering something into her ear that became choked and inaudible by sobs. Lowe understood though and he hugged to her fast as a lifeline, staying warm, staying buoyed above this upturned earth.

Ogle remained silent, standing away from them. He then picked them both up, carrying them across the Potter’s Field, a relief for Lowe who had once known this field as a playground when he was a child. Seeing it this way now only stabbed him harshly through the heart.

“Sorry about that,” he sniffled as Ogle walked on. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Yes you do,” Mad One wiped at her eyes. Her nose was red, and her eyes were puffy. “You grew up here.”

“I was born here, I grew up Sunken,” Lowe sniffled, resting his head upon Ogle’s shoulder. “There’s a difference.”

There would be another shock to Lowe’s system once the castle he was born in came into view. The high walls made from crushed shells and sand rose in the distance. He went stiff in Ogle’s arms, turning his head away the closer they came. Ogle set them down outside the gate as the door opened.

“There you are, mother was worried,” another deep, rumbling voice spoke. He was just as tall as Ogle, but his coloring was green and white.

“I’ve brought Mad One like mother requested. And this is her husband Lowe. He came with us. Her other husbands will be waiting on the beach, is it possible you could go and fetch them Boris?”

Boris tilted his head to the side, his neck popping loudly and sending out sparks. “That is fine. I’d hate for them to make a mess of the place.”

“Why is everyone so big here?” Lowe grumbled to distract himself from his nervousness.

Mad One took hold of his hand. “The bigger things must work better.”

“Come along, mother’s lab is this way.” Ogle led them along, taking them through the courtyard and down a pathway made of shells. It curled down, going to a trap door which opened into an underground tunnel.

“Fucking shit,” Lowe hissed.

“What’s wrong?” Mad One asked.

He shook his head, his usual exhausted expression replaced with one of high alert. “I remember this place.”

“You used to come here?” Ogle asked.

“I lived here,” Lowe whispered. “With my family.”

“Then you should know the way.” Ogle continued walking. Mad One put her arms around Lowe as he shook.

They came to a door in the tunnel, inside they could hear a saw cranking and screaming. Once Ogle opened the door, it became quiet.

“There’s my baby!”

Mad One peered inside, curious as to what this Scientist looked like. She had ideas in her head of some crazed older woman with thick glasses, frizzy wild hair, and long strange limbs. But as she saw Ogle stoop down to hug his mother, she was surprised to see the older woman was quite the opposite. Short and plump, with lots of curves and a pronounced rear end, the Scientist was quite cute. She looked over at Mad One, no glasses but she had goggles upon her head. Her face showed her age, but in an appealing motherly sort of way.

“Mad One, I’ve heard your name screamed in here a few times.” Her motherly appearance became icy in an instant. “Come inside. We need to talk.” She pulled out a chair by her desk, but Mad One chose to stand while the Scientist sat down.

“Here, take care of him.” Mad One passed the nervous Lowe over to Ogle, and to her surprise Ogle picked him up and held him like a baby, something that made Lowe both shocked but not enough to do anything about it, so he laid there.

“What is it we need to discuss?” Mad One stood before the Scientist, looking her over as if expecting an attack.

The Scientist was sorting through papers on her desk, turning on a monitor, then feeding papers through a shredder. “A few years ago, my home was ransacked, taken over by your piece of shit sibling and their cabal of partners.” The monitor turned on to a slideshow of pictures, showing Slasher and even more familiar faces to Mad One. Tensing up, Mad One locked her arms around herself. “They came in, made themselves at home, and Slasher blackmailed me into performing several experiments upon them.”

Mad One’s brow pinched. “What sort of experiments?”

“To make them new and to remove the old life they held.” The Scientist scoffed. “At least, that’s what they told me.” They gazed into Mad One’s eyes with a fiery intensity. “They held us hostage for a year until everything was done. They left, but never for too long. They kept wanting more.”

Mad One grimaced, biting down upon her lip as she listened. Her arms tensed, growing tighter against her chest. “More what?”

The Scientist turned away, glancing back at her monitor. “What do you think they wanted?” She switched the pictures until there was one of Slasher, but it was barely recognizable to Mad One except for the eyes. Their body was augmented, bigger, harder, they looked like a monster.

“Oh god,” Mad One whispered.

“I need you to keep them away from me and my family,” the Scientist snarled warningly. “If not, then this will only grow.”

Mad One stepped back, looking away from the monitor and taking a few deep breaths to calm herself. It was true then, Sasha was really gone. Her sister had vanished, removed herself forcefully with the Scientist. She cupped her hands around her face and mouth, hiding herself away. She had lost her mother, that she knew, but her sister, her sibling, for a moment she thought she could still hold onto them. But now. Sasha was no more, just like her mother said. Slasher had been born, and they made the choice to forcefully remove themself.

“Are they still here?” Mad One’s voice cracked.

“They haven’t been on this island in a year now, thankfully,” the Scientist said with spite. “And they never will again, with luck.”

“I thought they were here,” Mad One whispered. “I wanted to end this. But...Huni Buni was right. Slasher wants to make my life misery.”

Lowe stepped onto the ground again. “It doesn’t have to be.” He placed his hands upon her shoulders. “It won’t be if you let them.”

Mad One’s breath shuddered and she rested her head upon Lowe’s shoulder. She didn’t know what to do. She was nevergood at planning ahead.