Hello! This is my first fanfiction I've ever written (and published) so I hope at least one of you enjoy.

If you have questions, comments, or ideas, please message me. i'm all ears!

Note: i do not own Outlast or the cover photo!

Linda Hart, a young woman in her mid-twenties ended up in a situation that wouldn't have happened if only she kept her mouth shut. She had dark brown hair, green eyes and a smile that could make the saddest person happy. She was an angel. Linda was the only female employee at Mount Massive Asylum. She did not have a uterus due to having ovarian cancer at age 19. It was removed and so the Engine never affected her like the other females. That wasn't the only reason she ended up at Mount Massive. Her former college friend, Jeremy Blaire, had encouraged her to join Mount Massive because she was an excellent psychologist. That was the only reason Linda knew. He told her that if she joined and worked with patients, they could regain their healthy mental state and reenter the world as a new citizen. This, of course, sparked her interests. Having no spouse or kids, she didn't have much to leave behind. Once she was convinced to join, she started her work immediately.

"So... This is Mount Massive?" Linda said, staring up at the large building, her long brown hair flowing slightly in the fall breeze. She had a few suitcases but nothing too big. They supported a room for her so she didn't need to pack anything that large.

"Yes, don't you like it?" Jeremy asked, dragging her largest suitcase behind her.

"It's beautiful," she said. Jeremy smiled.

"Wonderful. Let's take your things to your room, and I'll show you around. Sound good?" he said, walking.

Linda looked up at the asylum once more until she agreed to walk with him, carrying the rest of her suitcases. They walked through the front doors. Their greeting was like no other.

"Good morning Mr. Bla-" said the security officer behind the front desk. His greeting was stopped when he saw Linda. He looked back at Jeremy, clearly confused. He just looked back and smiled.

"I'd like to get Dr. Linda Hart's badge please," Jeremy said.

"Oh, uhh. You never mentioned there would be another member joining us today," said the security guard. Jeremy's smile disappears and looks at him angrily. This made the man panic and type a few things on his computer. While Linda patiently waits, she notices the offices on both sides of the room behind some glass walls. She notices almost every employee is staring at her, all huddled up in one spot and mumbling to each other. She also notices there aren't any women. This made her concerned. After the short delay, Linda had her badge and they were walking to her room. They walked inside and Jeremy set her luggage on her bed. He didn't give Linda much time to look at her room and he was already outside waiting for her to join him to give her a tour. She rushes out her room, shutting the door behind her. Jeremy gives her the keys.

"Do not lose your keys. They open almost every gate and cell. We have a very tight system and we can't afford diversions," he says before handing her the keys.

"Of course, I won't lose them," she smiles, earning a smile from him in return. They begin to walk.

"This whole section is for staff only. Their rooms and offices," he said, pointing to the rooms.

"Where are the patients?" Linda asked.

"They're all in different sections of the asylum, but I won't be able to introduce you to all of them.

There are far too many and some aren't so friendly," Jeremy said, walking to the elevator and opening it, gesturing for her to go in. They both walk in and he turns the key to use the elevator and it starts moving up slowly.

"I apologize for the elevator. It's quite old. You could use the stairs if you'd like to while you work here," he says.

"Oh, it's fine. I don't mind," she smiles.

"I forgot to mention that you're not allowed to go downstairs to the basement. Your level of expertise is not needed there," he assures her.

"What's downst-"

"Don't worry about it," he says, with a firm voice.

After a minute of silence, the elevator stopped and opened, they walked through the halls, passing separate offices, seeing a few more employees. They stared at Linda as they walked by which made her a little uncomfortable. They were all men. Linda didn't see one woman which made her suspicions grow more. They find her office where she'd be doing most of her work in. There was a large leather seat, next to a lounge chair where the patient would be. There was a small desk in the corner and a few bookshelves to keep her busy if there wasn't an appointment. Which would be highly unlikely because there were many patients for her to look at. After looking at her new office, Jeremy takes her to his. There was a large desk sitting in the middle of the room with two small chairs on the other side. He sits at his desk.

"Please, sit," he said, motioning her to sit in one of the chairs. She takes a seat and crosses her legs.

"So how do you like Mount Massive so far?" he asked. She thought for a moment and smiled.

"I feel like I'd be able to make a difference her. I enjoy it a lot," she says, making Jeremy smile.

"You're very special, Linda. I hope you feel like you're important here because you are. This'll help Mount Massive in a great amount," he said.

"Of course."

"I think it's time you should meet a few of our favorite patients," he said, growing a smile.

They leave his office and travel through the halls, finding a large gated doorway.

"You can use your keys for this," he takes her keys and points to a large silver one. "This one opens the gates."

She takes the keys from his hand and inserts the key into the gate. It unlocks and opens with a loud creak. They walk through and close it. The temperature dropped quickly and Linda began to shiver. Jeremy just laughed.

"You'll get used to it when you come in here."

"Do the patients have to deal with this?" she asked.

"Well, yes but they don't mind it," he said as they come across another gate.

"This is the male ward," Jeremy tells her.

Linda opens it and walks through before Jeremy. She sees a few cells. Below, are another set of cells but those ones were just a large solid door with a small glass window. Not even large enough to stick your head through. The cells were dirty and rusty. Linda hesitates to walk forward until Jeremy nudges her to continue. They pass a few cells and at that moment, that's all Linda wanted to see. She slowed down, letting Jeremy walk past her. Patients were crouched in a corner hugging their knees and shaking, hitting their head against the wall, or just staring at them as they walked by. Their attention was mostly on Jeremy. Some patients stood to the far end of the cell in hopes of being as far away from Jeremy as possible. Linda felt terrible for them. They seemed to be treated horribly. Scars decorated their bodies like tattoos. Some were missing hands or feet. Linda couldn't look anymore. They passed another cell, a man with small patches of hair, glasses, and barely any clothing covering him was sitting in the corner with his arms resting on his knees. Jeremy looks over and they make eye contact and he stops, Linda bumped into him because she was unaware that he stopped suddenly.

"Blaire," said the patient with an unsatisfied tone to his voice.

"Trager," Jeremy replies, eyeing him down.

"Who is this? Your girlfriend?" Trager laughs.

"She's just a friend. She's working here now," Jeremy says through gritted teeth.

Trager stands up and walks to the front of his cell. He wraps his fingers around the bars staring at her.

"She's pretty. Seems too delicate though. She won't last a day here," he scowls.

"Well she'll last longer than you will," Jeremy said while making a fist.

"Not with the effects of the Engine. We both know what happens to women when they're exposed to the engine for too long," Trager smiles.

"It won't affect her. I know it won't. She's much different," he says. Linda just cowers behind Jeremy with her eyes not leaving Trager.

Trager couldn't help but laugh. It was a rough wicked laugh. "Oh, that little tramp doesn't know a thing about this place, does she?"

At this point, Linda was utterly confused and somewhat offended. This man made no sense and he barely knows her enough to make assumptions. But standing behind Jeremy wasn't helping. Maybe there were a few secrets that Jeremy was hiding from her. Jeremy just stood there angrily. If there were no bars separating them, he just might attack Trager. He suddenly became calm and pulled out the walkie talkie out of his back pocket and spoke into it.

"Will someone please take Mr. Trager to the Engine? I believe he needs to spend some time there, over,"

"On it, Mr. Blaire," said a man's voice in the talkie. Trager smiles and laughs hysterically. Moments later, three security guards come in the Male Ward. They open Trager's cell door and take him. Trager only continues laughing like a mad man as they drag him away. Linda wanted to say things to him, but she didn't realize she was being silent the entire time. As they watched Trager being dragged away, Jeremy and Linda hesitantly went on with the tour. They walked by another cell where a patient is leaning against the cell gate, hanging on to the bars. He had no wounds, scars, or missing limbs. He was untouched like he hasn't been here for long. He had sleek black hair that was completely gone on the sides. He had icy blue eyes that pierced through Lindas as he looked at her. He towered over her. He was at least 6'5 and she was only 5'6. He was also very large in muscle. He looked down at her and smiled. It wasn't a creepy smile or a threatening smile. More of a kind gesture and Linda definitely saw it.

"Hello," said the patient.

"Uh, hi," she replied, giving her best smile.

The patient paused for a moment, staring at her.

"My, you have a lovely smile," he said.

"You're too kind," she said back.

"My name is Eddie. Eddie Gluskin. And you are?" he asked, wondering what her name was.

"I'm Linda. Dr. Linda Hart. I'm the new psychologist here. We'll be having therapy sessions to help you out," she smiled again.

"Wonderful. I can't wait," he smiled back. Jeremy got annoyed and kicked the gate, causing them both to look at him.

He cleared his throat. "It's time to go, Linda," he said, glancing at Eddie.

"Of course. Well, it was nice to meet you. I'm looking forward to our appointment," she smiled, walking to Jeremy.

"Me too," Eddie said, glaring at Jeremy with a bit of annoyance in his tone.

Eddie watched them walk away till they were no longer in his sight.

"Soon, you'll be mine. Soon," he tells himself.

Linda felt a little more confidence in this place. But whatever Tager said made her feel like she didn't belong either. They were on the bottom floor with the padded rooms and solid doors. Linda looked through one of the small windows. Right when she looked in, a large man runs at her, smashing into the door. Linda stumbled back and screamed. Jeremy just laughed and helped her up.

"Who the heck is that!?" she shouts.

"That is Chris Walker. He doesn't talk much and he has a bit of a temper. We have to keep a straitjacket on him at all times or he might attack the staff," he replies, still smiling.

Linda walks back to the window and looks through again to get a better look at him. He was completely bald, fat and missing his top lip. He was glaring at her and breathing heavily like he'd been doing this for a while.

"Did he do that to himself?" she asked

"Yes. He enjoys inflicting pain on himself. Quite odd, actually," he said, looking through the window.

"Okay. I believe my limit in the male ward has almost been reached. I'm ready to leave," she said.

"Haha, alright. I'll take you back to your room,"

"Wait, what about the rest of the tour?" Linda asks, following behind him. He looks down at his watch.

"Well, I'm afraid we've run out of time. I guess you could wander the asylum as long as you don't go downstairs. Your work starts tomorrow so get rest tonight."

"Alright. Where is the female ward?" she asked. Jeremy paused not wanting to answer.

"There, uh. There is no female ward," he said, not looking at her. "Not anymore."

"What? What do you mean 'not anymore'?"

"We- We thought this place wasn't suited for female patients. As well as female employees."

"There aren't any females here?"

"...Yes."

Linda couldn't help but stop in the middle of the hallway. Jeremy stops and looks back at her. "It would be best if there weren't many females."

"Then why am I here?" she asked in a serious tone."

"You're different, Linda. Very special," he assured her.

"I have a feeling that doesn't really mean a good thing," she says, folding her arms and looking away.

"It is a good thing. Most women get sick. They can't tolerate this place. But you're very strong. Please don't walk out on this. Mount Massive needs you," he said, turning her face to look at his. "At least give it a chance. Give me a chance."

After a moment of thinking, Linda nods in agreement and they continue to her room. Linda tells Jeremy goodbye and he leaves, leaving her in her room. Linda plops down on her bed and sighs. She looks up to get a better look at her room. There was a small chair, overhanging bookshelves, a plant in the window seal, a small bathroom with a tub, a television and a nightstand next to Linda's small bed. On the nightstand was a picture frame. In it, was a picture of Linda and Jeremy graduating college. He had his arm over her shoulder and they were smiling. Linda laughed a little. 'Jeremy must've put that there before I arrived,' she thought. She picked up the picture to hold it. The moments of Trager playing through her head. Her stomach tied in knots and she started to feel uneasy. What if she didn't belong there? How could she handle working with patients? Was Trager right? All of these questions fills her mind and more which made her stomach feel uneasy until she drifted to sleep.