Don't Move, He's Right Beside You

Brian gave out a shaky sigh.
"Okay. Sure." he answered, frowning.
Matt patted the bed beside him. Brian walked over and sat facing him, mentally kicking himself for doing so. He still didn't know what to think of the whole situation, and he still couldn't know whether the guy was dangerous or anything. He crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for Matt to show him whatever he had to show.

Matt looked down at his hands, picking at his nails.
"Hum... don't... get scared or anything."
Brian didn't answer. Is he kidding me? He was already scared shitless. Matt pointed to a few cuts and bruises all over himself.
"These... they think I do 'em myself. Since I'm locked alone in here all day. Someone else does that to me when they're mat at me..." he said, looking up to Brian briefly before looking down again. Brian didn't answer. He didn't really know what to believe. His mind was racing. Either this guy was the victim of something crazy and unexplainable that no one would believe, or he was totally schizophrenic, like diagnosed, probably. The second option seemed very logical, and Brian's poor mind was starting to opt for this one, but somehow, part of him would accept proofs and explanations to the first one. There was just something in Matt's eyes that was screaming for help.
"It's hard to understand, I know. But if you listen to my whole explanation and don't run away or anything, I can probably prove it to you. Or at least try to."
"Fine." Bri whispered.

Matt took in a deep breath and looked straight at Brian.
"It's been nearly two years now. I don't know its - his name. He tells me to call him Christ. At first, he'd walk to me on the street and tell me he needed me to help him. I'd panic since he is like... covered in blood. He has this deep cut across the chest and..." His face twisted in disgust. "He has words engraved in the arm... it's horrible! At first, I'd run the fuck away, or call for help, but then people would be scared of me asking what the fuck I was talking about. This is how I realized no one else saw him. Afterwards, he kept coming to me asking me to help him again. He could even TOUCH me! So he is NOT a hallucination."
"But..." Brian started, intending to correct him. He was totally aware, having a doctor for a father, that people suffering from hallucinations and schizophrenia don't only have visual and auditory hallucinations, but sensorial ones as well, which makes it plausible that a schizophrenic would think someone that doesn't exist touches them. Unconscious mutilation would then be the explanation to this patient's bruises.
"I ended up being used to his presence." Matt continued. "He was always around at some point. I realized I could be with him and no one knew. We became friends... somewhat. Anyway, I had no choice." He paused, realizing he was going way too fast. He waited a few seconds so that Brian could understand at least half of it. Noticing he was starting to look slightly horrified, he added:
"I know this sounds crazy! But listen!"
Brian swallowed hard and nodded.
"He often appears out of nowhere and stays with me. But the thing is, he's really crazy... he always tries to force me to do such twisted things. He always claims to be my best friend, but the second after, if I don't do what he wants me to, he hits me."

Brian subtly backed up a bit, finally opting entirely for the schizophrenia option, but still listened to Matt with the same horrified look on his face.
"And... you said you could prove this..." he asked in a high-pitched voice, out of curiosity. He coughed to go back to his normal voice.
Matt nodded.
"How?!"

Matt looked around the room, and suddenly, he screamed:
"CHRIST!!!!!"
Brian jumped and closed his eyes, putting his hand on his heart.
"Dude. Don't go hysterical like that..." he whispered, looking out the window to see if someone was in the hall."
Matt wasn't listening. He was still looking around the room. Suddenly, his face froze in one direction. Brian looked around trying to figure out what Matt was staring at.
"DON'T MOVE. He's right beside you."
Brian froze, glancing quickly on each side. He shivered, feeling something breathing on his neck.
"Don't touch him." Matt said, frowning.
His eyes moved away from beside Brian, following something invisible.
"Hurt me instead."
Brian's eyes widened. What the fuck is he going on about?! Just as he reached in his pocket for the keys, intending to get the fuck out of this room, Matt's head was suddenly violently thrown back. He groaned a bit holding his mouth.
"Holy shit..." he gasped, looking into his hands and finding blood in them. He touched his mouth again, realizing it was bleeding quite a lot.

Brian backed up until his back was against the door.
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?"
He had clearly seen everything and he knew Matt hadn't hit himself or anything. It was impossible that he'd have done this to himself in any way. Matt pointed his finger in a random direction, using his shirt to stop his lip from bleeding.
"He fucking punched me in the face."

Brian looked highly terrified. But Matt was too busy aching and bleeding to notice.

All of the sudden, Brian was nailed against the wall, something invisible around his neck. He coughed, panicked, trying to push the thing - Christ - away before he died choked up. Matt looked up and jumped on Brian.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" he was yelling, wrestling with something his friend couldn't see.
Brian slid down against the wall to end up sitting on his heels. He gasped for air, rubbing his neck and mumbling:
"I believe you... I believe you now..."
Schizophrenia diagnostic? Wrong.

"He's gone." Matt sighed.
Brian looked up and Matt was now looking directly at him.
"Will he come back?" Brian asked, worried.
"I don't think so. I mean, not today." Matt said, shaking his head.

He got up and kneeled in front of Brian.
"Are you okay? He's really... violent. I'm sorry... I thought if I told him not to touch you..."
"I'm fine. But you're bleeding quite a bit."
"Ugh... still?"
"Yeah..." he reached up and wiped Matt's chin with his sleeve.
"Your shirt ahah..."
"Who cares..." Brian answered with a weak smile.

He looked up into Matt's beautiful eyes. Matt stared back and Brian leaned over to kiss his lips. Just a little peck. He pulled away and Matt smiled.
"Thank you." Brian whispered.
"Why?" Matt asked, whispering as well.
"For stopping this... thing from choking me or whatever."
"Man I wasn't gonna let Christ hurt the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen..."

Brian smiled, flushing a bit, and wrapped his arms around Matt's neck to kiss him again.

Blood tastes good anyway.