The Protective Entity (A Buzzfeed Unsolved AU)

1

Ryan sat up and glanced around the room, his face masked with calmness but I felt his confusion and fear pulse from him.
I watched him try and balance himself on his own two feet, his eyes going cross.
"S-Shane?" he murmured, "What the fuck happened?"
His voice was quiet and strained. His face was very pale and he stumbled over his own two feet.

I quickly rushed to him and let him collapse into my arms. With him leaning into me, I led him to the tattered, dust-covered bed and let him reassess the area. I felt his skin and noticed it was very warm and feverish.
"We're still in the dorm...filming. Remember?" I explained to him calmly.
"Oh...right...but I like, fainted or something...but I don't remember why..." Ryan mumbled.
I sighed, closing my eyes, trying to figure out how to break the news to him.

"Ryan..." I began, "You were possessed."
He stared at me with blankness in his eyes. I could tell he wasn't fully processing my words.
"Possessed..." he repeated. I felt his aura change to a fast, excited vibration.
"Oh...shit...!" he jumped from the bed. "Wait...you aren't f-fucking with me, are you?"
I shook my head, "I swear."

Ryan began to laugh, as I felt his energy send a tingling sensation through my body.
But the energy was soon canceled out when I realized what I had to do next.
He was still laughing, clapping, and cheering.
I could see an orb out of the corner of my eye. Some of them still lingered. I couldn't bring myself to hurt him.
"D-d-did we get it on c-c-camera?!" he stuttered and shook, tears coming from his eyes.
"Yes." I stated simply.
He clapped, whooping and hollering, jumping around in ecstasy.

"Wait, wait. Ryan...sit down..." I told him.
"W-why aren't you f-freaking the fuck out over this?" He asked me.
I closed my eyes and sucked in a hefty amount of air through my teeth, letting my lungs fill with the toxic, old, recycled air.
"We can't put that footage out there." I said quickly.
I felt his aura change, the vibrations slowing to a slow, steady pulse.
His eyebrows furrowed, "What?"
"We can't upload any of that footage anywhere online or at work. We can't tell anyone what happened." I explained as best as I could.
Ryan frowned deeply. I saw his eyes widen, I could tell he was hurt by the way they blinked in shock.
"Y-You can't...what are you talking about?" I felt his aura harden with tension. The temperature around us rose into an uncomfortable degree of heat.

"Okay. I'm going to tell you something that you won't believe, which is fine, don't believe me. You can just say I'm making some bullshit excuse. But, seriously, I am not a human being. I can't tell you what I am, but just know that for now, I can see an aura outlining your silhouette. I always could see ghosts, demons and all the other shit you wanted to find. I tagged along on your little missions to protect you. But today, it got way too dangerous. You could have fucking died and it would've been my fault!" I said, my tone escalating from reasoning to full-on yelling.
Ryan stared back, unable to say a word.
We stood there, silent, as an orb hovered above us.

Finally, he spoke, "Bullshit. You're a fucking liar." he murmured. The air became so hot I felt my lips burn.
He stood up, pushing the chair underneath him back so far it toppled over and echoed in on the concrete. He gathered his things, kicked the chair to the side one last time, and stormed off. His energy faded from the room.
"Ryan...wait..." I followed him, trying to explain what was happening.
He turned around, tears in his eyes, "What? Fuck you. Get the fuck away from me."
I continued to walk behind him, "What, so you want me to leak the video? Put it out there for everyone to see? What'll happen then? We'd be considered the fakest sons of bitches yet. Come on."
Ryan picked up a rock and threw it at me, "What did I just say? Listen, I'm not mad that we can't show anyone the footage o-o-or try and prove that demons are real or whatever. I'm pissed, because you are trying to humiliate me. I passed out from fear, and you are trying to tell me I was possessed?! I mean what even is that bullshit, dude. I-I'm done. I want to go home." he angrily stuffed his gear into his backpack.
He turned to face the door to the dorm and it suddenly slammed shut, creating a loud metal clanging.
Ryan whirled around and glared at me, snorting a little.
"Oh, really? Really? Shit, Shane. Open the door." he demanded.
I hadn't closed it, but I felt a presence staring me down.
"I didn't do anything, dude. How could I have closed it from over here anyway?" I asked, crossing my arms.
Ryan's eyes looked glossed with fear. His aura changed. The tightness felt like the familiar fear I had always known. But this time, it wasn't traced with mockery.
"I-I don't know." I heard the dryness in his throat. I saw his face drain of color. He tried to pry open the door, throwing his bag to the ground and frantically yanking at the knob.
He kicked it, punched it, lunging himself into it trying to get it open.
He turned back to me and swallowed hard.
"Well, we're fucked." he admitted.

"Perhaps we aren't. Let me see what I can do." I said, trying to calm him down.
I marched over and yanked on the handle with every muscle in my arm tense.
I stumbled back, but the door popped open, and both of us stood in chilling silence.
His fear faded and reverted back to the same bitterness. He let out a sarcastic laugh out of anger.
"Well, look at that. It was just stuck." Ryan murmured in a grim tone, "Get in the car. I want to go home."