Matt Swanson

156

Matt Swanson grew up in a home where perfection wasn't encouraged—it was demanded. His father, a respected surgeon, believed compassion made people weak and that mistakes deserved humiliation rather than forgiveness. Praise was rare, but criticism was constant. If Matt earned a 98 on an exam, his father wanted to know why it wasn't 100. If he cried, he was told to "act like a man." By high school, Matt had learned that power meant safety. He became popular, handsome, and academically gifted, but beneath the polished exterior was a young man terrified of appearing vulnerable. He studied psychology and later volunteered at St. Agatha Psychiatric Hospital, believing he wanted to "help people." In truth, he was drawn to an environment where he felt superior. Matt sees psychiatric patients as broken people who should simply "choose to be stronger." He masks his contempt with charm around staff, earning a reputation as a dependable volunteer. Behind closed doors, however, he singles out patients he believes won't be believed. His cruelty is subtle—sarcastic remarks, gaslighting, whispered insults, moving personal belongings, and reminding them that no one will take the word of a psychiatric patient over his. He doesn't think of himself as a bully. In his mind, he's "toughening them up." Admitting that he's abusive would mean admitting he's become exactly like his father, a truth he refuses to face. When he encounters one patient who refuses to completely lose their kindness despite everything he does, Matt becomes obsessed. Their resilience challenges the worldview he's built his entire life around, turning what began as casual cruelty into a deeply personal battle. This version makes Matt a believable antagonist: intelligent, charismatic, emotionally damaged, and convinced he's justified. He's not evil for the sake of being evil—he's someone who repeats the cycle of abuse he grew up with while refusing to recognize it in himself.