X marks the spot

Uprising

The Magical Book

"Managed to shower today before coming in."

"That's great! How long ago was the last one?"

Aaron paused at the question, letting it hang for a moment, before a humourless laugh left him, "A little while."

A church gathering, ran by a group called "Ripe Saviour". A priest sat on a pedestal, preaching to a crowd. That was what the two agents had to deal with. One leaning against the post of the make do church, the other standing next to her partner, looking at the crowds. Both waiting for the endeavour to be over. "The lord sees you for who you really are. Deep down, he sees you for all of your beauty! For all of your pain and sins! He sees it all. And yet, still, he loves you. Can I get an amen on that my brothers and sisters?!" His question was answered with cries of the word of the day. "Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ!" One was filled with passion.

"Jesus Christ." One was filled with distaste and boredom.

"Have some respect. It helps them." Rebecca argued, keeping her voice low and her own distaste being known for the actions of her partner. She only looked at her for a fleeting second before back to the crowd.

"So, does sitting around a campfire and telling each other stories until someone shits themselves." Rebecca rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to the priest. The man himself looked weary, a small bit of sweat on his forehead as he continued onward.

"You are loved, you are worthy of love. He knows it, and I know it! And I can feel the love radiating off of you for one another..."

"From siblings to love radiating. Oh boy, this guy's going places."

"Don't be an asshole –"

"We're in a place of god Rebecca, control yourself." Aaron said playfully, his eyes never leaving the man as he continued his performance. Going from side to side on the stage, gesticulating wildly as he did so. If he was in any other mood, he would have found it more amusing than he did.

"Do you seriously not see people healing here?" Rebecca questioned, looking around at the people who took in every word that the man said. Their passion being almost as infectious as the priests.

"Look around Rebecca. What do you see? I see a basket being handed around. These poor souls are putting money into it. Where'd you think that money is going? To charity? No, fuck that. It's going right in his back pocket. Helping to pay the bills or put some food on the table."

"And that's bad?"

"That he lied? Yeah. That's the thing, Rebecca, you never really know what people are like on the inside until you find the behind closed doors. He does this now. But I bet you that in a few years. He'd be an alcoholic, preaching to you on the street that we're all doomed and whatnot."

"You really think he's gonna end up like that?"

"Course I do. One comes in, all happy and preachy about how not fucked we all are. Plug some merchandise down at their local one to make a few more bucks. 'This week little Timmy would you like a man on a cross as he finally passes away, or an object for mommy and daddy to use with the words 'Passion of Christ' written on them?'"

"Everyone's waiting for that knight in shining armor, right? You know, that white knight to come in and save the day. Maybe sweep them off their feet if they're into all that horseshit. Or, if they're a privileged son of a bitch, they'll try and be it themselves. Maybe they've seen someone that they want to impress. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that white knight that you so desperately wait for? They're never coming. And, you're not it either. Because, nobody's that fucking pure. Nobody's that fucking good. No, that shit comes from the fairy tales, and that shit stays in those fucking fairy tales." Aaron said, clenching his jaw.