The Hunters: Paranormal many shots

Interlude: Jesus fucking Christ

Annie's eyes flashed open. She was slightly dizzy, but she recognised where she was; it was her bedroom. She checked the clock next to her. 9:46AM. She yawned and scratched her neck. It was then that the events of last night came flooding back. With a gasp, she dove out of bed, not even bothering to get dressed. She raced down the stairs in her underwear and a singlet, praying Jared was okay.

Downstairs, she found several people gathered around the kitchen area. She recognised most of them. Marcus, Paul, Tom and Quinn. The rest were strangers. Paul walked over to her and smiled; though there was little cheer to it.

"Good to see you're okay," He said. "I was worried the light might have done some serious damage."

Annie remembered seeing an intense light before she lost consciousness. It had felt warm and sent waves of joy and wonder through her body. "What the fuck was that?" She said quietly.

Paul rubbed his chin, seeming to think of the right way to phrase it. "It was Holy light. What you saw was a physical manifestation of the Divine."

Annie's jaw dropped. The Divine? Had she...had she seen a glimpse of Heaven? "Wha...how...I...What the fuck, Paul?" She blurted. "who was that man? The homeless looking guy with the long hair?"

Paul shot a hand over her mouth. "Shhh!" He hissed. "you can't say that kind of stuff."

Annie tried to pull his hand away but it wouldn't budge. She tried another tactic and stuck her tongue out, licking his palm. He jerked his hand away, disgusted. "Ewww." He moaned. "why?"

"Don't put a hand over my mouth again," Annie said. "Who are all these people in my house? Why the fuck do you all have wings? What the shit is going on?" She was bordering on hysterics as more and more of last night came back to her. "where is Jared? Is he okay?"

Paul held his hands up, trying to calm her down. "Shh, take a few deep breaths."

"You needed to stop shushing me in my own house," She replied, sternly. "I want answers."

Quinn appeared by Paul's side, working his way out from between the wall of strangers. He smiled and took one of her hands in his. "Annie, come with me; I will give you some answers." He gestured towards the backdoor.

Once outside, Annie plopped down onto her sunbed and placed her head in her hands; breathing deeply. Was she going crazy? Quinn sat in the chair opposite her and smiled.

"I imagine you have many questions," He said, stating the fucking obvious. "Ask and I will answer."

Annie's head snapped up and she stared him dead in the eyes. She tried to sort through the tumble of questions in her mind. In the end, she started with the one she thought most important. "Is Jared going to live?"

Quinn let out a slow breath, eyes closing. "He will...I hope. It's touch and go right now. He is through the worst of it, but he's still in pretty bad shape. He was stabbed by the Spear of Longinus. It's a miracle he's even alive now; and not one of my father's ones. Tom took him home for the time being; we're hoping the power of home will help him heal."

"And what is the Spear of Longinus?"

"It's the spear that pierced the side of Christ after he had died on the cross."

Annie sat back, shocked. "It's what?"

"After Jesus died on the cross, he was stabbed in the side by a Roman centurion named Longinus. His spear was covered by the blood and water that flowed from the wound, turning it into a powerful weapon, imbued by some of Jesus' power."

Annie ran a hand through her hair, her face paling. This was all too much for her to deal with. "So, who are you guys, really?"

Quinn waved a hand towards his brothers. "We are the Archangels; the seven that stand before the one you call God," He placed a hand on his chest. "I am Michael, general of Heaven's armies. Tom is Gabriel, Marcus is Uriel and Jared is Raphael. Come, meet the rest."