Gerry Vine
Overview
Gerry was a steel worker in Michigan before the Messengers called him. He was in a bar with some friends when a couple at the nest table began a loud argument. As the buddies looked on in amazement, the man picked up his bottle, smashed it on the edge of the table and thrust it against the woman's face. In that moment, Gerry clearly heard the words, "THE WILL OF ANOTHER PREVAILS," rip across his consciousness. When he looked again, he could see that something was inhabiting the man's body, controlling him. Meanwhile, the woman was badly hurt. Gerry and one of his friends, Paul, moved to break up the fight. Paul jumped the man, knocked him to the ground, and started punching, while Gerry tended to the woman as best he could. The police and paramedics arrived at about the same time. Once they had the man in cuffs, Gerry could see the ghost leave the man's body.
A large, buff guy with a big heart and a soft streak, Gerry did everything he could to help people caught up in the hunt - victims, hunters, monsters, anyone. He was good with engines and mechanical stuff, and although he didn't like doing it, he knew the necessity of putting down clearly dangerous creatures. His strength made him quite a fighter, even though it went against his grain.
Somewhere along the line, however, things changed. Gerry made a few converts among the lost. He was a likeable guy, and they were grateful for his help in approaching normality again, so they helped out as best they could. He started to believe that he had been singled out by the Messengers to represent the only true way of easing pain. From there, it was a small step to decide that he had to suppress anyone else's efforts. After all, if he had been chosen, it would be an insult to the Messengers for anyone to work outside his influence.
Things have gone downhill since then. Gerry has started revealing his blessings, dispensing healing quietly in his community, and claimed that he has been selected by God. He's combined intimidation, bribery and persuasion to keep his name out of the newspapers. In addition to the imbued he leads, and a few penitent that are dependent on them, a number of people now look to him for guidance. These folk include his extended family, several of his former colleagues from the foundry, and a couple of young women who'd been hitchhiking in the area whom Gerry took "a liking to." These people don't quite understand what Gerry preaches about, but his vigor alone is simply contagious.
Imbued whom Gerry meets are offered a chance to join his group, but they aren't told that the alternative is a bullet in the back. When things are quiet, Gerry and his people visit other towns, where they're as likely to take care of any hunters they find as they are to deal with monsters. Because Gerry is aware of the need for secrecy, anyone threatening to expose his organization is killed, as is any recruit who suddenly wants out, or even, as on one occasion, who disagrees with something Gerry says.
References
- HTR: Hunter Book: Redeemer, p. 56, 58-59, 61, 95-96