"God gave up on the Earth long ago," the priest proclaimed to Betzabeth as they sat next to each other in a pew. News reports had confirmed the reptilian invaders had landed that frigid Christmas morning with the intent to stay; they no longer wanted to negotiate, instead they declared war. Although the swelling had gone down and her vision was no longer blurry, the excruciating pain she felt in her ribs was a reminder of the fisticuffs from earlier. Escaping her apartment building had been an agonizing, bloody and chaotic journey. Lights flickered off and a crashing sound startled her. The pungent odor of ammonia pervaded the church; the enemy had arrived. Rising up, she reached for her rifle next to a bible, leaving her shotgun strapped