The rain pounded on the roof of the small church. There was a full moon tonight, and the sounds of moaning from outside began to fill the room. Several survivors huddled in groups on the floor and held each other, trying not to make a sound.
The monsters outside heard them anyway and stood around the church. Good thing they only came out at night.
Eight months ago, a demonic invasion swept the world, and only a small percentage of humans were left. They came one night and attacked, then continued every night after sundown. The flesh-hungry demons had skin covered in black scales, eyes red as blood, and sharp jagged teeth and nails.
The demons attacked their prey by spitting an acid-like substance that ate through the skin of their victims. Then they attacked and ate their kill. The demons had become such efficient hunters that humans were on the verge of extinction.
Why it happened, no one knew. Experts speculated that most humans had lost faith in God. No one really knew why, but in this new world, demons ruled.
The last few months, something had changed. Now, instead of killing the human women they found, they mated with them, hoping to make a human-and-demon hybrid.
***
Mary paced, looking out between the slats of each boarded-up window. She watched to see what the demons were doing. When she paced, her leather nun habit made a light rubbing noise. Her boots clicked on the wooden floor. The leather outfit she had created had saved her many times when the demons attacked the church. Their saliva did not penetrate leather.
Recently, she had figured out that they could not step over or around an area where a cross was placed. So the church was now covered with crosses. So far, this seemed to keep them at bay. Holy water was like acid to demons, as was sunlight. If they had contact with either, they melted back into the earth. A good old-fashioned gunshot to the head worked as well. She wasn’t sure if they died or just fled back to Hell.
She held the Glock in her hand and watched. They seemed to sense that there were women in the church, but they could not pass the crosses. So every night, they gathered, and their cries of lustful hunger echoed into the night.
The group of survivors consisted of five women and three children, no men. The demons had killed all of the women’s boyfriends, husbands, brothers, and male children before they could make it to the safety of the church.
They knew that the demons wanted to use them as breeders. So far, they had not been successful in creating a hybrid child. Once the breeding had been deemed a failure, the woman was eaten. Either way was a horrible ending.
Mary was going to make sure these people were safe, no matter the cost. She heard a child whimper and walked toward the group.
“Dana, please try to keep the child quiet. Any sound from us just intensifies their interest.”
Dana looked at Mary. She was amazed at how strong this young nun was. She had never seen her without the habit on, but Mary had striking ice-blue eyes that relaxed her.
She tried to comfort her little Laura, but she was fussy tonight. “It’s the moans; they scare her. Even though she’s just three, she saw what they did to her father.”
Mary smiled. “Things will get better. God is testing us. I’ve always believed things happen for a reason.”
The women’s morale was down. Many said that God did not exist, but Mary knew he did. These women had given up all hope and wanted to die. She felt that, deep down, she had a purpose.
There was a loud crash, and Mary ran toward the sound. It was dark in the church with only the candlelight.
Now she heard glass breaking. They were trying to break through the front door.
Mary ran to the front door and saw pieces of stained glass on the floor. The small window had been broken out, but the door was thick and barricaded with metal bars. She tried to look out the window and saw nothing but darkness. As she leaned closer to the window, a rancid smell burned her nose, and she coughed.
Large red eyes met her gaze, and she jumped back.
“Impossible, demon! You can’t enter because of the crosses.”
She could hear a deep laugh, and a male voice spoke. “That’s true. A demon can’t, but a hybrid can. You see, I was only born a few months ago, but I grew quickly. I’m a full-grown man now, and I heard from my brethren about a nun protecting a group of women in a church. I plan to mate with all of the women in this church, and I’m going to make you my first.”
Mary seized her opportunity and threw a vial of holy water in his face. He only laughed.
“Your crosses and holy water do not work on me.”
She pulled out her Glock and started to fire, but he disappeared. She smiled. “Well, evidently the thought of me blowing your head off must scare you, or you wouldn’t run away!”
Her heart began to race, and she ran back to the women.
“Everyone go to the basement and take the children. You must survive!”
Dana jumped up. “I feel like we should help you fight, for all you’ve done for us.”
Mary smiled. “I’m the only one with a gun, and I can’t guarantee I can protect all of you. This way, you have a chance. If he takes me, leave this place in the morning and find another place to hide. It won’t be safe here anymore.”
The women looked solemn, but they knew she was right. Everyone headed downstairs to hide in the basement. They locked the metal door behind them.
Mary knelt down before the cross mounted on the wall and prayed for God’s guidance. He didn’t answer her. She wondered if he had forgotten about humans. Maybe these new hybrids would be allowed to take over the world.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the door came crashing in. Out of the darkness, she could see a leg stepping through the door. The candlelight gave her a view of him as he walked inside. A tall slender man with long black hair and pure white skin. He was naked and almost looked human, but he had piercing red eyes.
He smiled at Mary. “Where are all of my women? Did you hide them? You know that once I take you, I’ll find them as well. You should be honored to mate with me and join the new race. I promise to keep every one of you alive and make lots of babies with my new harem. The females’ children will be raised to become future brides.”
“Over my dead body, demon. God shall protect us! You’ll die tonight!”
The demon laughed as he approached her. “If you say so, my dear. He doesn’t give a fuck about your kind! I smell the scent of a virgin.”
He leapt at her like a lion, and before she could move, he had her in his grasp. His fingers sprouted nails that dug into her arm, tearing through her habit. His hot putrid breath hit her face. He grabbed her headdress and tore it off. Long golden locks of curly hair fell across her shoulders. Looking into her blue eyes, he licked her face with his long black tongue. It burned her skin and sizzled.
“My, you are very striking, Mary, under all of that leather. Not what I pictured at all. I’m going to enjoy every part of your body.”
“I’d rather die than smell your foul breath again, demon!” she yelled as she broke free from his grasp.
She fell on the floor, then rolled onto her back and sat up on her elbow with one hand behind her. The leather habit had come up to her knees, revealing her perfect white skin. The demon smiled.
“Already down on the floor for me? You don’t waste any time, my dear.” He jumped on top of Mary, ran his hands up her habit, and caressed her leg, then pushed her down on the floor.
She smiled. “You’ll not have me. You’re going straight back to Hell.”
He laughed. “And what do you think you can do about it? I’m stronger than you.”
“Yes, you’re stronger, but not smarter. Remember: I have a gun.”
Before the demon could react, Mary swung her arm around and shot him in the head. The back of his head exploded like a watermelon, and blood poured from the large hole she had made. He fell, limp, onto her body. She could hear the sizzle of his blood on her leather habit. Pushing the lifeless body off of her, she jumped up and removed her clothing before the blood burned down to her skin.
She grabbed his ankle and dragged him out the door of the church in her undergarments. There were demons surrounding the church, but they stayed behind the crosses. All of their eyes gazed upon her.
“Is this your great hybrid warrior? He’s dead, and you’ll be dead too if you come back tomorrow night. I’ll make sure of it. Tell your master that this church is protected by the Leather Nun. With God’s backing or without it, I’ll kill each and every one of you that tries to do us harm.”
She stood and looked at them, and a light came from the sky. The sun started to rise. As the rays hit the demons, their flesh began to burn, and they screamed as they melted back down into the ground. The sun had risen five hours early. She knew that God was with her. Maybe he had forgotten them until now.
Mary looked up at the sky. “Thank you.”
She turned around and walked back into the church. What will happen now? she wondered. She told the other women what had happened. For once, there was hope.
***
Three months later, there was still light. So far, night had not come. Survivors started to find each other and band together. Mary was the savior of the new world. Mankind had changed its ways, and maybe they just needed a new start. Still, Mary had a feeling that this was not the end. Evil will always try to find its way back.
