**_Local Teenager’s Body Found in Forest_**

_By Zuzu List_

_Philippa Glass, age 17, was by all purposes a normal girl. She grew up right here in Piki Hollow her whole life. Being raised by a single mother alongside two sisters, she had a normal life. But not a normal end._

_On Friday night, Glass went to the movies with three of her friends. She never came home. Her mother called the police and reported her as missing immediately. In Pennsylvania, there is no waiting period to report. _

_This was not normal for the young girl as her mother would say. She always checked in with her mother, and she didn’t that night. _

_Her friends said they all left the movies at the same time but they drove separately. They had no contact with the friend they call ‘Philly’ after leaving the theater. _

_One day later on Saturday night, a woman took a shortcut to get home and stumbled upon a grisly sight. _

_The battered body of Philippa Glass. _

_The family thanks the police for their efforts and the community for their support. The funeral will soon be set and announced but the family requests privacy in their time of grief. _

———

Philippa groans and slaps the stupid newspaper on the table.

Being dead is not fun.

How is she supposed to find out what happened to her stuck in this hideout?

Well Officer Laurel called this a safe house, but Philly doesn’t feel safe. Someone tried to kill her and thankfully they failed. But she doesn’t know who.

Stretching her aching muscles, she limps to the couch to lay down. She really only has a couple of things she can do in this place. She has no access to the internet since her phone is in evidence.

She mainly changes from the small chair and table, to the couch, and then to the bed with a few bathroom breaks in between.

Being trapped in this box of an apartment has her feeling claustrophobic.

And bored. Very very bored.

Lazily galancing at the digital clock on the coffee table next to the couch, she still has another hour until Officer Laurel comes with the doctor.

Because as the article said, that woman did find Philly’s hurt body. She just wasn’t dead.

But since Philly couldn’t recall or didn’t see her attacker, the police schemed up this plan to have her appear deceased, even to her family.

That is the part that pains her more than any bruise that adorns her skin.

Her mom and sisters don’t have any idea. They are preparing for a funeral for a living person. They are grieving for her. When she is right here.

When the idea was proposed to her, she immediately wanted to include her family, but Officer Laurel disagreed. She said that many times personal attacks like this are made by the people closest to the victim. So it was best that her family truly believes she is gone and not to tip off anyone that she still breathes.

It’s not only boring but excruciatingly painful knowing she is causing her family’s grief.

The police are trying their best, though Ohilly of course cannot see their efforts. She can only go off of what Officer Laurel reports. Which boils her blood that she can’t do anything. All she can do is wait.

Three rhythmic raps on the door echo through the small space, startling her off the couch. Every single noise gets her heart pumping, especially from outside the door.

Normally, people scuffle down the hall every now and then. Philly can practically predict movement with how routinely these people leave their apartments.

But this isn’t a scheduled time.

She doesn’t have much time before a key is jiggling her lock.

Philly grabs a book that she was kindly given and holds it up as a shield. What is the saying? The pen is mightier than a sword? Well hopefully this book is stronger than a bullet.

When the door swings on its hinges, Officer Laurel appears, whistling to herself, spinning the keys on her pointer finger. Relief floods Philly’s body.

Instantly she relaxes and sets down the book.

“You’re early. And not with Dr. Stan,” Philly points out, trying not to be accusatory.

Just because she’s scared by everything, doesn’t mean she c should take it out on her.

Her hopes soar when she thinks of the reasons that she could have initiated this impromptu meeting.

That gets shut down immediately. “Sorry, kid. Not the news you’re thinking.”

“But I do have this for you.” Officer Laurel tosses something at her.

Philly scrambles to catch it, which she clumsily does after a few moments of accidental juggling.

It’s a cellphone.

She eyes the officer with a suspicious look.

It’s difficult to not be skeptical of everything after what happened.

Officer Laurel appears to read her thoughts because she gives a chuckle. Not one of amusement, but one of those that’s humorless. “You can’t tell anyone who you are or indicate anything. But I thought you might like the use of technology. Connect to the real world.”

Glimpsing down at the phone, it lights up with the time, reminding her it’s only the early afternoon.

“You allowed to give me this?” She questions, opening the phone and setting a password because she can’t trust anything anymore.

Shrugging her shoulders in such an unserious way, the officer says, “I’m the one in charge of your case. So yes. But I mean it. You can’t tell anyone anything.”

There’s something about Officer Laurel that puts you immediately at ease. Her presence is like a warm hug, even after you see her badge and police gear.

And that’s something Philly really needs right now.

“Why do you trust me?” She asks, her voice smaller than before.

The kind smile that remind her of her mom appears on Officer Laurel’s face. “Because you’re a smart kid. I know you need something to do.”

“I’ll come back soon with your doctor,” she reassures with a squeeze on Philly’s shoulder.

And with that she is gone. No sign that she was even there.

Now it’s just Philly and her thoughts.

Looking at her new phone, she sees that it has a couple of mobile games already downloaded. Three books, four movies, and a Spotify account are downloaded. Officer Laurel is being too kind to her.

She is just about to tap on the one of the movies, but something catches her eye—Instagram.

Clicking on that instead, she finds that there is no account logged in. Before she knows it, she checks the phone number attached to the cell phone and creates one.

It’s a simple, not standing, and not easily identified username.

_rainluver205_

She does like the rain but no one really knows how much. It’s really before the rain that she loves. And then she just put the first three numbers she could think of.

That could be anyone.

Anonymity is key here. When she can be anyone, she can talk to anyone.

After finding a local high school (not hers), she folllows a couple people that follow the official school account.

Patiently, she waits until she has about fifteen followers. Then she searches for an Instagram account and she clicks the follow button.

———

(I’m seeing Lilo & Stitch today! Anyone else planning to see it if they can?)