A lockdown alert has been issued by the state legislatures after the 40th murder occured today in Hanson County. Residents from Pennsylvania are urged to stay inside this Independence Day week.  Police are continuing the long-running search for a man that identifies as "The Great Philip". Police also order residents to lock doors and open them for nobody because they claim that "The Great Philip" could be anybody. The lockdown will end after Independence Day week. Stay safe. Stay close to family. And if you see something, call 911 immediately. Brian Johnson, 123 News.

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Billy set the TV remote on the brown coffee table and lies his head on the long, soft, and plushy living room couch.  He shuts his eyes and rewinds back what his parents had told him one week ago before they left for Texas.

"We just need to check out our new house in Texas. We will only be gone for eight days. Make sure you don't open the door for anybody," they had told him. He opened his eyes and stared out the window at the dim, starry black sky. His parents were supposed to be back by morning for Independence Day, but due to the lockdown, they were caged in at the airport. They had regurgitated all the same rules to him that day on the phone. Keep the door locked. Do not open it for anybody. Close the window shades. Yadda yadda yadda.

Naggy parents. I bet this whole "Great Philip" thing is a dumb hoax from the media to keep people inside for Independence Day. Who could possibly murder 40 people in one week?, he thought. Billy had heard many things of The Great Philip. He was a man from the 1980s who would murder people every decade during the week of Independence Day. And according to the news, he was back again for the year 2021. Many theorized that The Great Philip was an angry British man who despised America's independence from Great Britain. Some believed he was a deranged psychopath who burned his face in a fireworks accident. But no one knew anything about him for sure. Not his motives. Not his face. Not his family. Not even his real name. He had the distinct ability to disappear into the shadows and hide any evidence of his murders from the police. But it was all a stupid fairy tale to Billy. He looked down at his small, fluffy dog.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    "Rover, I'm sick of my parents being so overprotective and gullible," he said. "There is no Philip freak running around killing people. I'm home alone. This is my time to do what I want, not buy into my parent's fear mongering." Rover smiled and began to lather his tongue on Billy's white cheek. Billy laughs and sets his dog back on the ground.

    "Let's see what's for dinner," he said. He opens his fridge, only to have his nostrils greeted with the foul, gross, and repulsive smell of Greek salad. He groaned, thinking back to what his mother had told him.

"I made enough Greek salad for you to eat until we return home. Make sure you eat it for dinner each day," she had told him. Billy rolled his eyes.

She's not here, so why do I have to listen to her? This is my week to do as I please, he thought.

"How about pizza for dinner, Rover?" Billy asked as he dumped the Greek salad in the trash. Rover barked with glee. 

"Hello, Papa Pizza? I'd like a medium pepperoni pizza delivery please," he said.

    "Sure thing. What's the address?" the receiver asked.

    "911 Lincoln Avenue."

  "Okay, I'll be there in ten minutes."

    "Fast service," Billy told Rover as he hung up the phone. "Man it's hot in here."

He pushes back the window shades , cracks open the window, and places Rover on the windowsill. The beautiful and soothing wind hugged Billy's face as he let out a sigh of relief. He began to stroke Rover's soft fur as he stared out at the empty black street.

 "Man, Pennsylvania has the best summer weather, Rover. Too bad we're moving to Texas in two months," he said. He let out a disappointed grunt. 

"If I had it my way, I would stay in Pennsylvania forever. I can't wait until I am 18 so I can run my own life. But I still have two years to go." 

Rover wagged his tail. The two silently gazed out at the night sky, patiently waiting for the pizza man. Billy began to think about all the fun times that he had playing on the baseball team with his friends. He was really going to miss them. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the loud, noisy, clamorous growling of his stomach.

   "I'm going to get some water," he said as he shut the window. He placed Rover on the ground and poured himself a glass of ice water. The cold water barely touched his lips before he heard a DING DONG. 

 "Bark Bark Bark!" shouted Rover, clawing at the door.

 "Down boy! It's the pizza man!" said Billy. He swung open the door, craving the cheesy goodness that awaited him. He looked up at the man and froze.

 "Wait a min..."

Billy could not even finish his sentence before he was creamed in the head with a heavy wooden stick. The room began to spin and shake around Billy. Falling to the floor, Billy could only hear the frantic yelping of Rover before blacking out.