Exams suck, but at least I'm graduated now, yes! I hope you guys like this chapter, see you next time!

Consciousness awakened her soon in the morning, opening her eyes, she found the sun to be nowhere yet. It must be very early still.

Unlocking her phone, she realized it was around 6 a.m. She gave a frown, damning her sleep pattern. Astrid had wanted to sleep in a little bit, since the last few days had been very busy for her. While it was true that she went to bed extremely early last night, Astrid still found herself to be unexpectedly tired.

She raised herself up to a sitting position in the large bed, turning her eyes to the balcony doors. When she was smaller, she was not allowed to open them, they were always afraid she would climb over the railings and plummet to her death, though they wouldn't let her know about the last part, they found her to be still too young back then for talks about grief and death.

But of course throughout the years of your life, you would get to experience the sadness and hopelessness what death could bring. And at one point in your life, you would go yourself.

Astrid sighed, finding herself lost in thoughts of the past. It was not not good to dwell in the past, she knew, but she has known hard times, and such times were not easily released from her thoughts.

Letting herself fall back into the silk sheets, she closed her eyes. Wondering what this day had in store for her.

The day proved to be quite useful, she got a lot of things done. For example, getting all the food and beverages into the cupboards and drawers. It seemed like there were an endless amount of them, but it was better than having too little space.

After pushing the thousandth drawer back in a day, Astrid decided to call it off for today. Jesus Christ, her back was hurting like Hell. That was the result of standing up for the most part of the day, she thought with a small grimace.

She let herself fall back on the all too welcome couch. Normally, she wasn't as easily tired as she was now. But Astrid could already feel her eyelids drooping. The last thing she saw being the setting sun outside.

Shit, she fell asleep! Cursing at herself inwardly, she opened her eyes, Astrid noted how everything around her was dark. With the exception of the moonlight illuminating some part of the room. What's up with her and falling asleep so quick lately?

Unlocking her phone, she was immediately blinded by the brightness of her phone. Lowering it with narrowed eyes, she checked how late it was. 2 am! What the – BOOM! a loud shattering sound was heard, as if something of very large weight had fallen down upon the floor. Probably something made of very fragile quality.

What the fuck? She thought to herself, fully awake from the shock of the heavy noice. Whereas she was tired before, she was surely wide awake now. Well shit, one day into the house and strange things started happening already. People had 'warned' her about this though, so she should've seen it coming.

Wait, since when did she believe in rumors, rather than her own experience? For all she knew, it could've been something less paranormal. And honestly, she wasn't really one to fully believe in ghosts. She did think they existed, but not with the purpose of spooking people and haunting houses.

With that thought in mind, Astrid stood up and walked to the grand staircase. If she was right, she had heard the sound coming from the hallways on the first floor, since it was quite loud.

When Astrid arrived upstairs, she heard the faint sound of the wind. She frowned and followed it, finding out the location of it was the source of the loud sound too.

Turned out it was her room. Her door, which she was quite sure she closed before leaving, was open. Hesitantly, Astrid stepped in her room, looking around for clues. It did not take long for her to see the large picture she had of her family on the ground, glass shattered. Only then she noted it was there, she remembered it had been hanging there for ages, even when she was a little girl.

Turning it over, Astrid gazed at the art. Memories surfaced again, bittersweet and haunting, as she caressed the painted faces of her family. Seems like the past is always there to remind you of itself, Astrid thought bitterly.

Her fingers moved to the painted version of herself, wiping the dust away, Astrid looked upon her child self again. She remembered little her was so thrilled, her and her family, getting painted, it all sounded so fancy and amazing. And being in close proximity with her whole family for so long, it didn't matter that her feet were hurting from standing too long, it was all worth it.

While deep in thought, Astrid hadn't noticed the pieces of glass among the painting. " Ouch! " She lifted her hand, finding a sharp cut in her palm. Blood oozed out of the wound slowly, dripping down her hand. Ironically, on the painting, right where she stood.

Astrid frowned, just great. Tilting her head, she met the sight of the balcony, the doors fully open.

Astrid paced around the hall, what the heck is she supposed to do? Should she call the police, or should she just let it go this once? It wasn't like she knew what happened upstairs, so she couldn't solve it herself, she had carefully inspected every room in that hallway for possible clues.

As expected, she did not found anything. Or anyone, said a small voice in her head. Astrid nodded her head, shaking away such thoughts. It wasn't like this place secretly was filled with squatters or something. Or is it? The voice said again.

Astrid decided it was best to let go of it this time, next time something happened like this, she would call the police. However, the thought she had no clue what happened and who or what it was didn't sit well with her.

After collecting the stuff she needed to retrieve the pieces of glass scattered across her room, Astrid forced her feet up unto the stairs again.

For some really weird reason she had the feeling of being watched. Jesus Christ, it was really messing her up, wasn't it?

When she arrived in her room, Astrid got to work quickly, since she didn't really feel like retrieving pieces of glass the rest of the night.

Opposite of last night, she felt an somehow quite uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Why was she like this? Since when did Astrid Hofferson get the spooks from a mere accident?

A halfway later, she cleaned the pieces that lay around the doors of the balcony. Pfew, she was almost done, she cheered inwardly, trying to make herself happy. The wind outside was raging against the doors, causing them to tremble from time to time. How lucky she was to be inside, Astrid thought with a small smirk.

Crack. Her heart fell down her stomach. The sound, clear as day, sounded like somebody had stepped upon glass, behind her. Someone had broken into her house? No, how could that be possible? She had locked the gates ever since the first night.

Or her little theory might be right, squatters, living here secretly and unnoticeable. And maybe they decided they didn't really like to share this place with anyone else.

Astrid felt a feeling of fear inside herself, residing in her stomach, but who wouldn't? Nervousness took over her motions, and she stared at her hands, contemplating what she should do, all the while aware the invader stood behind her, ready to strike. It felt like minutes, but in reality it were seconds.

Astrid had to do something, or else. With the piece of glass still in her hand, she gathered all her courage, and moved her head to the side piece by piece, hiding her weapon of defense behind her body as unnoticeable as she could.

When she was ready to look the intruder into their eyes, and face the consequences, nothing could prepare her for the sight she saw before herself.

Because there was no-one.