00:00Ellie, a teenage girl from Boston, Massachusetts, was preparing to start a new chapter of her
00:17life as a student at HKU University in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
00:23This would be her first experience living far from home and away from her parents.
00:30Friday night, July 3rd, 2019. In the dimly lit bedroom, Ellie leaned against her bed, phone in hand.
00:40She was texting her best friend Harper, who had already settled in the Netherlands.
00:45Did you get the apartment agent's number I asked for? Ellie typed.
00:49A few minutes later, a notification popped up.
00:53Got it. Here's the number, Harper replied, sending the contact.
00:57It's in the city center, right? Harper added.
01:02Yeah, Ellie responded briefly.
01:05Why don't you just live with me? It'll save you some money, Harper joked, adding a laughing emoji.
01:12Ellie chuckled before typing back.
01:14I can't handle your wild lifestyle.
01:18Harper sent back a series of laughing emojis.
01:20They had been friends since childhood, neighbors, classmates, but their personalities were polar opposites.
01:29Ellie was quiet and preferred solitude, while Harper was known for being spontaneous and outgoing.
01:36Still, Harper was always reliable, especially when it came to helping Ellie find the right apartment.
01:42Tuesday night, July 7th, 2019.
01:49The departure day had arrived.
01:52Accompanied by her parents, Ellie was ready to board the plane to the Netherlands.
01:57It would be a long journey, one that would bring a significant change in her life.
02:02Wednesday morning, July 8th, 2019.
02:10After landing at Amsterdam Airport, the small family immediately headed to the train station to continue their journey to Utrecht.
02:18Upon arriving at Utrecht's central station, they decided to stay at a nearby hotel, as their appointment with the apartment agent was scheduled for the following day.
02:36Ellie quickly sent a message to Harper.
02:39We've arrived.
02:41Harper replied almost instantly.
02:43Welcome to Utrecht.
02:45Get some rest.
02:46Tomorrow, I'll accompany you to see the apartment.
02:50Ellie smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over her.
02:55Thursday morning, July 9th, 2019.
03:00A notification popped up on Ellie's phone.
03:03I'm heading out first.
03:05I'll wait for you there, the message read.
03:07It was from Harper.
03:09Ellie quickly got ready and left with her parents for the apartment that would become her new home during her studies.
03:16When they arrived in front of the building, they saw Harper already there with a real estate agent.
03:22As soon as he spotted Ellie, Harper waved enthusiastically.
03:26Hey!
03:27He called out.
03:29Ellie and her parents joined Harper, and together they entered the building to view the available apartment units.
03:35The apartment they toured was simple, but cozy enough to make Ellie feel at ease.
03:41She liked it immediately and agreed to rent it.
03:44While her father took care of the paperwork and retrieved their belongings from the hotel, Ellie's mother decided to explore the neighborhood.
03:55Ellie, do you want to come along?
03:57Her mother asked.
03:59Ellie shook her head.
04:00I'd rather stay here for a while.
04:03All right, then.
04:05Harper, come with me, her mother said with a smile, already turning toward the door.
04:10Ellie stepped closer to the window, taking in the new view that would now be part of her everyday life.
04:18Suddenly, the sound of children laughing echoed from the hallway outside her door.
04:23Curious, she peeked out from behind the door, only to find no one there.
04:29It's a big apartment building.
04:32There must be plenty of families living here, she murmured to herself, brushing it off.
04:38But then her eyes were drawn to the floor of her apartment, where a few strands of hair lay scattered, ones she was certain hadn't been there before.
04:47Ellie froze for a moment, then thought, maybe Harper's hair.
04:51Tuesday afternoon, July 14th, 2019.
04:58The day of parting had finally arrived.
05:02Ellie's parents had to return to Boston.
05:04They felt that a week was enough to make sure their daughter could adjust, even though they knew she wasn't the type who made friends easily.
05:13After seeing them off, Ellie headed back to her apartment.
05:16As she climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, her phone buzzed, a message from Harper.
05:23Did your parents leave already?
05:25Yeah, just now, Ellie replied briefly.
05:29But before she could take another step, something caught her attention.
05:35At the end of the stairwell stood a woman.
05:38Her blonde hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she wore a simple red dress.
05:43Her face was beautiful, yet her expression was unreadable.
05:48Calm, almost emotionless.
05:56Ellie wasn't used to greeting strangers, so she offered only a faint smile as she walked past.
06:02The woman returned the smile, saying nothing.
06:05But as Ellie passed her, a strange feeling suddenly crept in.
06:09The air grew heavier, as if something unseen had gathered around her, pressing in from all sides.
06:17Her heartbeat quickened.
06:19She hastened her steps toward her apartment, glancing back now and then.
06:24The woman was still there, standing in the same spot, silent and completely motionless.
06:31And this was where the mystery began.
06:33her desk in her bed without giving her a seat.
06:37She was not stuck lying in her closet.
06:38The one who saw theoyo's place was on her backyard.
