二月八號,艾萊妮生日當天,恰好是周六。78Please respect copyright.PENANARw1jhBhKZZ
78Please respect copyright.PENANAj4Rp6EMl3Y
十三名學生在麥教授辦公室裡集合,通過壁爐呼嚕網,一一抵達聖蒙果醫院接待處。78Please respect copyright.PENANAa8DB1UYr65
78Please respect copyright.PENANAUhOuSpMZfT
走廊交會處,不時有身穿深綠色長袍的治療師穿梭,接待處由三名員工駐守,他們一概穿著淡藍色的制服,協助巫師與女巫辦理登記。78Please respect copyright.PENANANqmYNu1bPN
78Please respect copyright.PENANArxeAPmf6iG
其中一名醫療接待員看見麥教授後,立刻朝他們走來。78Please respect copyright.PENANAdc4f2ci2DZ
78Please respect copyright.PENANAfIQQBZaosR
他是位面色和藹的男人,胸前繡有小小的聖蒙果醫院徽章,懷裡挾著一塊登記板。78Please respect copyright.PENANArYkW6EFoV6
78Please respect copyright.PENANAfAQ2oJuptp
「您好,麥教授,我是麥瑞,魔咒傷害科的照護師,負責照顧艾萊妮.柯林斯小姐,今天包含您,一共十三名訪客對吧?」78Please respect copyright.PENANAyCvr8POT9T
78Please respect copyright.PENANAIK7SV6bSAG
麥教授搖頭:「臨時多了一個孩子,這樣方便嗎?」78Please respect copyright.PENANAsuXuEDR88H
78Please respect copyright.PENANA9VJN78cfPO
麥瑞點頭,在登記板上畫下一筆。78Please respect copyright.PENANAQPjhJOhoHR
78Please respect copyright.PENANA0racdGmSsh
「那就是十四位,沒有問題。」他轉向一眾學生,宣布道:「請大家保持秩序,院內禁止施放煙火與擅自使用魔法,違者將通知家長並處以罰金。待會上去五樓,請直接進入柯林斯小姐的病房,切勿至他處逗留。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAWuKa3uD6RO
78Please respect copyright.PENANAWidpV2roIe
說完,他引導所有人排隊,用魔杖逐一輕點他們胸口的衣料,一只淡藍色標誌浮現,上頭寫著不大不小的「訪客」字樣。78Please respect copyright.PENANAlodcs37QvJ
78Please respect copyright.PENANAY6cwdFNjXr
他們兩兩一組登上樓梯,一路向上,克萊拉瞥了眼身旁的諾拉——她正是今天的意外之刻,灰色眼睛正閃動興奮的光芒。78Please respect copyright.PENANAVfiDevHsAn
78Please respect copyright.PENANARGWc9lnIX0
「謝謝你們讓我來。」諾拉注意到她的視線後,輕聲道謝。「這是我第一次親眼觀察身懷古代咒術的個體,你知道的,這非常稀少。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAQQrt9wRHxQ
78Please respect copyright.PENANAdsPcsjp22c
克萊拉不太自在地應聲,諾拉這話不恰當,後方的安東尼聞言立刻開火:78Please respect copyright.PENANAYtCiG6jp3n
78Please respect copyright.PENANAxcF4hoSiDY
「艾萊妮不是你的實驗對象,也不是娛樂。如果你還分不清人和標本的區別,我們應該來測試一下你的共情能力——前提是你還有眼淚。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAsXUis0lmbh
78Please respect copyright.PENANAeg24VVK8yU
諾拉沉默,神情微黯,克萊拉輕輕捏了捏她的手。78Please respect copyright.PENANACcXJFbLihp
78Please respect copyright.PENANAuintEjybT9
樓梯上方,隊伍前頭傳來梅森.尼揚迦的大咧咧的嗓門,迴盪在樓梯間。他是葛萊芬多二年級的學生,正歡快地說自己準備的禮物一定是艾萊妮最愛的。克萊拉前方,雷文克勞四年級的海柔.丘奇,則拿著改裝後的麻瓜攝影機,四處拍攝。78Please respect copyright.PENANAfkc262noUt
78Please respect copyright.PENANAHBeeIP3dcb
克萊拉聽見西追要梅森安靜些;安琪拉也在上頭,艾萊妮的室友米卡和西貝兒也跟在安琪拉身邊。78Please respect copyright.PENANASCsay69uQE
78Please respect copyright.PENANAILfvZWPTuF
克萊拉環視四周,掃過一個個前後同學的面孔,不禁去想:如果其他人曉得了艾萊妮身上的真相,得知她背負的沉重黑暗,是否還會出現在這裡呢?78Please respect copyright.PENANAzUqEdFPMAH
78Please respect copyright.PENANAgaLz6i0WRN
穿過不太整齊的樓梯間門口,來到五樓,照護師麥瑞在前方領路,帶他們走向走廊底端,艾萊妮的病房。78Please respect copyright.PENANALgjl0zyckF
78Please respect copyright.PENANATnfo4JGkIc
這層樓光線分明,除了隱隱瀰漫的藥水味以外,四處還傳出一些奇特的聲響,有魚吐泡泡的咕度聲,還有粗細變幻的野獸嘶鳴。78Please respect copyright.PENANA7INiBaInsB
78Please respect copyright.PENANAdlLpQ7J3Aj
眾人走進艾萊妮的病房後,照護師揚起乾扁的嗓子:「探視時間一小時,我會在這層樓,有什麼問題直接到樓層櫃檯找我。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAOH67GSNs3Q
78Please respect copyright.PENANAvOjNkDsk0W
他說罷便離去,麥教授也簡單叮囑幾句,關上房門。厚重的門「喀搭」一聲關上。78Please respect copyright.PENANAaznlIVtUrv
78Please respect copyright.PENANA50DwWkPYow
大家沉默下來,門叩上的聲音迴響著。78Please respect copyright.PENANAM4eKP3c8f0
78Please respect copyright.PENANA4t1uXCe5f1
單人病房不大,窗邊的艾萊妮靜靜沉睡,雙手交疊於被子上,躺的整整齊齊。78Please respect copyright.PENANAC7cfVOOJVq
78Please respect copyright.PENANAwRKgqxESi3
除了安東尼和克萊拉,其餘人從未見過臥床不起的她。西追站在病床尾端,緊握雙拳,目光死死盯著她那張狀似安穩的面龐。78Please respect copyright.PENANAeb1xQA2hT9
78Please respect copyright.PENANASBZlYp3l8o
安琪拉、米卡和西貝兒湧到她床邊,輕握她的手,低聲對她說話,話音交錯又交疊。不一會兒,其他的人也全湊了過去,圍著病床。78Please respect copyright.PENANAdsK9c5ruwd
78Please respect copyright.PENANAGkLKvMhbcw
這景象,恍如一圈插在蛋糕上的生日蠟燭。蓋著米色棉被的艾萊妮是蛋糕中央的名牌,周遭湧動的人頭則是搖曳的燭火,詭然而靜肅,與其說是生日派對,不如說是場無聲的祭儀。78Please respect copyright.PENANA6aTvrIFlgI
78Please respect copyright.PENANAsK7Jw7uFPO
為了鬆動氣氛,西追鬆開緊握的拳頭,拍了拍手:「開始準備吧。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAuA2vytqSaP
78Please respect copyright.PENANA5C5kv7q4tC
大家在狹窄的病房內擠來擠去,不時有人喃喃說著「借過一下」。他們有的從袋裡拿出裝飾氣球,有的將大家的禮物負責排整齊,蛋糕盒蓋被掀開,清新的柑橘香氣緩緩散開。78Please respect copyright.PENANAjIVNq0K0TY
78Please respect copyright.PENANAp8E7XeFNU2
病床前空了些,諾拉從病房角落悄悄走過去,擠過幾個人,目光炯炯,直盯艾萊妮紅潤的臉龐。78Please respect copyright.PENANAaSDZK4jaEE
78Please respect copyright.PENANAEd1BMwgHN4
「真不可思議⋯⋯」她伸手,想碰那看似健康的臉頰——78Please respect copyright.PENANA6AFpPcgxU1
78Please respect copyright.PENANAAsgPcerlJs
「別碰她!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAKbgx2iCCtP
78Please respect copyright.PENANAdkeWypjzGW
一隻黝黑的手猛地使力,抓住她手腕,諾拉吃痛皺眉。78Please respect copyright.PENANANOQft1Z9HH
78Please respect copyright.PENANAZDV3FUfc7C
安東尼惡狠狠地瞪她:「別以為我不知道你要幹嘛!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAbLbwMVO6Ed
78Please respect copyright.PENANAjE3GkjHdui
克萊拉站在另一角,見這場景,連忙側身竄過手拿攝影機的海柔,卻見西追已經擋到諾拉身前,對安東尼低聲說:「別在她面前吵。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAKd0fF8nFI9
78Please respect copyright.PENANABldgvVg7V9
他目光堅定,又比安東尼高半顆頭,這陣子積累的疲累還讓他增添幾分陰沉的氣勢。安東尼與他對峙片刻,最後還是鬆手退開,抱胸站到艾萊妮床頭,雙眸緊盯諾拉,如同守衛一般護在艾萊妮身邊。78Please respect copyright.PENANAWteSFlST7C
78Please respect copyright.PENANA2AM1bQnqhv
諾拉不滿地瞥了他一眼,退至一旁,眼中滿是惋惜。78Please respect copyright.PENANAXS4LwWJOcz
78Please respect copyright.PENANAoqetKfwXMS
西追嘆了口氣,低頭,看見已經擠到他身邊的克萊拉,壓低聲音問:「安東尼是怎麼回事?為什麼一直針對她?」78Please respect copyright.PENANAabr556sskY
78Please respect copyright.PENANAZgbbB0X7rf
克萊拉遲疑片刻,踮起腳靠近他耳畔:「安東尼他——嗯⋯⋯他的家人被食死徒用黑魔法折磨到去世了——所以我之前有跟諾拉解釋過,她也有理解⋯⋯」78Please respect copyright.PENANAxZz7fImdal
78Please respect copyright.PENANAEADcJJCnAr
西追睜大眼望向安東尼——那個一向冷靜自持的安東尼.斯威夫特,此刻眼裡的陰鬱太過深沉濃厚。他並非在針對諾拉一人,而是在針對過去那塊揮不去的黑暗。西追的目光不禁轉向艾萊妮,再低頭落回克萊拉臉上,出身於照護中心的這三人,臉上常常帶有一種相似的表情,要彎不彎的眼睛、勾到一半的嘴角,好像笑著,又好像只是撐著——他知道,這場生日會更加必要了。78Please respect copyright.PENANAw8Hf4J2uCK
78Please respect copyright.PENANA2trjuFB9uv
「克萊拉。」他傾身喚她。78Please respect copyright.PENANAy9rEMOGMqI
78Please respect copyright.PENANABKX7EcPcO9
克萊拉抬起頭,他對她微笑:「待會好好玩一場吧,你跟安東尼都是。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAF48yS0pp7k
78Please respect copyright.PENANAqWCloMl4Fh
於是生日會毫無徵兆的開始了。78Please respect copyright.PENANAiw7yhkVZTp
78Please respect copyright.PENANAkJtPQMUEZ3
海柔拿著攝影機,一一拍下眾人祝賀艾萊妮的笑臉,有人一邊搖晃氣球和綵帶,一邊對鏡頭說感謝艾萊妮的話;米卡和西貝兒托著蛋糕揮手;另外有人舉著包裝精美的禮物,一句話講的結結巴巴。78Please respect copyright.PENANAslbbbRttI7
78Please respect copyright.PENANACkCVlTVJ1B
共通點:他們全都在強顏歡笑,嘴角僵硬,沒有人能夠真正歡欣。78Please respect copyright.PENANAl8u9ut3cvT
78Please respect copyright.PENANAvQpqIT9t6r
這是當然的,壽星還躺在床上不醒人事,能真心笑出來的人才有毛病。海柔終於忍不住,咔搭地一聲闔上攝影機蓋子。78Please respect copyright.PENANAqE0aStmOJK
78Please respect copyright.PENANAARbBvB8NKI
「太僵了!這是拍給艾萊妮看的影片耶,這樣根本不能讓她看啊,她看了會自責的!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAEwPoiVPW5A
78Please respect copyright.PENANAQIetMLryYr
「對呀!」梅森附和,大聲說:「大家再嗨一點嘛!我們是來幫她慶生的欸!」78Please respect copyright.PENANACHYvwAiqKB
78Please respect copyright.PENANAcwmkc2VE0n
海柔指向一旁堆好的禮物:「這次先一個一個拆禮物給她看,大家給點反應好嗎?大聲笑出來!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAdflYqxECe9
78Please respect copyright.PENANAvWssmVv5cM
她與梅森的喊召起了作用,安琪拉率先走到堆著禮物的桌上,挑出自己那份,對鏡頭露出燦爛的笑容:「生日快樂,我和哥哥討論了,決定送你這個——」她打開盒子,是個有貓咪刺繡的布製小枕頭,深藍色天鵝絨材質摸起來舒服極了。78Please respect copyright.PENANAfGihYAYjjr
78Please respect copyright.PENANAW7sLSEW8gP
「下次你抱著它,大家就知道你要睡覺了。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAXpQqm2ifqN
78Please respect copyright.PENANAFGigHnXWe1
有人輕笑,還有人悄聲說:「我每次都看到她在奇怪的地方睡覺耶。」另一人笑著接話:「對,餐廳的椅子上,還有樓梯間之類的。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAGqi7xlntKp
78Please respect copyright.PENANATzBLsDFUaE
許多人紛紛點頭,開始有人分享自己還在哪裡目擊過呼呼大睡的艾萊妮,海柔滿意的很,一邊拍下逐漸熱絡起來的眾人,一邊指揮下一個人去拿禮物。78Please respect copyright.PENANAN5uKRUQMSI
78Please respect copyright.PENANAwsXn28EgCn
輪到米卡時,她把一罐包裝閃亮的護髮油堵到鏡頭前,眨眼道:「用這個盡情去攎獲這些臭男生的心吧!超想你的!快點醒來啊!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAieFUVYbdFR
78Please respect copyright.PENANAtw2avygLIo
接著是西貝兒。她捧著一個紅皮的萬用收納袋,靦腆開口,還沒說完,米卡就擠過來:「差點忘記說!生日快樂!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAZN7x9Kqjsc
78Please respect copyright.PENANA6LiXiC7msg
「嘿!我還在說話!」西貝兒用手臂推開她,「生日快樂艾萊妮,我們真的很想你——」78Please respect copyright.PENANAvboIXFeK7C
78Please respect copyright.PENANA28fb1vis7H
克萊拉和安東尼分別送了一瓶自製的除痘霜和一本日記本。78Please respect copyright.PENANAnqnLMysWbM
78Please respect copyright.PENANACWt7hOHG3K
海柔望著那本棕皮日記本,給出一個無情的評價,「這也太普通了吧?」隨即轉頭高喊:「西追西追——換你了,做個示範,讓斯威夫特瞧瞧你的厲害!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAX9daD5taSV
78Please respect copyright.PENANA6KtmIJAepU
西追站在病床旁,聽海柔這樣說,臉頰稍稍泛紅,從外套口袋掏出一只小盒,猶豫地望向鏡頭,手指在盒上來回摩娑。78Please respect copyright.PENANABqocRuSIzn
78Please respect copyright.PENANATf3R2tTMeP
「呃——我比較想私下給她——一定要拍嗎?」78Please respect copyright.PENANAHBq2Kzzp9d
78Please respect copyright.PENANAMzrZvJGrMD
「快點啦!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAYCr4htsNfT
78Please respect copyright.PENANAw2X9Q5yyyI
他窘迫地搔了搔額頭,打開盒子,一條雅致精巧的手鍊躺在黑布之上,藍色的小珠子與金色的迷你珠子間隔成串,中央掛有一只木雕小貓。78Please respect copyright.PENANA01Ve3DQQpB
78Please respect copyright.PENANAfSRTntfElB
「艾萊妮——呃嗯⋯⋯生日快樂,這個是我自己做的,希望你喜歡——」他對鏡頭說完後,望向病床上的她。78Please respect copyright.PENANAnYnD9KFEJn
78Please respect copyright.PENANAwzrgwhWszN
海柔笑著小聲歡呼,迅速將鏡頭對準安東尼,「看到沒,這才叫誠意!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAlf87NZhQSs
78Please respect copyright.PENANAmm2sSTA0AG
安東尼哼了一聲,低聲反駁:「那是你們不知道她多愛寫日記⋯⋯」78Please respect copyright.PENANAm06pYjQvAQ
78Please respect copyright.PENANA1qCUJ3c5WM
十三人終於輪到最後一位,梅森興奮地舉起一個扁扁的小包裝袋,對著鏡頭揮手:「艾萊妮!壓軸是我,我的姓尼揚迦在我們族裡是『王』的意思喔,所以——豋豋豋豋——本王子跟我媽媽和奶奶一起做了這個——」78Please respect copyright.PENANAkz5Fpg7K52
78Please respect copyright.PENANAdJ8mmfeCDi
他從袋中取出一條精緻的線編頭繩,將臉堵在鏡頭前,一臉得意。78Please respect copyright.PENANAnJqno17WGP
78Please respect copyright.PENANAoGajNhVgTe
「你不是喜歡聽我說族裡的故事嗎?媽媽說,這個生日時要戴在頭上,是我們姆巴提人獨門的魔法,只能給女生用!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAXfjdFN3gPV
78Please respect copyright.PENANA4AaxahVVhf
他說著,便粗魯地將頭繩放到艾萊妮頭上,細小的水滴墜飾垂在她額前,裏頭裝著金色的霧,一接觸到她皮膚,水滴石驟然發光。78Please respect copyright.PENANALG3pw1qW7R
78Please respect copyright.PENANAlwBsZGa5tA
退到角落的諾拉猛地一動,眼神驚慌地大喊:「拿下來!」她推擠著人群,急迫地鑽過在床邊圍成一圈的同學們,直撲向艾萊妮。78Please respect copyright.PENANALSt8OwGRhh
78Please respect copyright.PENANAfcuJRdAtxT
還沒有人反應過來,諾拉已經取下頭繩,果斷又俐落,順道將旁邊的梅森往後拉。78Please respect copyright.PENANASNFUFB3SHS
78Please respect copyright.PENANAAGRqhPrGms
但來不及了。78Please respect copyright.PENANA0vmVEKrbsx
78Please respect copyright.PENANAFEEWzGAJuF
所有人怔住,目瞪口呆望向艾萊妮的身體。78Please respect copyright.PENANAmVlBPtkMKD
78Please respect copyright.PENANAEUTR9X2MK4
紫黑色的蛛網裂痕,如火燒紙邊,迅速從她脖頸蔓延至臉部,金色光芒沿著裂痕洩漏,像光由裡而外撕裂。下一秒,她瘋狂顫抖,四肢抽搐,病床嘎吱作響——像有什麼,要從她體內破殼而出。78Please respect copyright.PENANAEgitr4pjdQ
78Please respect copyright.PENANAPu28AsuYvz
顫抖一停歇,她猛地坐起,睜開眼。78Please respect copyright.PENANAQbWDwnbBBM
78Please respect copyright.PENANAQOzoeEUxmJ
藍色瞳孔佔據整片眼眶,沒有眼白,只有深邃怪詭的蔚藍。78Please respect copyright.PENANA7azxnQyMBV
78Please respect copyright.PENANA83UyDJTtXE
她開口,聲音鼓動在所有人的耳膜,附著難耐的嗡鳴:78Please respect copyright.PENANARo147cKPHd
78Please respect copyright.PENANABobz6KsOlt
「ἐγὼ τῇ ψυχῇ σὲ καταπιέζω τὸ σκότος. ποῦ εἰμί;」78Please respect copyright.PENANAPYObatcleO
78Please respect copyright.PENANAbGJhYuKkpk
(吾以魂抑爾之黯,答覆。吾身處何地?)78Please respect copyright.PENANA8ANF1soHCI
78Please respect copyright.PENANAbCrSJynoDL
這分明是艾萊妮的聲線,卻染著不屬於她的森冷與可怖。每個音節咚——咚——咚——咚地,盪至每個人腦裡,震顫他們的心臟,是一道不容抗拒的命令,卻無人聽的懂。78Please respect copyright.PENANAM70wRY1Lnm
78Please respect copyright.PENANAqXSyrbsnIs
「艾萊妮?」西追難受地摀住耳朵,向她伸手,想要碰她的肩。78Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZYwUXVMBk
78Please respect copyright.PENANA80LmoBupvG
他的手微顫著,就要碰到她——那副身軀突然再度劇烈顫抖。78Please respect copyright.PENANAcEjIPuJ8S9
78Please respect copyright.PENANAPHNqnBgnfc
她繼續說話,這次沒有那種撼動靈魂的力量,只餘下異樣的冷靜,是一種非人的語調:78Please respect copyright.PENANA7Qz8sbuhyC
78Please respect copyright.PENANA6sXamgaWl2
「女孩,至衡崩解,還歸尚須時日。」78Please respect copyright.PENANARMPdbFRQQu
78Please respect copyright.PENANAmNoFyuMmUX
語畢,她緊閉上眼,身體向後一倒,床鋪砰地發出沉重聲響。78Please respect copyright.PENANAbNMR06uHu0
78Please respect copyright.PENANACnVx6Wi256
這次她說的是英文,他們應該要聽懂的。78Please respect copyright.PENANAkflORvouVw
78Please respect copyright.PENANAWfaud1J49l
78Please respect copyright.PENANAMOnFVMcuM3
青蒼的話:
幫大家複習一下梅森.尼揚迦和海柔.丘奇是誰~78Please respect copyright.PENANAimObZiaczm
他們出現在24-2中段,安琪拉對克萊拉說的話當中:78Please respect copyright.PENANA6u67uNqKot
「梅森他,去年剛入學的時候,才剛從剛果移民過來,講話有很重的口音,很害怕被人嘲笑,一直很難融入學校,他一個人在練習發音的時候被艾萊妮發現,艾萊妮一個音節一個音節陪他練習,他說某一天他突然發現自己早就不害怕跟大家說話了。」78Please respect copyright.PENANA6uRah0bIMP
「然後是海柔,比我們高一年級的雷文克勞,她被室友誤會排擠,艾萊妮在學校裡亂轉的時候碰到哭得很傷心的她,海柔說後來艾萊妮不知道做了什麼,室友來和她道歉,她很受傷,很不想繼續跟室友住,結果她下一學期被莫名其妙換了間房,去問了孚利維教授才知道是艾萊妮——她偷偷去幫她申請換寢室。」78Please respect copyright.PENANADqkpCyarSv