二月八號,艾萊妮生日當天,恰好是周六。74Please respect copyright.PENANAAd1lDSsb80
74Please respect copyright.PENANAd3VzEhNZDa
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAi6Phqx6Y5V
74Please respect copyright.PENANA9KvYQ3AZ7k
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAPvioBsmGMQ
74Please respect copyright.PENANAF2mnS8tYP2
其中一名醫療接待員看見麥教授後,立刻朝他們走來。74Please respect copyright.PENANAPph6CLVvXS
74Please respect copyright.PENANAgmmub10dVS
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAHpccJApfuR
74Please respect copyright.PENANAnwoTVVIYET
「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?」74Please respect copyright.PENANAB4PVRDuHkS
74Please respect copyright.PENANAN05Wk6D2v3
麥教授搖頭:「臨時多了一個孩子,這樣方便嗎?」74Please respect copyright.PENANAB4pa42EBq6
74Please respect copyright.PENANAajSSRkFee1
麥瑞點頭,在登記板上畫下一筆。74Please respect copyright.PENANAofFUCygkxv
74Please respect copyright.PENANAMFTEfnwjGR
「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。」74Please respect copyright.PENANA8C0o9NVSMT
74Please respect copyright.PENANApQ4gR9PDyO
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANA58kqAzbwN6
74Please respect copyright.PENANAaAb4DygjZs
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANA25GH2jkkAr
74Please respect copyright.PENANA4bf1pBoEST
「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。」74Please respect copyright.PENANABi7J0l6U1w
74Please respect copyright.PENANAs7uUlqcagh
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:74Please respect copyright.PENANA6k9zW9Yx7p
74Please respect copyright.PENANANUFzW8kTbh
「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。」74Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2x8xrCnRv
74Please respect copyright.PENANAgkJPthIXJS
諾拉沉默,神情微黯,克萊拉輕輕捏了捏她的手。74Please respect copyright.PENANAeO1IzkNXnN
74Please respect copyright.PENANAACySfaW0AU
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAvVMn6i7jmn
74Please respect copyright.PENANAFglMN74qJ6
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAxyTZXBEiVW
74Please respect copyright.PENANA1AtpFukihl
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?74Please respect copyright.PENANAeQPrshSg25
74Please respect copyright.PENANA6ab0QF2UY4
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAiKp50K3FVx
74Please respect copyright.PENANA4xXB9a5IbJ
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANASRbrdoWXY9
74Please respect copyright.PENANAuOCVftmGJO
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。」74Please respect copyright.PENANAuRqHBTDnGu
74Please respect copyright.PENANAkVWSOsioMi
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAyK0iXCWkQG
74Please respect copyright.PENANAHV8Kpf50VX
大家沉默下來,門叩上的聲音迴響著。74Please respect copyright.PENANAcVYEnowAjT
74Please respect copyright.PENANAjcemMKgpnI
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAyY0A5BDi9C
74Please respect copyright.PENANAoPMfyecnrl
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9xeHdlyYT
74Please respect copyright.PENANAt95S9eGMeF
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANADfK5oYlTOF
74Please respect copyright.PENANASOvCqSp2fX
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAvfdsIxEsIE
74Please respect copyright.PENANAzs2SAEkQfR
為了鬆動氣氛,西追鬆開緊握的拳頭,拍了拍手:「開始準備吧。」74Please respect copyright.PENANAQx343xS9xb
74Please respect copyright.PENANAMuSE5Mji3v
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAThxCsxZR3G
74Please respect copyright.PENANA6WVFAqqVia
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAWvsVenZBeG
74Please respect copyright.PENANAzBkK0UgRcI
「真不可思議⋯⋯」她伸手,想碰那看似健康的臉頰——74Please respect copyright.PENANANNkaBcUjYY
74Please respect copyright.PENANAf87tYvBUZ4
「別碰她!」74Please respect copyright.PENANAhPjV3GjI9L
74Please respect copyright.PENANA9YJJzaNhIV
一隻黝黑的手猛地使力,抓住她手腕,諾拉吃痛皺眉。74Please respect copyright.PENANAVsHcvOKxuA
74Please respect copyright.PENANAKmndxMN0DC
安東尼惡狠狠地瞪她:「別以為我不知道你要幹嘛!」74Please respect copyright.PENANAd9H9hvxOoC
74Please respect copyright.PENANAZPn0cbwZnV
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。」74Please respect copyright.PENANAdqt6bWLEWm
74Please respect copyright.PENANAKIocIQXFMA
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAzWxxFRxKhs
74Please respect copyright.PENANASRrDOUOepy
諾拉不滿地瞥了他一眼,退至一旁,眼中滿是惋惜。74Please respect copyright.PENANArF2si55hvj
74Please respect copyright.PENANATro3T9nye4
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?」74Please respect copyright.PENANA945ybeHjGN
74Please respect copyright.PENANArZtRf4eaCy
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⋯⋯」74Please respect copyright.PENANAkO7wJT2wCB
74Please respect copyright.PENANAinMypeYPRZ
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANA3f4vkVeX4G
74Please respect copyright.PENANA1ohvN5Ynlg
「克萊拉。」他傾身喚她。74Please respect copyright.PENANA1hOLndeG0x
74Please respect copyright.PENANAihEfEcurZ0
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。」74Please respect copyright.PENANAVdX4VQdwJT
74Please respect copyright.PENANA9pjNHXhttz
於是生日會毫無徵兆的開始了。74Please respect copyright.PENANAb4veoVKNqU
74Please respect copyright.PENANAzbE32YMeBU
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAm6cxJu2D9x
74Please respect copyright.PENANABDjDlTBsX1
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAaEVRRbu6yx
74Please respect copyright.PENANAEvGCOEvHKh
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAuBSK7AVuho
74Please respect copyright.PENANABnw4hrIrpx
「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!」74Please respect copyright.PENANAFaX6yKT9c3
74Please respect copyright.PENANAHK6iS9CPPV
「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!」74Please respect copyright.PENANAcKPggY0LKI
74Please respect copyright.PENANAmli7vAOove
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!」74Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1VBNYo5cr
74Please respect copyright.PENANAGGmJI8Jjvk
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAGBoUYmI6l6
74Please respect copyright.PENANAHaCQ3NwxXj
「下次你抱著它,大家就知道你要睡覺了。」74Please respect copyright.PENANAqDWonuhM5t
74Please respect copyright.PENANAAVD40VQ3Ha
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。」74Please respect copyright.PENANAvfeA9CilhA
74Please respect copyright.PENANAQf6eYH0P9f
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAavrCqw7NEP
74Please respect copyright.PENANAmYUVVsNUXa
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!」74Please respect copyright.PENANAbWjM8fvOCb
74Please respect copyright.PENANAymxpZWycjc
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!」74Please respect copyright.PENANAkWj6JqWjJS
74Please respect copyright.PENANADERzEjpV5V
「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——」74Please respect copyright.PENANAB7sSIpAbKl
74Please respect copyright.PENANAuv6rwNzWNe
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAoeQv5aVFMA
74Please respect copyright.PENANAOdUPuYWpsX
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!」74Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6HVVoREYQ
74Please respect copyright.PENANANKGBi6XZYI
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAwOaKcMyGe1
74Please respect copyright.PENANATnElVS8IpC
「呃——我比較想私下給她——一定要拍嗎?」74Please respect copyright.PENANAdkZ6qBDMES
74Please respect copyright.PENANAJKoMHbF30T
「快點啦!」74Please respect copyright.PENANAvOsfjEzgBG
74Please respect copyright.PENANAcwG1d5INGD
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANASQ9dRD693K
74Please respect copyright.PENANAWKI4C0ygj2
「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。74Please respect copyright.PENANA34fX0QpgKB
74Please respect copyright.PENANA3LldQEdjGU
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!」74Please respect copyright.PENANAR4JhztnCaz
74Please respect copyright.PENANA2xku4CjCoe
安東尼哼了一聲,低聲反駁:「那是你們不知道她多愛寫日記⋯⋯」74Please respect copyright.PENANA1mQC2u7qmX
74Please respect copyright.PENANATaEwBZr9Pn
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——」74Please respect copyright.PENANA6IsHLRUyjk
74Please respect copyright.PENANAnfTbaX4vwc
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANADm3D12FmGn
74Please respect copyright.PENANAHdgjxQMsHH
「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!」74Please respect copyright.PENANA2biXuoOGjg
74Please respect copyright.PENANARRti7NaBx3
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANA1JFra0KZI1
74Please respect copyright.PENANAxwjfJonA7a
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAd7xwSHL7gS
74Please respect copyright.PENANAPeb06U3gLx
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAAyPjrsOIBH
74Please respect copyright.PENANAxKAryXUzjs
但來不及了。74Please respect copyright.PENANAFW4dD0XVlT
74Please respect copyright.PENANAgZBV0llvpC
所有人怔住,目瞪口呆望向艾萊妮的身體。74Please respect copyright.PENANAGfSb4XjCFb
74Please respect copyright.PENANAalJ5BaDrpg
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAIlTaTVG3I8
74Please respect copyright.PENANAHfsiAE75mH
顫抖一停歇,她猛地坐起,睜開眼。74Please respect copyright.PENANAFMOCcPptDC
74Please respect copyright.PENANAm1OGVYf4sN
藍色瞳孔佔據整片眼眶,沒有眼白,只有深邃怪詭的蔚藍。74Please respect copyright.PENANAEv7SBCWkR5
74Please respect copyright.PENANAJoxShc879W
她開口,聲音鼓動在所有人的耳膜,附著難耐的嗡鳴:74Please respect copyright.PENANAbty5P9jYCv
74Please respect copyright.PENANAm1H2opVDcF
「ἐγὼ τῇ ψυχῇ σὲ καταπιέζω τὸ σκότος. ποῦ εἰμί;」74Please respect copyright.PENANAepY0AWhP8D
74Please respect copyright.PENANAMjf3jB9bbG
(吾以魂抑爾之黯,答覆。吾身處何地?)74Please respect copyright.PENANAn0i2w5gzsQ
74Please respect copyright.PENANAyUSY7jpnhQ
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。74Please respect copyright.PENANAG0osc2yPMP
74Please respect copyright.PENANAcjbsL7MlCi
「艾萊妮?」西追難受地摀住耳朵,向她伸手,想要碰她的肩。74Please respect copyright.PENANAyFm0SkwPz9
74Please respect copyright.PENANAcA86d1PmKF
他的手微顫著,就要碰到她——那副身軀突然再度劇烈顫抖。74Please respect copyright.PENANAn0Eo3UrF28
74Please respect copyright.PENANA1TwpNjOR9N
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:74Please respect copyright.PENANArgx4IQsLr4
74Please respect copyright.PENANA3JlBlWjsSq
「女孩,至衡崩解,還歸尚須時日。」74Please respect copyright.PENANAE1M6NsbUHu
74Please respect copyright.PENANAF2KjQ3g3V2
語畢,她緊閉上眼,身體向後一倒,床鋪砰地發出沉重聲響。74Please respect copyright.PENANAdQAzOJXNWE
74Please respect copyright.PENANA9k4YCDX3W0
這次她說的是英文,他們應該要聽懂的。74Please respect copyright.PENANA88vrNEuro9
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74Please respect copyright.PENANAT0du61JzLy
青蒼的話:
幫大家複習一下梅森.尼揚迦和海柔.丘奇是誰~74Please respect copyright.PENANArVaDx45Qt0
他們出現在24-2中段,安琪拉對克萊拉說的話當中:74Please respect copyright.PENANAxKevp00Mji
「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。」74Please respect copyright.PENANAMJDDKldqFd
「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。」74Please respect copyright.PENANAXK93RsoJsT