城市的喧囂被掩埋在幾公里外的地平線上,老舊的公寓像一具灰白色的巨大殘骸,蜷縮在巷弄的盡頭,外牆剝落的磁磚呈現出一種病態的色澤。103Please respect copyright.PENANA8xYF1MUmTs
103Please respect copyright.PENANAQpR2thSmUX
封鎖線那刺眼的鮮黃,是這片灰暗中唯一的色彩,在窄小的樓梯口隨風晃動,發出輕微的啪噠聲,像在警告闖入者的低鳴。103Please respect copyright.PENANA9sy0B8pOlf
103Please respect copyright.PENANAFbjnrMPIET
「夏伊勒小姐。」103Please respect copyright.PENANARlxSEIDWpq
103Please respect copyright.PENANAMufaEO4y5x
兩名全副武裝的警察向她行禮,黑色的背心胸口,寫著大大的「刑警」兩字。103Please respect copyright.PENANAAHPKzE0DTX
103Please respect copyright.PENANA1V6d3TCzwl
「這……這個是?」看見隨後下車的少女,後方年輕的刑警面色一凜,下意識摸向腰間的配槍。103Please respect copyright.PENANAkgta0NORXI
103Please respect copyright.PENANAqCEczzWbRh
「工作。」她低聲說,語氣比吹來的寒風更加冰冷:「讓開。」103Please respect copyright.PENANA2a1JyrFCS8
103Please respect copyright.PENANAadjp0rwGbH
「是……是。」對方拉開封鎖,緊靠牆邊的站姿僵硬得像棵路邊的灌木。103Please respect copyright.PENANAu2wSTgUWMt
103Please respect copyright.PENANAkH8Y9AEuFG
兩名刑警大氣不敢喘地感受著身旁飄過的異質感,那份不屬於這個世界的氣息,讓人光是待在一旁,就讓全身毛孔止不住地緊縮。103Please respect copyright.PENANA9xrv1kz2uh
103Please respect copyright.PENANAfc38V7yxBd
「我……我還是第一次這麼近距離的見到新蟲族。」直到三人的身影漸遠,他才小心翼翼地回頭觀望。103Please respect copyright.PENANAgzqThTGUYY
103Please respect copyright.PENANA4KzKNLQJrZ
「笨蛋!不要看,是蛾種。」較為年長的刑警厲聲阻止。103Please respect copyright.PENANArzDXTbP0Da
103Please respect copyright.PENANAVQinDF8yNd
隨著陡峭的樓梯向上,空氣驟然變得凝重,那氣味並非單純的血腥,而是揉雜了陳年霉味、過期報紙的酸氣,以及一種滲出的,令人作嘔的甜膩感——那是死亡在密閉空間發酵後獨有的氣息。103Please respect copyright.PENANAjyi4oSc2t3
103Please respect copyright.PENANAXpJ3sSLIrW
「說真的,如果是政治謀殺的話,我還是沒辦法認同因為理念衝突就把對方除掉這件事。」羅特走在隊伍最後面,帶著一種茶餘飯後卻又幾分認真的語調。103Please respect copyright.PENANAeM3y3A6nXq
103Please respect copyright.PENANAPinOVINJYr
「當然。」夏伊勒義正辭嚴地說,帶著不容置疑的堅定:「發生這種事情,簡直就是對司法的侮辱。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAN3raPKyi2u
103Please respect copyright.PENANA9V9VYsM0R2
羅特默默瞄了她一眼,若無其事地說:「看來妳是堅守司法正義的人?」103Please respect copyright.PENANApTYVGbeCf0
103Please respect copyright.PENANAf4qIq12g1T
她腳步頓了一下,片刻沉默後,低下嗓音說道:「所有不滿現狀的抗爭,都應該走在現有的司法體制內才行。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAY4vN6GgsiA
103Please respect copyright.PENANAHM8opnMiGs
語氣中沒有激憤、沒有說教,只有一種深不見底的疲憊:「不然的話,我已經想不到任何在這個虛偽的世界,能夠維持人性底線的東西了。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAvJTweQhun4
103Please respect copyright.PENANA8EETe6XFgx
他眼神一愣,沉默了好一會兒。103Please respect copyright.PENANAkBSkBbWfWW
103Please respect copyright.PENANAW93AtEJ0fa
「妳給人一種值得信任的感覺呢,夏伊勒檢察官。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAPsIOmSm3tq
103Please respect copyright.PENANAdxWIWhXBs1
「但我不信任你,所以不要跟我說這種話。」幾乎沒有猶豫,夏伊勒立刻駁回。103Please respect copyright.PENANANhDFkaAL9m
103Please respect copyright.PENANAImKt5XCYGi
羅特苦笑兩聲,沒有多作辯解。103Please respect copyright.PENANAF6IZloGrAf
103Please respect copyright.PENANAq16ztxurZy
走過樓梯轉角,標號「401」的大門敞開著,幾盞臨時架設的強力探照燈將昏暗的房間照得亮白如晝,卻也讓現場更加驚心動魄。103Please respect copyright.PENANA8xC4eGNS7c
103Please respect copyright.PENANAAGiNpSa5sw
「真是驚人。」跨過封鎖線,羅特感嘆道:「明明是兇殺,卻沒有多少血跡。如果真是蟲族幹的,實在是不可思議。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAhX9EsUyOBQ
103Please respect copyright.PENANAkIvkMl9gPm
「那個……她一定要進去嗎?」夏伊勒站在封鎖線邊緣,眉頭微皺。103Please respect copyright.PENANA1gdC4JfsHr
103Please respect copyright.PENANAo3BSryxGkX
「當然,不然怎麼調查?」他輕輕一笑,語氣從容地帶過。103Please respect copyright.PENANAOopbYRlzXQ
103Please respect copyright.PENANAAsfIpcMhnK
看著荷布希那東張西望的模樣,像極了初到校外教學的小學生。103Please respect copyright.PENANANRqsOZtuQC
103Please respect copyright.PENANAq1LHNHvULO
她嘆了口氣,也跨步進到現場。103Please respect copyright.PENANA1Vam0Gn3go
103Please respect copyright.PENANAcPh4gxbJx1
強光下,白色的輪廓線歪曲地倒在房間中央,一種令人不適的扭曲感,靜靜闡述著受害者死前最後的掙扎。103Please respect copyright.PENANA9h8KnGl0dx
103Please respect copyright.PENANArTEdh1dZVe
透過鑑識人員留下的銀色粉末,像鬼魂的抓痕散佈在地面與牆沿,數個黃色編號牌彷彿無聲墓碑,標示著散落的物品與血印。103Please respect copyright.PENANA319IaSbGSk
103Please respect copyright.PENANAtLddAseoc8
「犯人沒有試圖抹去指紋,但是,我們並沒有從資料庫找到相應的嫌疑犯。」她緩步繞著現場走動,神色比來時的路上更加深沉。103Please respect copyright.PENANATQPlZgbtxO
103Please respect copyright.PENANAwD94rw8KKF
每經過一處標號,都不經意地瞟過兩眼,像在評估著每一份線索對案件進展的價值。103Please respect copyright.PENANAAebpphU1CB
103Please respect copyright.PENANAGoHU6XqdDr
「這裡。」103Please respect copyright.PENANANiiCtXR6bL
103Please respect copyright.PENANAaBm6xGIpZa
最終她佇足在靠近窗邊的一處標號前,牌子一側的地上還殘留著一點細微的黑色痕跡,已經因時間流逝而模糊不清。103Please respect copyright.PENANA7dpWGWtWFq
103Please respect copyright.PENANA1fuMzpNBz4
「這東西那時就隨意掉在這裡。」她從口袋拿出那袋黑色碎片,指向荷布希面前:「如何?能看出什麼嗎?」103Please respect copyright.PENANAiLi8YwPzv8
103Please respect copyright.PENANAwNZupwdSjV
盯著她手中的碎片,荷布希雙瞳放大,眼眶周圍的青筋微微浮現,見此情景的夏伊勒心臟不免縮了一下。103Please respect copyright.PENANA6bNfJHJ6gh
103Please respect copyright.PENANABJNZIJ8ihq
「沒辦法。」片刻後,荷布希小聲說道:「那東西已經『死』太久了。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAAxWHaSNV1v
103Please respect copyright.PENANAV8u0O9kFa6
「已經脫落身體太久了嗎?」夏伊勒嘆了口氣,但眼裡並沒有過度失望。103Please respect copyright.PENANAVruuSbLNBQ
103Please respect copyright.PENANAou1ASiS0EN
或許一開始想透過這種旁門左道省事的想法,本身就是個不切實際的笑話。103Please respect copyright.PENANAs402aWIJfk
103Please respect copyright.PENANAbikjqzaNnb
羅特蹲在標號牌旁的一處碎裂的地板前,目光銳利地端詳著。103Please respect copyright.PENANAFKfVZm99Py
103Please respect copyright.PENANAxW8gId7Kjp
「這個龜裂的形狀,底下還有這種黑粉……毫無疑問是蟲族的足跡。」他指著地上被外力翻起的木紋,溝縫裡還摻雜著一點不明的剝落碎屑。103Please respect copyright.PENANAQLIkBPvPWF
103Please respect copyright.PENANAP7hLaWv6BX
「依照這個足跡間距,還有碎片的樣式來看,初步推測是蟻種或是蛛種的痕跡。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAKYsnL3Z9e0
103Please respect copyright.PENANAHSTm9ladoe
「等等,也可能是刻意製造的吧?」夏伊勒出言打斷:「只靠這點線索就斷言也未免太魯莽了。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAOzKHwx69Ey
103Please respect copyright.PENANArQLqPGZg30
「確實不排除這種可能,老實說我也挺好奇的。一般來講,除非遭受強烈打擊或是摩擦,否則不太可能剝落這麼多甲殼碎屑……」103Please respect copyright.PENANAeLE47okKop
103Please respect copyright.PENANA49nNlwpwhx
「但我不認為有人能夠隨時從哪搬來一條蟲腳,然後精密的仿造力度和間距敲出幾個坑洞。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAMWkylRjRmF
103Please respect copyright.PENANATwK6IpJzrf
他站起身,目光掃視著遍布牆壁的銀色粉末。掌印步步延伸,最終如漩渦般匯聚到象徵死者的白色輪廓上。103Please respect copyright.PENANAfuOepCfHto
103Please respect copyright.PENANAl1uFlPVrHH
「但其實還挺合理的吧?如果是已經腐化的蟲腳透過外力撞擊的話,落下這些碎片就剛剛好了。」夏伊勒附和著說。103Please respect copyright.PENANArkQpACzRyS
103Please respect copyright.PENANAMaJEBrPwuE
然而事實上她也明白,撇除要先找到意外死亡的蟲族不說,究竟要用什麼樣的工具,才能在不引人注目的情況下敲出如此坑洞?103Please respect copyright.PENANAkhAsEeGb1m
103Please respect copyright.PENANAHhsfWa4zIZ
羅特摸著下巴沉吟片刻,最終目光落在呆站一旁的白色身影上。103Please respect copyright.PENANAsdpQI0PWjX
103Please respect copyright.PENANADFHBxAsP0Z
安然佇立在那的少女,彷彿已經與現場的背景完全融入,只有那不時觀望四周的眼睛,象徵著她的靈魂還在此地。103Please respect copyright.PENANArnAYZ0BHSq
103Please respect copyright.PENANAcUcQQVRAVc
「荷布希。」羅特出聲,帶著一絲不同於前的嚴肅:「我們需要妳的『眼睛』。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAAWHrZmUPvp
103Please respect copyright.PENANAtdQ3WyTE9N
荷布希撇頭看他,輕輕晃動的觸角似乎在解讀著他話語中的含義。103Please respect copyright.PENANAs58aRe8w7I
103Please respect copyright.PENANAOrBPXuu4qE
「哪一隻?」103Please respect copyright.PENANANsrGvOYVae
「全知。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAywQA5qjzpx
103Please respect copyright.PENANAxupDoIYWne
夏伊勒一愣,心中湧起一種不安:「等等,要幹什麼?」她皺著眉頭說道。103Please respect copyright.PENANAirpFsfuTWO
103Please respect copyright.PENANAqaHddShR1Q
「那,我要使用了,羅特先生。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAXYT8mRvj5M
103Please respect copyright.PENANAWiX9NRMQmW
荷布希沒有搭理她,只是雙眼微微睜大。靜如止水的聲音像無意刮起的漣漪,在封閉的房間中迴盪。103Please respect copyright.PENANApe71bxokhI
103Please respect copyright.PENANALj3GrOgBha
她身體站得筆直,然而瞳孔的光點像流逝的靈魂漸漸黯淡。103Please respect copyright.PENANASHhtCzWsqF
103Please respect copyright.PENANAwzaJxeTkLX
「不好意思,接下來可能會有點嚇人,請妳不要嚇到。」103Please respect copyright.PENANA97IYzPW1JQ
103Please respect copyright.PENANAEgUBta0xNq
「什麼……」103Please respect copyright.PENANAHULXljJBhL
103Please respect copyright.PENANA4TLfTEyrc2
還未等她反應過來,荷布希棕色的觸角高高豎起。103Please respect copyright.PENANADJtazjTRGs
103Please respect copyright.PENANAiWWmvNNRN0
刷——103Please respect copyright.PENANA8cJjuYMen3
103Please respect copyright.PENANAXiS5M764lX
伴隨聲響,大羽狀的結構向外撐開,灑落點點細粉,雪白的髮尾隨之飄起。明明沒有風,空氣卻像被一股氣流掃過,驅散分離。103Please respect copyright.PENANAYA6ksxeF9H
103Please respect copyright.PENANAlFaDBL2Ff7
黑色的青筋浮上面頰,扭曲地從眼角蔓延,她的眼睛在瞬間被一股黑潮侵蝕,化為純粹的暗。103Please respect copyright.PENANAdIR4QrF58Y
103Please respect copyright.PENANA6S9O4w3T1s
靜謐的空氣像沉重的紗網落在三人身上,將每一寸肌膚都壓抑得無法動彈。103Please respect copyright.PENANAAMnfUEZdVR
103Please respect copyright.PENANAqcyizTbzLq
黑瞳中微不可見的銀白流轉變化,成為那片深淵中唯一的光。103Please respect copyright.PENANAPnAx0ityuc
103Please respect copyright.PENANAt4SGR6xKrS
嗡——103Please respect copyright.PENANAmVVzeSHGhD
103Please respect copyright.PENANAsZTc1dSLiN
她的世界變得安靜無比,耳邊只剩一陣嗡鳴。103Please respect copyright.PENANAGn7QlCTZDs
103Please respect copyright.PENANAHxpLerERuu
隨著光斑閃過,將世界的色彩帶走,留下一片黑白。103Please respect copyright.PENANANHOIjBWlCe
103Please respect copyright.PENANApAStdNiZVf
另一道光影緊隨其後,將世界的樣貌捲走,留下一片由線條勾勒而成的輪廓。103Please respect copyright.PENANA295vIvSK78
103Please respect copyright.PENANAjYMfqNZL2t
最後的清風,將世界的殘像抹得一筆不留,只剩下一片虛無。103Please respect copyright.PENANANW2F9MICgm
103Please respect copyright.PENANACTboHDnAvD
……103Please respect copyright.PENANAfhnzRX4jYU
103Please respect copyright.PENANAfsm6O8i1Ct
細線自虛無中升起,在一片蒼白中飄逸——那是來自某地的,濕濡的氣味。103Please respect copyright.PENANAvpqsGSoToA
103Please respect copyright.PENANAzswjWdh8Ey
細線自虛無中捲起,在一片靜謐中舞動——那是來自某處的,剝落的聲響。103Please respect copyright.PENANAjWxOaGfkPc
103Please respect copyright.PENANAdNcde8BiDu
一條條的細線由空白浮出,斑斕絢麗的色彩飄蕩游動,血腥的氣息、塵風的躁動、來自某人的心跳……如繩結般彼此交纏相織,世界在此迅速重構。103Please respect copyright.PENANAA1TywqzXS5
103Please respect copyright.PENANAzW6CaL5gFK
一覽無遺的景色在眼前散開,她看見牆壁後方的鼠洞、看見閣樓上方的裂紋,她看見門口警員的交談、水管滴漏的滴答、街道煙頭的焦味……103Please respect copyright.PENANAQo9eaH5U9j
103Please respect copyright.PENANAV43V8F0eUJ
直到她能看見女人心中的畏懼、少女呆滯的樣貌、男人焦躁的思緒。那一刻,她不再是自己,而是這個世界維度的一部分。103Please respect copyright.PENANAetNOQnfKVb
103Please respect copyright.PENANABZ3rgqsto5
「死亡……」她低聲呢喃,像一縷尚未升起的輕煙:「是死亡的味道。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAbeI3D2rkj2
103Please respect copyright.PENANAz9XihyNVGL
聲音滴入空氣,波動了世界的樣貌。103Please respect copyright.PENANANeAzvFUF7w
103Please respect copyright.PENANA0yx6tHyZ9l
夏伊勒從愣神中反應過來,不自覺地退了一步:「這不是當然的嗎?人都已經死了。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAO3631eEksE
103Please respect copyright.PENANAF6oqrCkvs2
「不對,不是這裡。」她輕聲說,空洞的瞳孔像一具某位存在代言的工具:「不只是這裡。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAY5garRCGTx
103Please respect copyright.PENANAmtM0I45ocy
「從一樓到四樓,地面、天花板、窗戶,都是死亡的味道——外面的牆壁也是。」那雙眼睛,彷彿注視著某個不屬於世界的遠方。103Please respect copyright.PENANAqH6BjYZp7e
103Please respect copyright.PENANAVSyoFzGDSn
「外面的牆壁……?」103Please respect copyright.PENANAFY4LYVSrET
103Please respect copyright.PENANAVag8HRrVdW
夏伊勒沉吟片刻,忽然瞪大了眼,一個箭步,飛奔似來到現場唯一的窗戶前。103Please respect copyright.PENANAlcqG3G60aS
103Please respect copyright.PENANAW3uq14MnAE
「喂,會破壞現場喔?」羅特出聲提醒,但似乎並沒有出手阻止的打算。103Please respect copyright.PENANAjKMJBpRTDJ
103Please respect copyright.PENANATw7UER2DOa
她沒有理會羅特,毫不猶豫地一把拉開略帶髒污的窗戶,窗簾隨風飄逸,發出破碎的拍打聲,冷冽的風將房間的粉塵吹得四散。103Please respect copyright.PENANAxmXEExas4f
103Please respect copyright.PENANAFgXQ4KQwsS
她從口袋掏出手套迅速戴上,朝窗外下方的牆面抹了一把。103Please respect copyright.PENANAV208Q00EST
103Please respect copyright.PENANASoxeevwgSC
抬手察看,白色的指尖上,染上難以察覺的黑色粉末——與地面上的碎屑如出一轍。103Please respect copyright.PENANAFKMuDDY1tH
103Please respect copyright.PENANAHVWkAVopzJ
「這是……」103Please respect copyright.PENANArCKwL7bSpO
103Please respect copyright.PENANAXK9e9ENX9q
探頭向下望去,足足十多米的高度,究竟要如何才能在外邊的牆面,沾上這種風吹就散的粉末?103Please respect copyright.PENANAOO3tSneNEo
103Please respect copyright.PENANAHEceGMKwxa
「還有嗎?荷布希。」羅特不疾不徐地問。103Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6subxiECe
103Please respect copyright.PENANAThM0iluWXg
「沿著一樓牆邊到街道……剩下的就看不見了。」她的頭緩緩轉動,像台洞若觀火的監視器:「風,帶走了。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAfEODN9Ff1p
103Please respect copyright.PENANAImPBmPr6UL
荷布希說著,黑色的瞳孔漸漸褪去,變回純淨的銀灰色,髮頂的觸角默默收起垂下。103Please respect copyright.PENANAuBdpjH8pAg
103Please respect copyright.PENANAqgq8NFzPlO
羅特微微頷首,向前兩步走向窗邊。103Please respect copyright.PENANAT5qDUVgkyu
103Please respect copyright.PENANAEKKS0AmXnv
「這下子就確定了吧?在這種高度,人類是不可能徒手爬上來的。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAQ822ulM1Lz
103Please respect copyright.PENANA4RUdPekRUP
夏伊勒咬緊牙關,手中的塑膠袋被握出扭曲的皺摺。103Please respect copyright.PENANAH6vheVxbEm
103Please respect copyright.PENANAkwCrLiYWdc
見她遲遲不說話,羅特無奈地率先說道:「那麼很不幸地,克萊爾·夏伊勒檢察官,我要代表調查局,宣布正式介入這起案件了。」103Please respect copyright.PENANADyUF7PFnCh
103Please respect copyright.PENANAmMwjzGSSjF
「根據規定,調查局的行動獨立於一切警政體系之外,不向任何組織與勢力負責,我們不干預、也不受警察或檢察官干預……」103Please respect copyright.PENANAsv6lK3Ph5h
103Please respect copyright.PENANA9hCEWsJWhZ
他照本宣科地唸著「米蘭達警告」似的宣言,一字一句中,是她最清楚不過的內容。103Please respect copyright.PENANAbAgqvv3y8I
103Please respect copyright.PENANAsYLZD9mlZn
為了社會的秩序、為了所謂的正義、為了不再讓『那件事』重演,她傾盡全力。103Please respect copyright.PENANATIAM1cwGHX
103Please respect copyright.PENANAxBPvlo8ujs
然而從某天起,忽然現世的一群人打破了一切,他們不受法律約束,完全獨立於體制之外,她所堅守不疑的秩序如玩笑般被摧毀。103Please respect copyright.PENANAK0IZPQoZB0
103Please respect copyright.PENANAtYgz6cUq9C
一直以來的堅持和努力,究竟是為了什麼?103Please respect copyright.PENANAOs2osSD6eJ
103Please respect copyright.PENANAsNAATRlIVp
見她如鯁在喉的神情,羅特輕嘆口氣,語氣轉柔的說道:「即便如此,我們與各單位依然是目標相同的夥伴,希望在接下來的日子裡,能夠互利互助,共同完結案件。」103Please respect copyright.PENANAI9L0uMTBAG
103Please respect copyright.PENANAAOa2Dl7XGi
說著,他向她伸手,掌心微攤。103Please respect copyright.PENANAqmgJ92lKp0
103Please respect copyright.PENANAXq47KBTk2c
夏伊勒沉默不語,看著那佈滿厚繭的手,思緒被擠壓堆積成同樣的斑駁。103Please respect copyright.PENANAnI1D0QuHCp
103Please respect copyright.PENANAkx4CIeogPY
過了好一會兒,她總算伸出了那隻戴著白手套的手。103Please respect copyright.PENANACjvjyD35hT
103Please respect copyright.PENANA4ufJeh1p4n
「欸?」羅特錯愕地愣了一瞬。103Please respect copyright.PENANAuDYz3VklwB
103Please respect copyright.PENANA6gvGfB3mnn
她將手再次伸到他面前,順帶悶哼一聲。103Please respect copyright.PENANAy7d682RqjJ
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「……」103Please respect copyright.PENANAty9MC3ejpD
103Please respect copyright.PENANASm8K8elB71
即便如此,只要見識過一次就能清楚明白,那種無可比擬的力量,毫無疑問是當今混亂的時代,不可或缺的「必要之惡」。


