二月八號,艾萊妮生日當天,恰好是周六。97Please respect copyright.PENANAXeXTLlEVpj
97Please respect copyright.PENANAVp3qFBheEP
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANApe9P4Ep2f1
97Please respect copyright.PENANA0jp4fHJ2Ct
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAtqwdIwpPEB
97Please respect copyright.PENANA466pdQ8Lzr
其中一名醫療接待員看見麥教授後,立刻朝他們走來。97Please respect copyright.PENANAutv83UXjHZ
97Please respect copyright.PENANAHu3gVqZN9d
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANA80ZtDlQLoB
97Please respect copyright.PENANAOVJ387Nvl7
「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?」97Please respect copyright.PENANAvsuZKMR0nu
97Please respect copyright.PENANAbgdorqQaQt
麥教授搖頭:「臨時多了一個孩子,這樣方便嗎?」97Please respect copyright.PENANAO1ixxbcp5N
97Please respect copyright.PENANAqFO9zTowa7
麥瑞點頭,在登記板上畫下一筆。97Please respect copyright.PENANAyTR85I81SF
97Please respect copyright.PENANASswGJe7kFc
「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。」97Please respect copyright.PENANAdpj6Svm6YZ
97Please respect copyright.PENANAoTOtwQMInt
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANA1dlroiopEv
97Please respect copyright.PENANAocp1PK6yDX
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAJsnt5OKVtv
97Please respect copyright.PENANAMm5dU5SEuv
「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。」97Please respect copyright.PENANAaBttkC0aD8
97Please respect copyright.PENANA62dklR46P3
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:97Please respect copyright.PENANA8XAXxlVZN3
97Please respect copyright.PENANARkffpziKWI
「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。」97Please respect copyright.PENANAKMoIPWGlJx
97Please respect copyright.PENANA7IUr3MuUpV
諾拉沉默,神情微黯,克萊拉輕輕捏了捏她的手。97Please respect copyright.PENANAdt1yA1ZYEa
97Please respect copyright.PENANAFXWDMc3w2c
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAbraRKTvHYd
97Please respect copyright.PENANAIDnMzXmNQ9
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAw5Di9nTrbp
97Please respect copyright.PENANA5ohEVlAWmj
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?97Please respect copyright.PENANAYKrNLBGSy5
97Please respect copyright.PENANAaaMNBRSwiy
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANArZRt3bOyyp
97Please respect copyright.PENANAGoTOXReL7W
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAHB3AqOUfWd
97Please respect copyright.PENANAlipAae8ecA
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。」97Please respect copyright.PENANAIshlkIKChY
97Please respect copyright.PENANALWxCh5sHZJ
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAwNcCKgSA1K
97Please respect copyright.PENANAK3I2WAYKQ2
大家沉默下來,門叩上的聲音迴響著。97Please respect copyright.PENANAtLSr5fitPG
97Please respect copyright.PENANART76OZzXB0
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANApqxIJ0GzrR
97Please respect copyright.PENANAvF6Jmizd7I
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAT4Eyffhcw0
97Please respect copyright.PENANA874TDLbFlz
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAij6UwWAkV7
97Please respect copyright.PENANASr0iFMS0t7
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAlv4PQRtTcy
97Please respect copyright.PENANAPBMYiMiSKT
為了鬆動氣氛,西追鬆開緊握的拳頭,拍了拍手:「開始準備吧。」97Please respect copyright.PENANAqj4vp6ZFId
97Please respect copyright.PENANAnb0u4obgeV
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAsRsffE1hCI
97Please respect copyright.PENANAOQ87JZYqPX
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAV50LykDuhn
97Please respect copyright.PENANAjn60N5xcPB
「真不可思議⋯⋯」她伸手,想碰那看似健康的臉頰——97Please respect copyright.PENANAEApeGJ3e7I
97Please respect copyright.PENANAxrb7An4b5E
「別碰她!」97Please respect copyright.PENANAa5ftsPxEzo
97Please respect copyright.PENANAsZ64HQ2DMq
一隻黝黑的手猛地使力,抓住她手腕,諾拉吃痛皺眉。97Please respect copyright.PENANAGYmVkgEuxr
97Please respect copyright.PENANA3cTvcPNDMn
安東尼惡狠狠地瞪她:「別以為我不知道你要幹嘛!」97Please respect copyright.PENANAafs1A0jY4K
97Please respect copyright.PENANAJgcZptFzsd
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。」97Please respect copyright.PENANAGfgZh4UsB4
97Please respect copyright.PENANApqbQfIjBKX
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAx5Erin7CF8
97Please respect copyright.PENANAFSMIPuCOEs
諾拉不滿地瞥了他一眼,退至一旁,眼中滿是惋惜。97Please respect copyright.PENANAFrTHhr3bAQ
97Please respect copyright.PENANAiDC7tWgasK
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?」97Please respect copyright.PENANAaGw51cgL5V
97Please respect copyright.PENANAnvRDCZOk01
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⋯⋯」97Please respect copyright.PENANAPVs760PhUB
97Please respect copyright.PENANABG7rk0DCYY
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAR7CgvdiUGb
97Please respect copyright.PENANAzPbl5rmsOl
「克萊拉。」他傾身喚她。97Please respect copyright.PENANA2kDSshIZhJ
97Please respect copyright.PENANA8v5fkHFFT2
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。」97Please respect copyright.PENANAQsYiRCIXYt
97Please respect copyright.PENANAZBAAlYAJiD
於是生日會毫無徵兆的開始了。97Please respect copyright.PENANAH3tEaqti8f
97Please respect copyright.PENANATVVy5RJmex
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAroQw0wrFMr
97Please respect copyright.PENANA75cSTl8tMb
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAjE3hrVUdDZ
97Please respect copyright.PENANAqexgOsEyfJ
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAErRtRVFNhZ
97Please respect copyright.PENANAcdDaZCmNI6
「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!」97Please respect copyright.PENANAzCOfJyrm61
97Please respect copyright.PENANADYRhXB4fQz
「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!」97Please respect copyright.PENANADk85ftTH0W
97Please respect copyright.PENANAbN3TuScrFM
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!」97Please respect copyright.PENANAENadrlSxsr
97Please respect copyright.PENANAUFmFU7sFUV
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAcjyV7gdvex
97Please respect copyright.PENANAJEDSWk9yoZ
「下次你抱著它,大家就知道你要睡覺了。」97Please respect copyright.PENANAua7omemGTN
97Please respect copyright.PENANAv6wVpEGko7
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。」97Please respect copyright.PENANAWXaKo8UlHh
97Please respect copyright.PENANAik2xwVzNdY
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAYIMtpfkL6E
97Please respect copyright.PENANAMeLn5irajn
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!」97Please respect copyright.PENANAVj8dzqHMYx
97Please respect copyright.PENANA3Hv3N9LbqT
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!」97Please respect copyright.PENANAgeQiNK3Q4E
97Please respect copyright.PENANAYw4xVqdn4b
「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——」97Please respect copyright.PENANAjuAMdTFh4j
97Please respect copyright.PENANA0k9aAJS4vX
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAdiK3buzsxH
97Please respect copyright.PENANA1WxF1qivuW
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!」97Please respect copyright.PENANAk5367R3L9F
97Please respect copyright.PENANAkdVg93WAZi
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAIz3WOXIlGY
97Please respect copyright.PENANAGh6kHCCXxa
「呃——我比較想私下給她——一定要拍嗎?」97Please respect copyright.PENANAMivs13Aogn
97Please respect copyright.PENANAA8Jz9L1GzX
「快點啦!」97Please respect copyright.PENANAA5Q9laPnDp
97Please respect copyright.PENANApKnpA56UYn
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAGGHZKsjhYk
97Please respect copyright.PENANAxSjRxUy7fZ
「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。97Please respect copyright.PENANANGuRnVvjOz
97Please respect copyright.PENANApZoKxT9Pq7
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!」97Please respect copyright.PENANA9abjtEXGck
97Please respect copyright.PENANAhbs1vDazSA
安東尼哼了一聲,低聲反駁:「那是你們不知道她多愛寫日記⋯⋯」97Please respect copyright.PENANAqdBDbmQIzF
97Please respect copyright.PENANAyYhWx52GNI
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——」97Please respect copyright.PENANAr43m9kNizz
97Please respect copyright.PENANAaZrADX8Kc9
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAWseEXqqYEJ
97Please respect copyright.PENANA9qOigxBnCF
「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!」97Please respect copyright.PENANAT68ZKECIQ7
97Please respect copyright.PENANA38fMxkWi9E
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANA1P2nnHqNCM
97Please respect copyright.PENANAJTwsZkKlcF
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAUHKNbl7Qgp
97Please respect copyright.PENANAPxgaSLxM3e
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAp1IPAUcWbY
97Please respect copyright.PENANA7NCr5VhH1t
但來不及了。97Please respect copyright.PENANANqty144M7I
97Please respect copyright.PENANAFUlFKktm1u
所有人怔住,目瞪口呆望向艾萊妮的身體。97Please respect copyright.PENANArsLbDmtaV6
97Please respect copyright.PENANAPH5SJFbGQQ
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAsuuVDgCT7D
97Please respect copyright.PENANARis6Srf8co
顫抖一停歇,她猛地坐起,睜開眼。97Please respect copyright.PENANANbRIQkaMDS
97Please respect copyright.PENANArMJYlkald1
藍色瞳孔佔據整片眼眶,沒有眼白,只有深邃怪詭的蔚藍。97Please respect copyright.PENANAj6zdI6AnqC
97Please respect copyright.PENANAmP7hDOtZf2
她開口,聲音鼓動在所有人的耳膜,附著難耐的嗡鳴:97Please respect copyright.PENANAlLGe0XzBP8
97Please respect copyright.PENANAR7mosdU889
「ἐγὼ τῇ ψυχῇ σὲ καταπιέζω τὸ σκότος. ποῦ εἰμί;」97Please respect copyright.PENANAP0xmW41qxD
97Please respect copyright.PENANAr9w2Ly47sw
(吾以魂抑爾之黯,答覆。吾身處何地?)97Please respect copyright.PENANAjTns7BFgdo
97Please respect copyright.PENANAWFHhHqFxV3
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。97Please respect copyright.PENANAOmTUOOcwJT
97Please respect copyright.PENANAlT2et0MMAp
「艾萊妮?」西追難受地摀住耳朵,向她伸手,想要碰她的肩。97Please respect copyright.PENANAWSwfeBkC3z
97Please respect copyright.PENANAJaUyFsRYMi
他的手微顫著,就要碰到她——那副身軀突然再度劇烈顫抖。97Please respect copyright.PENANAXzK9dFCVrF
97Please respect copyright.PENANAVJ0r0RoKdy
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:97Please respect copyright.PENANAMnvlAMB47j
97Please respect copyright.PENANAbF4dSozQTH
「女孩,至衡崩解,還歸尚須時日。」97Please respect copyright.PENANAlNpn0wVDOW
97Please respect copyright.PENANAr2OBiLlQRw
語畢,她緊閉上眼,身體向後一倒,床鋪砰地發出沉重聲響。97Please respect copyright.PENANAPZSZYCGdyw
97Please respect copyright.PENANABgOWLuV1e0
這次她說的是英文,他們應該要聽懂的。97Please respect copyright.PENANAKjYYA8XcTs
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97Please respect copyright.PENANAhDzKsuGkGV
青蒼的話:
幫大家複習一下梅森.尼揚迦和海柔.丘奇是誰~97Please respect copyright.PENANAv2rXKISrcd
他們出現在24-2中段,安琪拉對克萊拉說的話當中:97Please respect copyright.PENANAvySgPC5sLx
「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。」97Please respect copyright.PENANAyX9nVjEj5s
「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。」97Please respect copyright.PENANASmuykmdtwy