同一時間,一艘從帝國出發前往澄冥汗國的船尚未到達目的地。這艘船的乘客之一──單心雪在房間內回想起過去。75Please respect copyright.PENANAUCKIRDr0TA
75Please respect copyright.PENANAPg3VNgiOyJ
75Please respect copyright.PENANANkPc2eTyZC
她很怕孤獨,雖然很想克服,但總是忍不住尋找能依靠的人。75Please respect copyright.PENANAhoJmk3t82p
75Please respect copyright.PENANAuIVtg257XM
說白了,她不清楚自己想要甚麼。明明躺在床上,她依然很累。很累,就像在無限期追求一樣連存不存在也不清楚的事物。她在獨自旅行的這段期間遇過很多人,縱使也許不會再見,他們都在她心裏留下了印記。75Please respect copyright.PENANAcTn3iFs02M
75Please respect copyright.PENANAd3bkuvCgCk
然而,這些印記填不滿心的缺口。75Please respect copyright.PENANAG3GPDNEBvN
75Please respect copyright.PENANAXi4CUpQmby
她想要甚麼?逝去了又追不回來的事──人。75Please respect copyright.PENANAcF60tHNNh6
75Please respect copyright.PENANAARb1jOlZFG
「啊......」躺在床上也感覺疲勞沒有散去的她,決定到甲板上看風景。75Please respect copyright.PENANAD9NnUlOlOe
75Please respect copyright.PENANAtzlPWc9ZOP
甲板上的船員見到她都向她打招呼。不是因為她本身受他們尊敬,而是她跟著的那個人受他們尊敬。說得殘酷一點,她只是他戴在手上的一條金鏈。75Please respect copyright.PENANAGdx9UPO793
75Please respect copyright.PENANABIPGPfpG9r
她倚在船邊,海風拂過,帶她的思緒一同飄往遠方。75Please respect copyright.PENANAyEqlnaX0Nr
75Please respect copyright.PENANAKEfN6NuTG9
梅陀姨姨。75Please respect copyright.PENANAEK2B2XqOPC
75Please respect copyright.PENANAQMiNc5WPkF
如果沒有姨姨,她也許還在孤兒院裏生活。大概十年前左右,一個叫梅陀的人來到孤兒院說要收養小孩。聽到有人來收養,幾乎所有小孩都爭先恐後地圍住梅陀。75Please respect copyright.PENANAtmY6dVgOSI
75Please respect copyright.PENANAo1YZMswXNU
梅陀表面很親切,心雪卻有種她在故意隱瞞甚麼的感覺。經常被欺負的她就算說不上很會看他人臉色,也猜得到別人的心情。75Please respect copyright.PENANA11YqIDtpCJ
75Please respect copyright.PENANA9eDB6O4Uvm
心雪認定梅陀不是自己理想中的母親,便獨自躲在一角。75Please respect copyright.PENANAZNyumvYxB4
75Please respect copyright.PENANAIfA4tkjC0d
梅陀留意到不合群的心雪,故意上前和她說話。心雪想激怒梅陀,不想她打擾自己,一來便說了句「我討厭妳」。75Please respect copyright.PENANAGchMQoALXm
75Please respect copyright.PENANA1CxkXd9CQZ
梅陀露出心雪不理解的表情,深呼吸一口,問:「妳真的討厭我嗎?」75Please respect copyright.PENANAfJYXcPwJWj
75Please respect copyright.PENANA4ccb6BmWvA
討厭......心雪不明白梅陀問問題的理由,討厭一個人需要理由嗎?說討厭就是討厭,為甚麼要明知故問。75Please respect copyright.PENANAJElls0TQjr
75Please respect copyright.PENANARaea9RkQEz
「妳是壞人。」心雪臉上掛著厭惡的表情,別過頭說。75Please respect copyright.PENANAJxB4S78tCz
75Please respect copyright.PENANA9HSSzWj9al
「為甚麼覺得我是壞人?我有做壞事嗎?」梅陀追問。75Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9KWWO4Obf
75Please respect copyright.PENANA82CENW4P1h
心雪自以為看穿了梅陀,梅陀也自以為看穿了心雪。事實上,兩人都沒有看穿對方內心最深處。75Please respect copyright.PENANAZWy0dQ7Qos
75Please respect copyright.PENANAHj0gmFQ24R
梅陀此行確實是要收養小孩,但還有另一目的。她很怕心雪會當著眾人面前說出另一個目的。不過多麼敏感的孩子,也看不到別人的罪疚感。75Please respect copyright.PENANATpAysPnFBr
75Please respect copyright.PENANA4KB1KxHOSr
要是心雪說得出來,她的偽善就曝光了。75Please respect copyright.PENANAh7bWB4aMgF
75Please respect copyright.PENANAJuNgb3Fyad
「我不喜歡妳。」心雪重申,期望梅陀能趕快放過她。75Please respect copyright.PENANA4gdTIYL2iN
75Please respect copyright.PENANAHFmSEv5gHL
「為甚麼不喜歡我?」75Please respect copyright.PENANAyj4vZMzpEN
75Please respect copyright.PENANA3SbOFNmveR
「不要煩我!」75Please respect copyright.PENANAVfTb259hWr
75Please respect copyright.PENANAAyTqdWQ7k7
心雪氣沖沖地跑回房間,鎖上門不讓任何人進來。75Please respect copyright.PENANAcYlX0j2EEU
75Please respect copyright.PENANA3xLn4F3rM3
「對不起,這個小孩性格比較乖僻。」在梅陀旁邊的院長解釋,想平息梅陀的怒火。75Please respect copyright.PENANA5V4pTBVaPo
75Please respect copyright.PENANABtlQRkKfPe
沒有生氣的梅陀問:「可以給她的資料我看嗎?麻煩了。」75Please respect copyright.PENANAZcLKlwQQB1
75Please respect copyright.PENANA6HfmTCLgFh
院長不明白這位說話有口音的女士為何要自討苦吃,但還是按她的要求辦事:「好,請跟我來。」75Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5lFfBSB5f
75Please respect copyright.PENANAEK7g1wNAjz
「姐姐!不要管心雪那個怪胎啦!帶我走!」孩子羣裏,一個比較大的男孩拉著梅陀衣袖。75Please respect copyright.PENANA8HTSRelLXn
75Please respect copyright.PENANAoLApgxPNF8
梅陀笑著跟他說:「姐姐還有些事要做,所以......」她不敢拉開男孩的手,所以只能不斷向院長打眼色求救。75Please respect copyright.PENANANSn84bnGiS
75Please respect copyright.PENANAfUTy89gGAF
院長瞄到梅陀的眼色,粗魯地罵男孩:「文鋒,還不快點放手?」75Please respect copyright.PENANAXpW2DvntTO
75Please respect copyright.PENANAeaM1erdqbf
「是......」男孩垂頭喪氣。75Please respect copyright.PENANAz1moC7liMB
75Please respect copyright.PENANAeejqBNsoVR
「好了,你們也回去玩吧,我和這位姐姐有事要做。」75Please respect copyright.PENANA9EFNTJPo0U
75Please respect copyright.PENANASVT14vj2Jv
院長說完,小孩們都邊說著話邊回去遊樂室。梅陀不太聽到他們在說甚麼,但大概是在抱怨還沒有人來收養他們。75Please respect copyright.PENANA1xPqsHmoST
75Please respect copyright.PENANAkab48ieHJO
這些事都是梅陀後來跟心雪說的,心雪起初不知情。75Please respect copyright.PENANAzj4DMd0pnG
75Please respect copyright.PENANAB8dDIWGJ5W
院長和梅陀來到院長室,院長從書櫃拿了一本書出來。書原本是空白的,每當有一位孩子入住,院長便在新一頁寫下他的資料作紀錄之用。75Please respect copyright.PENANA5moS9gaicI
75Please respect copyright.PENANACrCWbPRKWC
院長翻到心雪的那一頁給梅陀看,說:「這是剛才那位孩子的資料。」75Please respect copyright.PENANADQSzYP95DZ
75Please respect copyright.PENANACg0OTFZeY4
名字、出生日期、年齡、性別、何時住進孤兒院、大致性格、喜歡的食物和住院前的經歷等等,兩頁內寫了心雪的基本資料。75Please respect copyright.PENANAduvPeDrbuB
75Please respect copyright.PENANAOZ4srFt414
梅陀看完,考慮一番後問:「她在這裏經常被欺負嗎?」75Please respect copyright.PENANA1mPg4i2bxM
75Please respect copyright.PENANADpC6fBAEAj
「是。」院長點頭,「我們有嘗試過叫孩子們和平相處,但心雪本來就不太合羣,又有些孩子比較調皮。我們說教完之後最近已經沒有欺凌事件發生,只是心雪依然不願和其他孩子一起玩。」75Please respect copyright.PENANA0bPsdt1NX9
75Please respect copyright.PENANAj1Cl6GqYBF
「性格已經定型了呢。」梅陀像是很有經驗地說,微微嚇了院長一跳。75Please respect copyright.PENANABVUnYQzUaH
75Please respect copyright.PENANAN0EYfjvoSP
梅陀留意到院長的表情,「抱歉,以前工作的時候要分析人的個性,所以不經意說了出口。」75Please respect copyright.PENANAMIPkHt5EMn
75Please respect copyright.PENANAMlAVES3vLd
「不要緊。」院長也認為不是大問題,「梅陀女士還有事想問嗎?」75Please respect copyright.PENANASvDlXwWOTy
75Please respect copyright.PENANAVqzI672FFp
「我可以收養她嗎?」75Please respect copyright.PENANARn7zgpgjmp
75Please respect copyright.PENANAnkAdIoVzzi
「她不太喜歡您,我恐怕強行讓您收養她,對您和她都不好。」75Please respect copyright.PENANAd6faVyOibL
75Please respect copyright.PENANA8EFMmxFgHT
梅陀想起自己早前才做過的事,她是為了做對事而做錯事,背負丁點罪惡感對她不是問題。本來早已捨棄罪惡感的她要拾回它,那怕只有一點點也覺得很重。75Please respect copyright.PENANACvozyV7vVj
75Please respect copyright.PENANAERiqZtXePZ
自認不是問題又覺得負擔很重,她知道這種心態很矛盾。但要說矛盾,過去的她更加矛盾。在人面前是一個樣子,工作時是另一個樣子,在某個人面前是第三個樣子,對著自己是第四個樣子,她以前也能隨意在四款樣子之間自由切換,說服一個小女孩跟她走對現在的她不會是難題。75Please respect copyright.PENANAZPc9Y2qOJ5
75Please respect copyright.PENANAXQbLktwl2x
她低頭再看心雪的資料一次,有了計策。75Please respect copyright.PENANAuIYtwdcVp5
75Please respect copyright.PENANAofzchliewL
「咯咯咯......」梅陀在心雪的房間外敲門,手上拿著一盤食物和勺子,「心雪?我是剛才的姐姐喔!我煮了妳最喜歡吃的辣豆腐,想吃嗎?」75Please respect copyright.PENANAhlxAFVc1NS
75Please respect copyright.PENANAYJ7UbXFp6F
梅陀在質疑自己。她知道心雪的秘密,卻不能告訴自己的秘密給她聽,這對心雪不公平。行家會說「沒有說不是騙」,但梅陀明白這跟欺騙沒分別。75Please respect copyright.PENANAE2rDbXEzqD
75Please respect copyright.PENANAXBELOgEjfj
「辣豆腐?」房間內的心雪好像有點興趣。75Please respect copyright.PENANAxwPNeh4daP
75Please respect copyright.PENANAWZUYnW80Bc
「是啊。姐姐親手煮的,想吃嗎?」75Please respect copyright.PENANAQRKfc5krpe
75Please respect copyright.PENANAJ34L4NiP11
心雪沒有回答,數秒後,她解開門鎖開門。75Please respect copyright.PENANAv39pw7bOu2
75Please respect copyright.PENANAkzcAjX1DGV
「進來。」心雪抬頭跟梅陀說。75Please respect copyright.PENANA2JRMUb9mz4
75Please respect copyright.PENANArHWD1y7yk8
心雪的房間很整潔,一點灰塵也看不見。房間內只有一張床、書桌椅和幾件玩具,梅陀心想這也許是孤兒院的標準配置。75Please respect copyright.PENANAT7JCPrWF2z
75Please respect copyright.PENANA9lPynMnhJv
心雪關門後告訴進門的梅陀:「放在書桌上。」75Please respect copyright.PENANA5NaHEwJ317
75Please respect copyright.PENANACJkdN38gHZ
梅陀放下盤子問:「我可以坐在椅子上嗎?」75Please respect copyright.PENANA1Af3DRHNyj
75Please respect copyright.PENANA45TOfwMD0o
雖說如此,這張椅子對梅陀來說有點小。75Please respect copyright.PENANAoWTbRdgeGo
75Please respect copyright.PENANAeoBxaJEEB3
「可以。」心雪坐在床上。75Please respect copyright.PENANAYyhKQaWYRR
75Please respect copyright.PENANAvt6hhcfPf6
梅陀看穿心雪對她仍有戒心,拿起盤子和勺子遞給她,「吃吧,小心熱。」75Please respect copyright.PENANAOQLFjxaH2i
75Please respect copyright.PENANAb9a7tBz7dd
「嗯。」心雪接過盤子,用膝蓋當毯子吃豆腐。75Please respect copyright.PENANAWTvaIQnIPg
75Please respect copyright.PENANAX9Nlsd3bC2
心雪吃得很慢,梅陀利用這段時間思考要如何「馴服」她。75Please respect copyright.PENANAlEJNqeejgG
75Please respect copyright.PENANAzHbslnYiyr
梅陀自覺很壞,但為了滿足贖罪的感覺,不得不這樣做。難得能離開那個世界,她想捨棄過去。75Please respect copyright.PENANAzryKwcAC2F
75Please respect copyright.PENANAZf63n1lzt3
不管以前的她是甚麼人都與她無關。75Please respect copyright.PENANAq3Y91E05Kd
75Please respect copyright.PENANAYw78EHY3mi
「謝謝。」心雪吃完,遞盤子和勺子給梅陀。75Please respect copyright.PENANAoYFF5FE6FF
75Please respect copyright.PENANA6EI1yrdfcK
梅陀放好兩樣東西後拿出手帕說:「嘴邊有點髒。」75Please respect copyright.PENANANIWColYy42
75Please respect copyright.PENANAMjLbwdC3jL
她幫心雪抹乾淨嘴,放下少許戒心的心雪問她:「為甚麼要對我這麼好呢?」75Please respect copyright.PENANA2UvGJdR6AM
75Please respect copyright.PENANAA7CQCqPlca
「哈哈!」梅陀發自內心地笑:「這很平常啊,怎會是對妳很好呢?」75Please respect copyright.PENANAzsqdcYN4gZ
75Please respect copyright.PENANAAOnLLlxYGq
「從來沒人對我那麼好。」心雪低頭看著木造地板。75Please respect copyright.PENANAgZWJho46Ct
75Please respect copyright.PENANA98ruy9Jlw5
孤獨的小孩。75Please respect copyright.PENANAVQTTMpGLkz
75Please respect copyright.PENANAiT4LRhPTHs
梅陀對付過這種對象很多次,要討好他們,給他們想要的就好了。75Please respect copyright.PENANA2juoqM2UDT
75Please respect copyright.PENANARvMDPhfBeq
咳咳,又犯毛病了。75Please respect copyright.PENANAQiOEH9z5kb
75Please respect copyright.PENANAR6r4spGeDt
梅陀用手托起心雪的下巴,看著她的雙眼說:「妳不孤單,我會陪妳。」75Please respect copyright.PENANAfR1KF8Xxjv
75Please respect copyright.PENANAfftP1DHIbq
對小孩說這句話或許太過肉麻,但梅陀正是知道「太過」肉麻的話對小孩更有用。成熟一點的青少年甚至大人會感到抗拒,不過小孩子會被打動。75Please respect copyright.PENANALFfYoCpN9T
75Please respect copyright.PENANA0a4WWXerJX
心雪不知該作何反應,目瞪口呆。75Please respect copyright.PENANAYZaWVB02iv
75Please respect copyright.PENANAZj2D05yVvC
想起來,她當時便是被梅陀這句話感動到而選擇跟梅陀走。跟梅陀走或者等下一個願意收養她的人,當時的她只有這兩個選擇。75Please respect copyright.PENANAggg8wQjnNp
75Please respect copyright.PENANApE6AWePCO8
她很感謝梅陀,梅陀教曉她許多戰鬥技巧,讓她即使被人搔擾也不害怕,又教她煮飯以及許多生活技能,當初跟梅陀走真的太好了。75Please respect copyright.PENANA4nz6dhyHSG
75Please respect copyright.PENANAqFOPR2kuaj
如今,她在這艘船上遇到值得追隨的人,她能為他做些甚麼嗎?她不懂他的一切,即使如此,有她能為他做的事嗎?她的力量很少,不過起碼能成為他的心靈支柱。梅陀跟她說過,每個人都不孤單。縱使是那個戴上面具的「他」也不孤單。她要證明給他看,「他」不孤單。75Please respect copyright.PENANAuaGH6oC7Zx