橘紅色的晚霞流入市區的巷弄間,小敏從回程的公車上跳下,步伐輕巧到她自己都難以想像。她在兩小時前將綁在石頭上的繩子丟入河中。站在橋墩上時還遲疑了一下。明明急於擺脫怪事的糾纏,卻萌生猶豫不決的心情,似乎有什麼在自己與繩索間牽起一種詭異的連結。小敏直覺這之中一定有某種牽絆,若非如此,她不會在石頭落水時感到悵然若失。彷若親手斬斷包著獵物的絲線的蜘蛛,或是折斷本體之後拉出細絲,最終進到不同購物袋的蓮藕。407Please respect copyright.PENANAHByPyEJcP1
407Please respect copyright.PENANAeO9TvHtXwL
遠遠看見那間今早之前還是平房的青葉蔬果店,入夜前的微涼秋風使長髮倏然遮蓋視線,往蔬果店方向的驚鴻一瞥使小敏停止呼吸。擺脫眼前礙事的長髮,萬事屋確實存在於蔬果店樓頂,招牌後方還冒出陣陣炊煙。407Please respect copyright.PENANAiW3BzHdFYd
407Please respect copyright.PENANAofsIQqN3TE
剛剛……聳立於橘紅之中的萬事屋似乎有一部分透視過去了?那一瞬間的虛無感令小敏倒抽一口氣。不,世上不會有這種事。她訕笑。一定是萬里無雲的夕暮讓視覺產生折射,就像海市蜃樓那樣。407Please respect copyright.PENANATsZXJRZMfv
407Please respect copyright.PENANAQkq368SLgQ
早上看到的黃色傳單在數量上明顯收斂了一些。至少沒有遮蔽整座公佈欄,也沒有沿路到處都是……事實上已經收斂到只剩下唯一一張,就貼在公佈欄正中央。407Please respect copyright.PENANAlR4QoxtgAI
407Please respect copyright.PENANApRwzV8qKFi
冒著炊煙的萬事屋對面,小敏只稍作停留,然後踩著釋懷的腳步走上回家的路。407Please respect copyright.PENANAsRMRhPLg3j
407Please respect copyright.PENANAtJuInwlMC9
*407Please respect copyright.PENANAneGjYPzFEX
407Please respect copyright.PENANAdWefihYEXp
隔天,小敏仍感到難受。407Please respect copyright.PENANAYRr70ZqmSP
407Please respect copyright.PENANA7h85Auuqqy
她又在半夜三點起床。這次純粹就是跌下床,吊扇上並沒有繩子的蹤影……這也是當然的。心底的惶惶不安令她心氣不順,好幾次輾轉難眠之後終於放棄掙扎,決定出門散心。407Please respect copyright.PENANAqbdHhzuLM8
407Please respect copyright.PENANAa6Ay7P8alK
這兩天是假日真是幫了大忙……她獨自步出家門。在跨出門檻以前回頭望了一眼住了十七年的家。連天色都僅是微明的這個時間,從玄關向內貫穿一樓的走道間光線昏暗。安靜得什麼都聽不見,唯一的聲音來自經過這一區的送報車。407Please respect copyright.PENANAiOhkgjCWUC
407Please respect copyright.PENANAB5d4sKXYkF
這幾天忙於工作的父母連個訊息都沒有傳來。無妨,之前也有幾次這樣的經驗,沒必要大驚小怪。小敏收起手機,漫步在住家附近的河堤下方。河水清澄,但距岸邊愈遠,透明度也愈低。或許是變深的緣故吧!小敏心想。407Please respect copyright.PENANAlrjCC6Y86o
407Please respect copyright.PENANA70tyTssrp5
心情著實稱不上好。不僅只是父母,她與原本很要好的朋友之間鬧得僵,自然是無消無息。現在唯一慶幸的,只有那條繩子沒有像恐怖電影演的那樣跑回來。真是萬幸。407Please respect copyright.PENANA2J7iHuQz12
407Please respect copyright.PENANAFJgh0mdK8E
此外…… 407Please respect copyright.PENANAbtSW5C7RYl
407Please respect copyright.PENANAKM5UoJaPGq
「喔,嗨!」407Please respect copyright.PENANAiWC5zdxNE2
407Please respect copyright.PENANAkxRDOD73yC
眼前出現的是那間詐欺萬事屋的年輕店員。黑色的那位。407Please respect copyright.PENANAOgibCRcsia
407Please respect copyright.PENANAO77M5TtDkY
小敏毫不客氣地翻了個大白眼。407Please respect copyright.PENANAXnJ6XIIJ9T
407Please respect copyright.PENANAMGZE2gMI2r
「你怎麼會在……你在幹嘛?」407Please respect copyright.PENANAuPevbRjfkB
407Please respect copyright.PENANAV9E7WXlk0l
黑色店員蹲坐在河岸邊上,腳尖前的草地上插著一根樹枝,末端繫著一根細線,線的一頭垂直落入水面,在緩緩流動的靜謐河面上劃出ㄑ字型的波紋。407Please respect copyright.PENANApKDScFHdOJ
407Please respect copyright.PENANABTJdjV28Qr
「妳不知道這個?這是垂釣啊,垂釣!」對方一副「居然連這個都不知道」的樣子激動地強調「垂釣」兩個字。407Please respect copyright.PENANAJX4OOOlyRt
407Please respect copyright.PENANAyqCLLHUDUB
「這我當然知道!我是搞不懂為何要在這個地方做這種事?更何況,這裡明明禁止垂釣!」407Please respect copyright.PENANA11pH7AQk1j
407Please respect copyright.PENANAFvghEWfyB9
「是嗎?我以為是『禁止戲水,可垂釣。』呢!」407Please respect copyright.PENANAvmj7AuZfr7
407Please respect copyright.PENANAxIe6gICINH
「那邊明明就有公告!」小敏深吸一口氣。407Please respect copyright.PENANAEQ9CqyKI1k
407Please respect copyright.PENANAm7n3cs9V7F
「嗯……確實呢!不過,這裡也釣不到魚。雖然水面上這般平靜無痕,其實水底暗潮洶湧。因此根本不會有『小美人魚』裡那種魚隻成群的景象吶。」少年看似漫不經心的微笑著。407Please respect copyright.PENANAbaK3iLyLLD
407Please respect copyright.PENANANXuREMAmDV
既然如此……為什麼要挑這裡做出這種舉動?小敏覺得這人做的事讓人完全無法理解。407Please respect copyright.PENANAzoaviCvbbb
407Please respect copyright.PENANAczS6r29kGr
「只是忽然想要垂釣咩!」黑色店員反而用莫名其妙的神情看她,好像她才是那個怪人。「這世上又不是所有事都有前因後果。」他說,「連遭受詛咒都沒有原因的情況也可能發生吶……」407Please respect copyright.PENANAheV4IRDEez
407Please respect copyright.PENANAAQCEqovuVr
什麼……詛咒?這又是什麼意思?407Please respect copyright.PENANAMN03kw0BJX
407Please respect copyright.PENANA9nDRFTwYZX
「我聽不懂啦!反正你請便,我要走了。」小敏逕自邁開腳步,準備繼續散步。默默在心裡打定主意絕不按照原路回家。407Please respect copyright.PENANAmsEQ5rNxLY
407Please respect copyright.PENANAYALMTGVIBN
「吶啊,小敏。」407Please respect copyright.PENANAeQO9piNHpQ
407Please respect copyright.PENANAPBv4yJtrRl
小敏發誓她原本不想搭理的,但雙腳卻自己停了下來。407Please respect copyright.PENANAaEEGN11i6h
407Please respect copyright.PENANAh3fJDwHxne
黑色店員的目光留在從剛才便毫無動靜的陽春釣桿上。407Please respect copyright.PENANArsEtBlsiVF
407Please respect copyright.PENANAHDZtHSAm07
「不可以在繩子面前說出要『丟掉』或『處理掉』之類的話喔。」407Please respect copyright.PENANAG5qiGoEwy5
407Please respect copyright.PENANAhpEEydMrHU
微風徐徐吹來,小敏盯著店員低垂的睫毛,心中泛起一股冰冷的恐懼。407Please respect copyright.PENANAhqVQePvsTT
407Please respect copyright.PENANAwRC1aqipPS
「那個東西我早就丟到河裡了啦!人家不安的時候不要提到那麼恐怖的事!」407Please respect copyright.PENANAsPijLyaGpU
407Please respect copyright.PENANAsVfWSxzxwn
她頭也不回地逃離秋季尾聲,開始枯萎的乾癟草皮。407Please respect copyright.PENANAjZ97QIdSy5
407Please respect copyright.PENANA09dC73gHDq
*407Please respect copyright.PENANAQgN4kXbOGR
407Please respect copyright.PENANA9sDRbsIIns
發現那件或許是小敏此生最絕望痛苦之事,是在憂鬱星期一的早晨。407Please respect copyright.PENANAW38b8rDcMp
407Please respect copyright.PENANAhq3hO4siSC
當天她一如既往的去學校。407Please respect copyright.PENANAHL6zMTFIdp
407Please respect copyright.PENANATY2g1LNO9e
沐浴在朝霧之中的校園令人身心舒暢。校門旁艷紅的梔子花幾乎掉落,在樹根處呈現氧化過後的深紅。她進入教室,赫然發現桌上的花瓶裡又換了新的白色雛菊。教室裡的氣氛已經輕鬆不少,卻仍然瀰漫著淡淡的,某種她不能理解的氛圍。407Please respect copyright.PENANABPg1RI1JrP
407Please respect copyright.PENANANvzdS2xzV2
花瓶的存在是那樣突兀,小敏望著朝向窗戶蓬勃盛開的花朵,孤身一人的真實感只增不減。今天清晨,青梅竹馬的他一聲不吭地從她身邊走過。她想開口,卻因為莫名的罪惡感而噤聲。因為是她拒絕了他。因為她無法面對也喜歡對方的自己。但是,但是她又有什麼辦法?因為閨密也喜歡你啊!她有多喜歡你,你知道嗎?407Please respect copyright.PENANAU8iS6xnIk2
407Please respect copyright.PENANAbNnjSihQ8y
一陣怒意襲來,她什麼都來不及思考,花瓶就這樣摔落地面。連同清新的美麗花朵也狠狠墜落,悽慘的躺在清水與皓白的碎片之中。407Please respect copyright.PENANAxks712w2Of
407Please respect copyright.PENANApuJ5qAMFdl
教室裡頓時一片寂靜。同班同學緩緩向外躲開,不知所措的佇在一旁。沒有人開口慰問,也沒有人動身靠近,甚至連剛剛抵達教室的閨密都站在遠遠的門邊,不敢置信地望著這個方向……以小敏為圓心,往外形成了一個彷彿靠近會被吞噬的黑洞。四周沒有人作聲,就連自己的喘息聲都聽不見。407Please respect copyright.PENANAxxDpY7I47W
407Please respect copyright.PENANAK7GJWifBvZ
明明從以前就不擅長外放心底的想法,小敏感覺自己有了很大的不同。胸腔總是容易脹滿,低落與憂慮在她不知道的時候漸漸佔領心緒。407Please respect copyright.PENANABwdAM48fMq
407Please respect copyright.PENANAVxPFg1vJ4W
也漸漸不懂得忍耐。407Please respect copyright.PENANAuUvMhFvKBi
407Please respect copyright.PENANAweu4O2kxXQ
小敏與同學們同樣驚愕不已。她大口喘息,可怖的目光與寂靜令人呼吸困難。407Please respect copyright.PENANAtyYqUG2Luz
407Please respect copyright.PENANAGYK7LseIKU
她奪門而出。將死去的陶瓷與花朵拋諸腦後,奮力向前奔馳。407Please respect copyright.PENANAo1xmN03RQ8
407Please respect copyright.PENANAbIDOy6AGdw
你們到底是怎麼了?怎麼了!我也是,我也很不對勁!重重踩下長廊的雙足不僅感受不到後座力,腳底也不覺得疼痛……好似輕飄飄的,飄忽得難以腳踏實地。407Please respect copyright.PENANAipaUs0rE2h
407Please respect copyright.PENANAsd4dZqyvYo
小敏驚懼不已,帶著這種詭異的觸感奔上樓頂。奇怪的是,應該是鎖住的頂樓鐵門很輕易就被推開了。豔陽刺得她瞇起雙眼。407Please respect copyright.PENANAEvXLO8H5ch
407Please respect copyright.PENANAukF1Sfaj7N
好想哭……心裡很難受,即將腐敗的起司在心臟的位置膨脹起來,酸臭的氣味通過氣管呼出,又再次吸入。407Please respect copyright.PENANA4Iw8UQMmeJ
407Please respect copyright.PENANAQHZFIjgTux
小敏想起那一天,那個他告白的那一天,那棵樹下,潮濕的空氣與雨水打上土壤的聲音。那一天,也是帶回那條麻繩的日子。閨密那如同遭受背叛的眼神讓人無地自容。因為是他背著她回來的,儘管他們之間什麼都沒有,但在旁人看來,有這種程度的接觸的男女關係已經毋需多言。407Please respect copyright.PENANA7xwLOkL2fQ
407Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5rfUh6Un1
當時的罪惡感與欣喜幾乎不相上下,然而,之後她只感到痛苦。407Please respect copyright.PENANA2UTmexpd12
407Please respect copyright.PENANAmVAiddHou1
為了保住友誼,她推開了他。結果什麼也沒有留住。407Please respect copyright.PENANAA6asYTm6y1
407Please respect copyright.PENANApkNOTqi4bb
先是閨密,再來是他……她傷了他們的心。407Please respect copyright.PENANAyY7OPbEZzI
407Please respect copyright.PENANArlsgznUlsT
小敏蜷縮在水塔邊的陰暗處。直到陽光爬升,陰影越來越小。407Please respect copyright.PENANAPvZXwP0xsQ
407Please respect copyright.PENANAiaW4vuNukv
回家吧……小敏緩緩起身,拍拍沾上灰塵的制服裙。407Please respect copyright.PENANAlqsCEwnIKS
407Please respect copyright.PENANADZlHjYm9M3
此時,一陣騷動從樓梯處傳來。來人沒有進入樓頂,腳步聲在樓梯間嘎然停止。407Please respect copyright.PENANAZJnz6QLysB
407Please respect copyright.PENANAljFDicXF7P