■■■331Please respect copyright.PENANAljncJQ7ylL
331Please respect copyright.PENANA5mQoNedG3n
「這樣就包紮好了,要記得這幾天別讓傷口碰到水。」331Please respect copyright.PENANACgo9pi1qZh
331Please respect copyright.PENANAMQltk1v4Fi
在替我受傷的手掌套上了網狀繃帶後,梳著西裝髮型的森叔再三叮嚀起應該要注意的事項。331Please respect copyright.PENANAv2PaYFeqS7
331Please respect copyright.PENANAnxuFR42bId
331Please respect copyright.PENANAoTaJfqWyBo
「……嗯。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAeo9xNLlxJ9
331Please respect copyright.PENANAY4EcnL6hrk
「用不著擔心葛城老師的事情,村長已經派大家去搜索周圍了,相信最晚到了明天就會有結果了。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAKRuoftiB6k
331Please respect copyright.PENANAiH41hPtGxl
大概是注意到我無精打采的樣子才會這麼說吧。331Please respect copyright.PENANANGW2Yxz8n1
331Please respect copyright.PENANAVJw6BWS6Ab
身為村裡唯一的醫生,森叔一直都非常關心對我們這些從小看到大的孩子。331Please respect copyright.PENANA5LgaC1FJuh
331Please respect copyright.PENANAUjYvFtuubb
331Please respect copyright.PENANA5m4D3XoVGf
「可是……」331Please respect copyright.PENANAG0GgU5qzsj
331Please respect copyright.PENANADE9mk4Tm81
事情得從我逃離那個怪物以後說起。331Please respect copyright.PENANAWyr8bS5WsH
331Please respect copyright.PENANAFnrpRDtW19
好不容易在跌跌撞撞的情況下衝到派出所裡面,驚醒正昏昏欲睡的老員警後,我帶著村裡面聚集起來的長輩們一同返回出事的地點。331Please respect copyright.PENANAadmPvBeOdD
331Please respect copyright.PENANArkEgkBlaOJ
然而,就在到達那裡以後,等待著我們的只有我在慌忙之中所遺留下的書包而已。331Please respect copyright.PENANACncCD74niZ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAyPpNVgMsRf
331Please respect copyright.PENANAVZkQ2AnBZS
其餘的什麼都沒有。331Please respect copyright.PENANAIWqGsv4JLV
331Please respect copyright.PENANAHy9z3G8car
沒有那怪物,當然也沒有葛城老師的蹤影。331Please respect copyright.PENANAk7L4IfMD7T
331Please respect copyright.PENANAkxyHfsPlvi
更令人難以置信的是,不論是掉落在地上的殘肢,甚至噴濺了一地的鮮血,所有能夠證明那怪物存在過的跡象都憑空消失。331Please respect copyright.PENANAPR8Z6HOrHV
331Please respect copyright.PENANAaVcIiRC2PV
一切就像是從未發生過似地,只有一陣接著一陣的風雨不斷地掃過街燈所照亮的地面。331Please respect copyright.PENANA8r8lebI9Z4
331Please respect copyright.PENANAiQXln26x9n
唯一成為事實的只有葛城老師離奇消失這件事。331Please respect copyright.PENANAUXBbBHf42K
331Please respect copyright.PENANAJqcYWdjhYw
不管大家找遍了整個村子附近,都還是無法找到他的身影,這也是我最後得知的消息。331Please respect copyright.PENANAPjejAOhk80
331Please respect copyright.PENANA7GkpMutHLW
接下來,等我回過神來的時候,人就已經在森叔的診所這裡進行治療。331Please respect copyright.PENANA8sH2KwvpqW
331Please respect copyright.PENANAJIPdvGeJ7N
331Please respect copyright.PENANA9rriwXTJKt
「無論如何,妳能沒事就好。」331Please respect copyright.PENANA32YgD8NKYD
331Please respect copyright.PENANA2gfyTbZxpz
不知道為什麼,森叔相當激動地緊緊握住我的雙手。331Please respect copyright.PENANAK9FFo4RmXS
331Please respect copyright.PENANA4SZQc6rF3X
我垂下臉盯著包覆著米白色紗布的手掌和膝蓋,而傷口像是在提醒我那份真實感似地,仍不斷傳來燙熱的刺痛感。331Please respect copyright.PENANAtApqYmvdIe
就在這時候,診察室外面傳來了急促的腳步聲。331Please respect copyright.PENANACebCMAkSlk
331Please respect copyright.PENANAWpfPtl0ZJ2
331Please respect copyright.PENANAcyXKD4WOR9
「來夏─!」331Please respect copyright.PENANAlrfbyH6p8S
331Please respect copyright.PENANAjcpVgfu7Jt
匆匆忙忙拉開門的人是耕一,而穗香隨後也氣喘呼呼地從他身後出現。331Please respect copyright.PENANApZjaZSLm9e
331Please respect copyright.PENANAr7EOvewp0b
大概是很急著趕過來的吧,他們兩個的瀏海都因為淋濕而顯得有些凌亂不堪,褲管也都是濕答答的。331Please respect copyright.PENANA53lfCOiMok
331Please respect copyright.PENANAxRy9HMuoOi
331Please respect copyright.PENANA3Js628BtBB
「耕一……穗香……」331Please respect copyright.PENANALZXxvJsSuR
331Please respect copyright.PENANA758nI6BMqB
感到安心的瞬間,眼淚突然就噗哧噗哧地流了下來。331Please respect copyright.PENANAazHfMGJHkW
331Please respect copyright.PENANAf5yCN6OIIG
被我這樣子給嚇到的耕一,似乎將原本想說的話給吞了回去,任由跟著流淚的穗香詢問著我身體的狀況。331Please respect copyright.PENANA9DiZupYBbR
331Please respect copyright.PENANAujpguszQsD
331Please respect copyright.PENANAA5OiFPwGWy
「小夏……怎麼會這麼嚴重,手都包成這個樣子,很痛嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAbaRVQA4oxt
331Please respect copyright.PENANA6NxQO8BwXf
「我不要緊,只是跌倒的擦傷而已,反倒是葛城老師他……」331Please respect copyright.PENANAapi89inORR
331Please respect copyright.PENANAPiIdDKOBZO
「嗯,我們知道,森叔已經在電話裡都跟我說過了。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAOThcg4xN4T
331Please respect copyright.PENANAcJoKHIXJS3
由於森叔交代過先別引起不必要的恐慌,因此耕一所得到的資訊,大概就是我們被熊襲擊而已。雖然欺騙並非我的本意,但我也能理解森叔目前的顧慮。331Please respect copyright.PENANAfpxnSbKxMk
331Please respect copyright.PENANApXr9tmJVzA
331Please respect copyright.PENANAcnWZewzoBh
「時間也不早了,現在先讓來夏回去休息吧,有消息我會馬上聯絡妳們。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAeOPfO2CX2r
331Please respect copyright.PENANAP1H2I2yzPz
我再次向森叔點頭道謝後,在穗香的陪同下步出了診療室。331Please respect copyright.PENANA1woLRNBU0w
331Please respect copyright.PENANAkMnDKiUhMw
331Please respect copyright.PENANA6lJPdyrg4e
「對了,耕一。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAMSYPRcg1qH
331Please respect copyright.PENANAhtBM5B7hUo
然而,在我們離開之前,森叔突然出聲叫住了正準備拉上門的耕一。331Please respect copyright.PENANAv1H68aFMOA
331Please respect copyright.PENANA0Aj2IAC4s7
331Please respect copyright.PENANAS7A4pNhIiS
「今天的那個就先延後吧,這陣子可能會比較忙,時間的話……哎,過陣子再找時間吧。」331Please respect copyright.PENANA3xfVIzvsqS
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEvnqlAYRgX
「我知道了,那麼就先告辭了。」331Please respect copyright.PENANANFPRH9r5ec
331Please respect copyright.PENANArMxaO3bCjM
耕一向著燈光充足的診療室裡面行了一禮,接著關門跟了上來。331Please respect copyright.PENANAf7o2pGSmyB
331Please respect copyright.PENANAefbLnoNXAJ
331Please respect copyright.PENANA2NYoDGnR5w
「耕一……你和森叔今天有約嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAB5QaEWcXYw
331Please respect copyright.PENANAsY5qLbODdY
「算是吧,但不是什麼重要的事情。」331Please respect copyright.PENANApERuWfW2QC
331Please respect copyright.PENANAgDwfHe8BAs
對於我的提問,耕一似乎沒有想要回答的意思,大概真的如他所說不是很重要吧。331Please respect copyright.PENANAMqpGArEXGZ
331Please respect copyright.PENANABjvZovZpbf
外面的雨下得很大,再加上走廊並沒有開燈的緣故,在聽覺和視覺雙雙受到干擾的限制下,我們彼此都不發一語地穿越長長地木造走廊。331Please respect copyright.PENANAfUG6DV6s3s
331Please respect copyright.PENANADy9sAPaYjY
331Please respect copyright.PENANAdgFmFZ1ND8
「小夏,那個……那邊走過來的好像是村長。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAMbPi4300Y0
331Please respect copyright.PENANAcSKcdJGlh4
等到我們在門口準備撐傘的時候,穗香拉了拉我的衣角。331Please respect copyright.PENANA4VbdB5p4jx
331Please respect copyright.PENANAZmqv9kwVa3
遠遠就看到滂沱的雨勢中有兩個披著深色簑衣的人影走了過來,就如同穗香所說的,是我們神命村的村長和他身旁的助理。331Please respect copyright.PENANA8cDdWHTAIg
331Please respect copyright.PENANAdytwrIjomU
年紀約莫七十多歲的村長留著長至喉結的灰色鬍鬚,一隻眼睛因為白內障而呈現混濁不清,滿是皺紋的臉上總是維持著冷峻的表情,是村人們都相當敬畏的存在,尤其是身為晚輩的我們,不巧遇到的話只有低頭行禮的份。331Please respect copyright.PENANACvb91fyZ5Q
331Please respect copyright.PENANA4sjKioUU13
331Please respect copyright.PENANA83TZzMmhLk
「村長好。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAbwWnoYy8gk
331Please respect copyright.PENANAd8FpRIxFZe
我趕緊將眼角的淚痕擦了擦,經過如同往常般不被理睬的行禮,村長和助理逕自往診所內走去。331Please respect copyright.PENANA65LhUFp4ZI
331Please respect copyright.PENANANIX6Lz1PhP
然而,不知道自己的是不是錯覺,在抬起臉的瞬間,似乎和那蟲類般無機質的視線交錯而過。331Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3lc9KeGXy
331Please respect copyright.PENANAtIA6p5chvT
「村長他……剛剛是不是瞪了小夏一眼啊?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAXJItgyjUOw
331Please respect copyright.PENANAdbPZkF7gil
「別亂說話。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAz2lbpHboct
331Please respect copyright.PENANAYadZxsaHbr
在耕一不悅地指正穗香的同時,我望著身後那兩件簑衣漸漸沒入走廊盡頭的黑暗中。331Please respect copyright.PENANA5uAJ65Cvb0
331Please respect copyright.PENANAU4CI1Mpojh
◇331Please respect copyright.PENANAD8LX8e7ZkJ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAP0qK3NTci9
「那麼,我先陪來夏回去拿她的東西,穗香妳就先幫她放點熱水吧。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAHB0KilzvkO
331Please respect copyright.PENANAdeojaf47tj
途中在經過穗香家的時候,耕一罕見地像這樣主動交待著。331Please respect copyright.PENANAXXw1CBankr
331Please respect copyright.PENANA9OOocEHQF3
而一向聽他話的穗香自然只有默默點頭的份,我在將整個淋濕的書包先交給她以後,和耕一一人一把傘並肩走在渠道旁的碎石子小路上。331Please respect copyright.PENANAwJyn7250vX
331Please respect copyright.PENANACFJWrZhUso
傾盆的毫雨沒有任何減緩的跡象,遠方的景色皆瀰漫著濃密的雨霧。耕一在走了一小段路後停下腳步,望了望四周確定沒有人以後,以稍微大過雨聲的音量問起我來。331Please respect copyright.PENANAIUogVaVG6v
331Please respect copyright.PENANAn0mw0tUti2
331Please respect copyright.PENANAlVOg3LsITC
「來夏,襲擊妳跟葛城的到底是什麼東西?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAmLrbSGW07i
331Please respect copyright.PENANAYywxrUkyBU
那是相當冷靜地,彷彿任何謊言都能看穿的眼神,他果然早就發現了吧。331Please respect copyright.PENANAP8gSAqJvM6
331Please respect copyright.PENANAUuxHQ5BBj9
331Please respect copyright.PENANATtPgTQbLBP
「還有,為什麼這麼晚了妳還跟葛城在外面,我希望妳能將一切都老實地對我說。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAocLaupDMWE
331Please respect copyright.PENANAu6UfCKnAY7
「……把穗香支開就是這個原因嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANABhbvy3n1Go
331Please respect copyright.PENANAXdcer0LHTo
「嗯,以她的個性最好什麼都不要知道比較好,而我這邊希望了解事情的全貌,才能知道有沒有幫得上妳的忙。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAviCkhleeMt
331Please respect copyright.PENANAhRWtO6Y2b4
331Please respect copyright.PENANARpyXKZuCxD
「也是……如果是耕一你的話,應該會相信吧……」331Please respect copyright.PENANAVHtbRAbxjg
331Please respect copyright.PENANAqkEQdEFdg1
於是,我將那在不久前發生的,完全不符常理的經過都告訴耕一。331Please respect copyright.PENANAm4c87iLkQK
331Please respect copyright.PENANAlNltVPQM5Q
體育倉庫的事、遇到怪物的事,甚至葛城老師在我面前被殺害的細節,毫無保留地全都讓他知道。331Please respect copyright.PENANAEVpSUJTT6q
331Please respect copyright.PENANA81aME5KlkX
只是最後……明明毫無根據,卻讓我不得不確信的那個,從那時候起就讓我一直猶豫該不該說出口。331Please respect copyright.PENANAHMcOVjYeSJ
331Please respect copyright.PENANArs7I7065fX
331Please respect copyright.PENANA7f2jLDb1wA
「不得不確信?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAYr1PxoBMk2
331Please respect copyright.PENANAy4TxZaB7hE
在耕一的追問之下,我才吞吞吐吐地透漏。331Please respect copyright.PENANAtnFZJbPwY5
331Please respect copyright.PENANALSysfu6wV2
331Please respect copyright.PENANA364sH7mU0x
「那個怪物……真的……很像冬笑。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAppfKUDfSmF
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmC4LS6MmaS
當時那佇立在原地看著我的模樣,和死去的冬笑簡直一模一樣。331Please respect copyright.PENANAEIQUpsZ3J0
331Please respect copyright.PENANA62i6nXSiUb
太過荒誕的想法,我先前並沒有讓大人們知道,不然他們肯定會認為我在精神狀況上出了什麼問題。331Please respect copyright.PENANAGTPYwb0PPZ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAm0WezJgEbv
331Please respect copyright.PENANAtlPyIwPKdf
「很像──冬笑嗎。」331Please respect copyright.PENANALDGShXbaek
331Please respect copyright.PENANAwt2ih3Bu5r
在這之前一次都沒有停頓過的耕一也不得不思索起來。331Please respect copyright.PENANA63wzHSMBlq
331Please respect copyright.PENANAOfzj9OuSSm
那也是當然的吧,不管是誰,在聽到與不應出現在此的死者牽扯上關係,都會多少質疑那其中的合理性。331Please respect copyright.PENANA8B1ep28dCr
331Please respect copyright.PENANA2PKQRbvNlo
331Please respect copyright.PENANALNyD8R02fX
「我知道聽起來很奇怪,但是耕一……你會相信我吧?」331Please respect copyright.PENANApTYqujZQ6W
331Please respect copyright.PENANAaXtSrqlhKt
「沒什麼好質疑的,畢竟說是開玩笑也太超過了。只是關於最後妳所說的讓我有點在意……但既然沒有攻擊妳的意思,難道冬笑的目的是要回來復仇嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAKNl6BUDH3d
331Please respect copyright.PENANAvM1NWUQVHd
「我不知道。但冬笑就算憎恨村子,也沒有任何要報復村子的理由,更何況也不可能只針對葛城老師──」331Please respect copyright.PENANA6CUSBSfak7
331Please respect copyright.PENANAf2pyFcrQ7p
「不,那還很難說吧。」331Please respect copyright.PENANArjEWlDxI6l
331Please respect copyright.PENANAqfjRfVt2fK
「什麼……意思?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAvRBVIUzPRy
331Please respect copyright.PENANAbdy8UXn8vD
周遭的雨聲彷彿突然停止了一樣。331Please respect copyright.PENANAACrrBYG60b
331Please respect copyright.PENANAVdsYXpsbRV
明明是耕一極小聲地自言自語,一字一句在我耳裡聽起來卻格外地清晰。331Please respect copyright.PENANA6vh9H7BtXD
331Please respect copyright.PENANA5RPRMHDry6
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「怎麼了?突然擺出那種吃到蟲子似的表情。」331Please respect copyright.PENANApf15jpX0br
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmaneyXa4xx
「我在問你是什麼意思……為什麼你會認為冬笑找葛城老師復仇是很正常的事情?」331Please respect copyright.PENANA07Xxfm5n9t
331Please respect copyright.PENANAekkpgyAurD
「啊……抱歉,是我不好,能先當作沒聽到嗎,因為還不到能說的時候。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAx59BDfz7SG
331Please respect copyright.PENANALAyK8OGfXx
「怎麼可能當作沒聽到啊!!」331Please respect copyright.PENANAYQY3oAsEQx
331Please respect copyright.PENANAbTYrXpKYzh
我雙手用力地抓住耕一的肩膀,彼此的雨傘雙雙掉落到地上。331Please respect copyright.PENANAAq4I64Bg9W
331Please respect copyright.PENANAseqX9TSg9o
陷入了無聲的沉默。331Please respect copyright.PENANAX8Vtgil5fp
331Please respect copyright.PENANAzUFYIkQMPc
我們的身體就這樣任憑雨水無情地拍打,不到幾秒的時間,撐傘這個行為就變得一點意義都沒有。331Please respect copyright.PENANAIwJfnINrle
331Please respect copyright.PENANAJPFjJt9RDh
331Please respect copyright.PENANAOoMlPh7tcF
「……我只是推論而已,還沒有決定性的證據。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAWKFYzXp6eu
331Please respect copyright.PENANAwBOybGFS0f
臉頰上的水滴滑動。331Please respect copyright.PENANAn2OnLzzEap
331Please respect copyright.PENANAXA6xoAP6iY
耕一像是犯錯的孩子似地別了開臉,而我則是加重了手指的力道示意他繼續說下去。331Please respect copyright.PENANAPVezjCAdDX
331Please respect copyright.PENANAvTlQ5xavL6
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「因為我認為──殺死冬笑的人就是葛城。」331Please respect copyright.PENANA8hilACYdtb
331Please respect copyright.PENANAZPA9Yy7CQT
331Please respect copyright.PENANAAnCTTZ9EaW
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331Please respect copyright.PENANA3tGCBFWaip