夕陽。攤販的叫賣聲。燒烤過後殘餘的木炭香味。286Please respect copyright.PENANAsKw9PSbisi
286Please respect copyright.PENANAKe2ODB8dYS
小敏從藤椅上驚醒。映入眼簾的是即將晚霞的橘紅沉澱在遠處的山巒邊緣,形成夕陽餘暉與夜晚的美麗漸層。286Please respect copyright.PENANAIvJwDljgsD
286Please respect copyright.PENANAqiTz7FoIM4
又是這裡。這裡是青葉蔬果店的二樓,也是頂樓。286Please respect copyright.PENANABcW8kRblLQ
286Please respect copyright.PENANA1JGdyxLDtj
又是一黑一白二個少年……286Please respect copyright.PENANARd4fcsaLQR
286Please respect copyright.PENANAcKgkhGVRqo
嗯?小敏揚起頭,一隻純白如煙的小鳥飛進視野。牠發出悅耳的啼叫,叫聲彷彿來自四面八方,無法確定是否從那嬌小的身軀傳來……尤其,當小鳥的存在若隱若現到好似牠只是一縷輕煙,無法確定是否為幻覺時。相對地,那隻待在餐桌旁,黑到發亮的狗就「實心」多了。牠腳踏實地的踩在地板上,尾巴可愛的搖啊搖,等著眼前的碗被飼料填滿。牆上那幅黑色畫作好似活著似的,凹凸不平的顏料乍看之下竟微微起伏。286Please respect copyright.PENANAYcok4PF91g
286Please respect copyright.PENANA5SrS9pSwQO
「喔,醒了啊?餓了吧?一起吃飯吧?」黑色少年身穿荷葉邊圍裙,一手拿鍋一手拿鏟,一副賢慧小媳婦的模樣。286Please respect copyright.PENANAsdf6pgCC8M
286Please respect copyright.PENANAeq8tRQsUbW
他「叩叩叩」地將鍋中殘餘的炒飯倒入桌上的大盤子裡,那裡面已經有一座醬油色的炒飯山。大豆醬油的香氣撲鼻。小敏訝異的發現自己居然感到飢餓。畢竟這個年齡的青少年在同儕相處上出問題,大概就跟天塌下來沒兩樣。上一次感到飢餓似乎已經是一萬年前的事。小敏已經好一陣子沒有好好吃一頓飯……不管往生後到底需不需要進食,她現在很餓。非常、非常餓。286Please respect copyright.PENANAWsfHftkJsf
286Please respect copyright.PENANAebLTUXQzaR
異常的飢餓感令她瞬間拋棄前嫌,像一具行屍走肉般飄到餐桌邊。白色少年已經就座,手中是閱讀到一半的翻譯文庫本,白色小鳥飛過小敏身邊,落在他異常潔白的髮梢。白色少年的目光從一開始就沒有眷顧過她,而她眼中只有食物。在餐桌上的是冒著熱氣、份量超大的中式熱炒,炒高麗菜、紅燒煎豆腐、蘿蔔排骨湯以及充當甜點的飯後水果——切成星星形狀的楊桃一大盤。286Please respect copyright.PENANAg7Vjezwkfa
286Please respect copyright.PENANAUYkXHTbQK3
黑色少年脫下圍裙後坐到白色少年對面。286Please respect copyright.PENANALVRkoXxxGD
286Please respect copyright.PENANA85FAOlvOb6
「坐啊。」黑色少年對她露出開朗的微笑。286Please respect copyright.PENANAHTW2PbL7Z5
286Please respect copyright.PENANAwqyra45c8J
小敏像失了魂,拉開餐桌椅之後根本是跌坐入席。286Please respect copyright.PENANAXqctAcapj9
286Please respect copyright.PENANAxh9ypm666X
眼前的陶瓷空碗盤擦拭得晶亮。坐在飯桌邊的黑色大狗幾乎與她一樣高,牠吐著舌頭喘息,狀似非常開心終於要開飯了。一轉頭,小敏發現自己的碗盤中已經盛好一人份的飯菜,碗裡也裝好了湯料各半的熱湯。286Please respect copyright.PENANAxB1RelfrNt
286Please respect copyright.PENANAkAYmIyH4Ws
這是什麼時候……?她心裡感到奇怪。然而,比起詭異的現況,滿溢的香氣使小敏一瞬間將疑惑全都拋諸腦後。286Please respect copyright.PENANA6eeblO339G
286Please respect copyright.PENANAw6gwysP4qF
「怎麼了?開動吧。」白色少年語調平淡如雲。頭頂的小鳥打著盹。286Please respect copyright.PENANAhiD0k0YhTR
286Please respect copyright.PENANAACdCt5m5h3
小敏搖搖頭,又點點頭。用顫抖的手舉起餐具。286Please respect copyright.PENANAc69jOfiQ9U
286Please respect copyright.PENANA3BWYaJ4WkN
嚥下第一口碗裡清澄而濃郁的大骨湯後,如入無人之境一般,她開始大啖眼前的美食。品嘗醬油炒飯的鹹香、高麗菜的鮮甜與煎豆腐的酥脆,小敏眼泛紅光,著了魔似的,一動筷子就停不下來,湯也是一碗接著一碗……好像同桌的異性都不存在一樣吃下整整十幾人份的飯菜。286Please respect copyright.PENANAG2DPrS9pEj
286Please respect copyright.PENANAbx7OdF9ZhK
只有兩位少年知道,小敏在進食期間換了無數張女人的臉。這些人就像是貪得無厭的乞丐,激烈的索取眼前的熱量與美味。祂們將食物塞進嘴裡大嚼,最後毫無形象的變成了餓死鬼,用手抓了就吃,湯也整鍋舉起往胃裡灌。286Please respect copyright.PENANA1RDdaUo9fl
286Please respect copyright.PENANAktFYJnlpPX
「吃慢點、慢點……我的老天吶,看來我的廚藝有進步啊!」黑色少年看著蓋住少女整張臉的鍋底。286Please respect copyright.PENANAPZ2d1keQmg
286Please respect copyright.PENANASjHIX3EqxP
白色少年抱著雙臂,直接翻了個白眼。286Please respect copyright.PENANAa0ZRrZATWa
286Please respect copyright.PENANAtahbLbjmaX
他們倆人從頭到尾都沒有「一起」吃飯。這一餐其實是為了小敏而準備的。食物中附著著萬事屋的二人所加持的符,像是一種控制惡靈的令旗,更像是鎮定怨懟的咒語。286Please respect copyright.PENANATndlPZGBi1
286Please respect copyright.PENANA3RGEyWjpT4
萬事屋不喜歡向人宣戰,即便是奪取人命的詛咒意念,根本上也是走不出痛苦與憤恨的受害者,就連尋求解脫都做不到。286Please respect copyright.PENANAir7FMjXK4B
286Please respect copyright.PENANAxvlWULfmYR
少女終於放下見底的鍋子。喘著粗氣,雙眼依然是戾氣爆棚的血紅。286Please respect copyright.PENANAA1cSGlEsNB
286Please respect copyright.PENANAXVjNL9EgxP
「小敏。」白色少年輕聲呼喚。總算讓紅寶石般的清澈視線降落在少女慘不忍睹的骯髒臉頰。286Please respect copyright.PENANAezMuEZL2mO
286Please respect copyright.PENANA3UUruNBViW
彷彿身在鐘塔內直接聽見震耳欲聾的鐘聲,小敏瞬間恢復意識。286Please respect copyright.PENANAblb0VSwLuQ
286Please respect copyright.PENANA3xlEx7nQug
「咦?」剛剛是怎麼回事?她一時反應不過來。唇邊的菜汁痕跡被緩緩吸入口中,但她本人毫無知覺,彷彿是體內的什麼已經回到內裡,順道將想要的東西一滴不剩的帶走。286Please respect copyright.PENANAez691swteJ
286Please respect copyright.PENANAR7e1xeKG3k
「小敏,將手中緊握的東西給我吧!」白色少年伸出手掌,以不容拒絕的低沉嗓音說道。286Please respect copyright.PENANAKC9Y3m44Ut
286Please respect copyright.PENANAw267UvJpWv
什麼……?小敏納悶,在白色少年的注視之下低下頭。這才發現自己不知何時緊緊握著那條應該早就丟棄的麻繩。286Please respect copyright.PENANArHFb4XaIqm
286Please respect copyright.PENANAWur1H3iCK9
「小敏,妳已經死了。要是不鬆開手,會被那東西吃掉。這樣一來,就無法好好的去到另一個世界了。」286Please respect copyright.PENANAvldKXJ3Jk4
286Please respect copyright.PENANAvuPJazj74g
「但是……但是我還……我到底發生了什麼事?為什麼忽然就死了?我還那麼年輕……也沒有發生什麼意外啊!我……」小敏泫然欲泣,悔恨與困窘填滿了鼻腔,酸澀的觸感令她蹙起眉心。286Please respect copyright.PENANAIUeuMF0WT9
286Please respect copyright.PENANA0tlCm2iR3k
「是那個東西害死了妳。」白色少年說,「那條繩子裡憑依著數不清的古老靈魂。祂們是在生前有所執著,因而含冤吊死的女子。你們在因緣際會之下撿到了一部分,另一部分我們已經讓心犬拿來了。」286Please respect copyright.PENANA21YF75mBrr
286Please respect copyright.PENANAerkdCw6w6P
小敏順著他的目光看向身邊的巨犬。而在巨犬前方的碗裡,是一截跟小敏持有的麻繩一模一樣的破爛繩子。286Please respect copyright.PENANAiUaYYctV34
286Please respect copyright.PENANAYoQYNIkEJN
「那一段繩子綁在已經生長到三層樓高的粗壯樹枝上。或許是年代久遠,導致繩子斷裂,掉落地面。上面的怨恨已經隨著時間壯大,只要有人接近或碰觸,就會受到詛咒。」286Please respect copyright.PENANALv4yiOwNze
286Please respect copyright.PENANAgkRT5h0fAI
小敏就是這樣在不知不覺間懸樑自盡。286Please respect copyright.PENANA7vv10TKjlv
286Please respect copyright.PENANAkSKAn3V8p3
由於是在不知情的狀態下受到怨靈控制,不符合世俗所說的自殺。不知自己已死而留在原地的魂魄,也只是每晚從床上摔下,並未承受所有自殺生靈都必須承受的,重複死亡的苦痛。286Please respect copyright.PENANA2hbEcGGq1f
286Please respect copyright.PENANAJcXtYW539V
會看到家裡出現黑影,或許是家人在奔喪期間頻繁出入住宅吧!因為已經身在不同的世界,因此看不清雙親的身影。這也表示在她的潛意識裡,長期外出的父母身影已經模糊不已。286Please respect copyright.PENANA8P82ABPv43
286Please respect copyright.PENANAUecr6Alnwj
小敏腦中浮現穿著深色素衣的雙親忍著憂傷,一邊舉行哀悼儀式的景象,不禁濕了眼眶。她的雙眼變成了如墨的漆黑,像是臉上掛著兩個無底的窟窿,血淚奪眶而出,在毫無血色的臉頰上畫出一痕痕欲絕的悲痛。286Please respect copyright.PENANAOE7rBRdiW8
286Please respect copyright.PENANAyrlvdzlYd2
「我不要……我不甘心……我不甘心哪……我……」286Please respect copyright.PENANAgEs9w4zows
286Please respect copyright.PENANAM3TaK5C3OQ
「小敏,不可以。」286Please respect copyright.PENANACFmb9tVXo9
286Please respect copyright.PENANAtPXFpU3y4s
白色少年一瞬間捧住少女哭濕的雙頰,讓她直直望進他彷彿柔和紅寶石的雙眼。少年離她很近,近到可以看清彷彿潔白羽翼的濃密睫毛。286Please respect copyright.PENANAn0LNFA6pBT
286Please respect copyright.PENANAL9uwY1rUgQ
小敏蒼白的臉頰竟然泛起兩朵緋紅。286Please respect copyright.PENANAf36D6LejWd
286Please respect copyright.PENANAUYAdFTGJEY
「放下吧!無論如何,這個世界的一切妳已經無法插手。妳所受的傷也都過去了。妳必須讓它過去。必須遺忘,才能真的自由。小敏,一切都不是妳我能夠掌控的。要是有了執著,妳就會跟麻繩裡的怨靈一樣成為詛咒的食糧。把繩子給我吧!一切都會好起來的。」286Please respect copyright.PENANAo2GiJSQ5cP
286Please respect copyright.PENANAc4yURamnkS
小敏低頭望向髒兮兮的麻繩,心亂如麻。過了半晌,緩緩遞出。286Please respect copyright.PENANAw9Zlx73ENo
286Please respect copyright.PENANAiBUZdLcKE2
「謝謝。」白色少年接下繩索。286Please respect copyright.PENANAoYFIkldjAm
286Please respect copyright.PENANAlz4NTtfW6J
四周旋即開始冒出跟剛才一樣的熱辣焚風。小敏看著麻繩為焚風纏繞而漂浮在少年掌心上。原先安坐一旁的心犬啣起碗中的麻繩,隨後縱身一跳,張開血盆大口咬住拋向半空的繩索,將一分為二的兩段麻繩一同吞入胃袋之中。286Please respect copyright.PENANA0Uu8wSyP8f
286Please respect copyright.PENANA7yZyacMRBf
她頓時感到一陣哀傷。強烈地,彷彿失去一切一般絕望。286Please respect copyright.PENANAVstlP140SS
286Please respect copyright.PENANALUQ52ItuUG
小敏大哭出聲,毫無保留地將滿溢而出的悲傷化作淒厲的哭喊。286Please respect copyright.PENANASQ4uQGiy0o
286Please respect copyright.PENANAISHxPXgAlv
她看到了一個年紀輕輕就成為寡婦的女子,在以為自己觸及了幸福之時,卻發現一直深深相信的男人其實是有婦之夫。她看到了另一個女人原本擁有家庭,卻在一夕之間失去了所有,變得瘋癲、怨天尤人。她還看到了一個少女,臉上天生的胎記導致她遭到全村怨恨,就連破破爛爛的家都被焚毀,全家人無家可歸……286Please respect copyright.PENANA4iFKbj54NV
286Please respect copyright.PENANAHSfN0ogZ6l
那些女人,那些際遇,那些人生……彷彿都經歷了一輪,深深地刺痛著成為最後一名被詛咒者的小敏。連同她自己,也一起變成悲慘的結局。286Please respect copyright.PENANANsvkFqv8Yc
286Please respect copyright.PENANAS2QUaaPTqC
「欠妳的,底下的會自己看著辦吶!」黑色少年摸摸小敏凌亂的髮絲,雖然不知為何也稀哩嘩啦地流著眼淚,卻露出與氣氛完全不搭的開朗笑靨。286Please respect copyright.PENANAcKSOSY5shB
286Please respect copyright.PENANAcMJkyRj0fA
「不用自己去討,真是太好了對吧!」286Please respect copyright.PENANAXO54GZda5w
286Please respect copyright.PENANA7iTVNAEedV
不,才不對……小敏悽慘的抽泣著。286Please respect copyright.PENANA503EHtGYjJ
286Please respect copyright.PENANAj01xMD6CzE
「……才不對啦!人家在哭的時候不要笑的那麼陽光!」她哭笑不得,恨不得一巴掌打在那張可愛笑臉的正中央。286Please respect copyright.PENANAjOSCzStO0M
286Please respect copyright.PENANA5AcACYf6MO
不過……她曾經最喜歡的那兩人,一定會懷抱著複雜的心情活下去吧?無論多久,都一定不會忘記。她會以各種形式活在他們的記憶裡,甚至埋藏心底。286Please respect copyright.PENANACyoOfsHg5X
286Please respect copyright.PENANAYyuaRWdpzb
活者的人總是更辛苦……因此小敏放開了手。286Please respect copyright.PENANA4tHXjYtFDu
286Please respect copyright.PENANAB90VwAUPsz
幾乎撕裂靈魂的苦楚隨著從眼中落下的晶瑩淚珠,化為點綴夜空的星辰,魚貫飄向黑雲飄散的清澈天空。286Please respect copyright.PENANAM65VmTdVZr
286Please respect copyright.PENANAezeUfjo0iA