N市郊區的天空與那天露娜前往N大和梅里克博士會面時一樣,是一片無邊際的灰。空氣如同隨時會下起滂沱大雨一般,濕熱得令人窒息。116Please respect copyright.PENANAn3MyS8nykz
116Please respect copyright.PENANAs1Zk4zxIea
零星的男女在一棟看似是民宿的暗棕色木造房屋前聚集。他們彼此問候、噓寒問暖。116Please respect copyright.PENANA3FBdI5lL7k
116Please respect copyright.PENANAFrr5ij77aH
隨時間經過,草皮上變得僅留下兩、三人,其餘都進了屋內。這時,從屋子裡傳來了搖鈴聲。116Please respect copyright.PENANA2sqhbhVp8T
116Please respect copyright.PENANAOiKq1YfOJu
聚會開始了。116Please respect copyright.PENANA0r7JtsQdrh
116Please respect copyright.PENANAawKU4YmFXK
今天是週日。約有五十名信徒來到這棟由平房改建的禮拜堂,參加真露教會N市分會所辦、每月一次的聚集儀式。116Please respect copyright.PENANAp1DwAPE0jk
116Please respect copyright.PENANAbz6jOSHAiw
露娜坐在對街的破舊公園長椅上觀察著他們,猶豫著什麼時候要進去禮拜堂。116Please respect copyright.PENANARxXHp7ma3k
116Please respect copyright.PENANArjuLlFKX4R
雖然決心要繼續調查下去,但對於自己竟然可以為了艾瑪走到這一步,她仍感到有些不踏實。116Please respect copyright.PENANAH8BTmpv31l
116Please respect copyright.PENANA6VL5eooVJI
『妳可能得早點進去。』116Please respect copyright.PENANAuinQznNy4L
116Please respect copyright.PENANA9eYuITJ70A
手機話筒傳來聲響。鏡一如既往透過艾瑪的帳號與露娜通話。116Please respect copyright.PENANAY1yVEV4EmJ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAPbnDY3PMiI
也是。這麼想著,露娜嘆了口氣,終於從長椅上起身——116Please respect copyright.PENANAkbc90Q64Te
116Please respect copyright.PENANAXHP59FA5e8
突然,一陣怪異的暈眩襲上腦門。116Please respect copyright.PENANA3jutDQIILz
116Please respect copyright.PENANAcMhyxrMajP
暈眩並不強烈,只如音叉在耳邊微微震動般令人不適。116Please respect copyright.PENANApS9a2NQFmv
116Please respect copyright.PENANAcds2vuze8Q
『沒事吧?』鏡開口問道。116Please respect copyright.PENANAQZ71aYUbmK
116Please respect copyright.PENANAzsPe60NGwc
「嗯……沒什麼。」露娜揉了揉太陽穴,搖搖晃晃的站穩腳步。暈眩一下子就消失無蹤,留在腦中的只剩下些許的困惑。116Please respect copyright.PENANAKRu3DJbY6o
116Please respect copyright.PENANA5pCkzeeFyk
或許是坐太久了吧,露娜心想,隨後就重新起步。116Please respect copyright.PENANAnmgeiTEPM2
116Please respect copyright.PENANALqAwdJo0SG
穿越馬路後,白色平房那與一般房屋並無二致的門口就變得清晰可見。然而與眾不同的是,那扇門的背後傳來了悶悶的鐘響,以及人們吟唱歌曲的聲音。116Please respect copyright.PENANAMP08xP4s2I
116Please respect copyright.PENANAFMLIhqOyvX
鐘響節奏緩慢,微微顫動的延音透過耳膜麻痺知覺;人們呢喃一般的哼唱著歌謠,怪異的旋律彷彿要將大腦融化。116Please respect copyright.PENANAl83dskYmfJ
116Please respect copyright.PENANA9FquNEcJbe
露娜皺了皺眉,深吸一口氣,卻只覺得濕熱的空氣使思緒越發遲鈍。她伸手握住門把,卻突然發現上頭已經有另一隻手握住門把。116Please respect copyright.PENANAGPIplpgKLL
116Please respect copyright.PENANAntk94ZfmUl
「……!」116Please respect copyright.PENANAWerUSaPVEN
116Please respect copyright.PENANArXJNNuwy3F
她嚇得往旁邊一跳,看見一個女孩不知何時已經站在身旁。女孩也縮回按在門把上的手,一臉訝異。116Please respect copyright.PENANA3fRCoHiTMU
116Please respect copyright.PENANAMEtYyjPKhd
女孩比露娜小,才十多歲出頭而已。露娜看著女孩那碧藍色的雙眼,總覺得它們像是監視器一樣空洞。116Please respect copyright.PENANAcqz32TYie6
116Please respect copyright.PENANAfa8pcy0CRC
「『——不好意思,你先請……』」116Please respect copyright.PENANAmqMHYYtc0p
116Please respect copyright.PENANAByTc6JgzxL
露娜開口,卻沒料到女孩也說出相同的話。重疊在一起的聲音瞬間就打斷了彼此,兩人面面相覷。116Please respect copyright.PENANAQaDLPNNONn
116Please respect copyright.PENANAmn649N81Sx
接著,女孩推開大門,一溜煙的跑進屋子裡,留下露娜一人,門前像是像是什麼事都沒有發生一樣。116Please respect copyright.PENANA5qYQkhJXFM
116Please respect copyright.PENANARbL6lCEWln
露娜呆站在那裡,聽著屋內傳來的歌聲。她突然就撞見那名女孩,女孩恰巧說了與自己同樣的話,隨即消失無蹤;一切都發生得太快,使露娜無法明白眼前的狀況。116Please respect copyright.PENANAoB0B1Z09LR
116Please respect copyright.PENANAko9nyVnQmY
片刻後,她才搖了搖頭,試著不去在意剛才那詭異的插曲,轉身走進還敞開的房門內——116Please respect copyright.PENANA2mYNoXSKYf
116Please respect copyright.PENANA2TyOziuS4S
映入眼簾的,是不可思議的一幕。116Please respect copyright.PENANAL0oVxzg1rF
116Please respect copyright.PENANAi7wO6zI9m0
那是一個被挑高成兩層樓高的空間,不算寬敞,卻剛好能容納五十幾名信徒。雖然是一樓,卻昏暗的像是地下室一樣,四圍的窗簾都被拉上,空氣中還瀰漫著似乎是薰香的煙霧,只有天花板上以夜燈亮度照明的室內燈,如燭光一般朦朧的閃爍著。116Please respect copyright.PENANAkTW1UpCx6y
116Please respect copyright.PENANAamJnYB5RZN
但,最另露娜詫異的並不是此處的裝潢——116Please respect copyright.PENANAt9QECmHaGN
116Please respect copyright.PENANAy2iCeEK5Bu
而是數十雙凝視著自己的眼睛。116Please respect copyright.PENANASUMANvNp4A
116Please respect copyright.PENANAdEOe4OJRlj
此時此刻,屋內的信徒無一面向禮拜堂內,而是朝著門口,一邊如木偶張著嘴詠唱聖歌,一邊眨也不眨的注視才剛踏進來的露娜。116Please respect copyright.PENANA9f4G1QWlpZ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAU25LMphI5r
而除了那來自信徒的數十個視線之外,還有一雙眼睛正直勾勾的瞪著露娜。116Please respect copyright.PENANAae189It6qn
116Please respect copyright.PENANAHUVHJ7aflH
越過人群、位在講台的後方,禮拜堂深處的牆上,那雙上下排列的眼睛——札托薩哈的肖像畫,就掛在那裡。116Please respect copyright.PENANAtsKSILSSqx
116Please respect copyright.PENANA4CBfiWyljF
刺鼻的薰香似乎帶著血味,令人作嘔的鐘聲鼓動著肺部。露娜僵在原地,微微顫抖起來。116Please respect copyright.PENANAYfdn9bjTsY
116Please respect copyright.PENANAnHOdG1fBkZ
她想要轉身逃跑,卻在剛浮現這樣的念頭時,立刻被一個低沉的嗓音打斷。116Please respect copyright.PENANAg4T41lJRC1
116Please respect copyright.PENANAE7ISS3d4Ud
那並不是從任何地方傳來,而是源自於大腦深處的迴響。聲音與鏡那聽不出性別的嗓音有幾分神似,卻破碎的像是發出自雨天的收音機。116Please respect copyright.PENANAl4k9FXrbJ8
116Please respect copyright.PENANAJL1bXQtlrR
——往前走。把門關上。116Please respect copyright.PENANAhfPzzIUNEd
116Please respect copyright.PENANADdtnGClHTG
回過神來,露娜就發現自己已經站在比剛才要靠近群眾位置,身後的門也已關上。116Please respect copyright.PENANA53lHE9Hv6E
116Please respect copyright.PENANALWDXJiymSf
口袋內的手機傳來震動。是鏡傳來的文字訊息。露娜伸手探入口袋內——116Please respect copyright.PENANAqMnemen6h4
116Please respect copyright.PENANATrCtsemKmH
——不要查看。走到講台前。116Please respect copyright.PENANArOMtbrKTsC
116Please respect copyright.PENANAexdAKhT8t2
信徒們從中分開,讓出一條走道。露娜朝著禮拜堂深處的講台緩步前行,群眾隨她緩緩轉身,視線一刻也沒有離開。116Please respect copyright.PENANAw11iY45KS5
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVhLtfZdZ3i
此時,一個人影從講台後方走出來。116Please respect copyright.PENANAHz4LyU59RA
116Please respect copyright.PENANAIa0MoG1ETA
那是一位頂著一頭灰色短髮的中年女士,身穿漆黑的長袍,上頭以紅線繡著札托薩哈那垂直排列的雙眼。女士瞇眼微笑,擠出細細的魚尾紋——沒有什麼是比在教徒們齊聲唱著扭曲歌聲的此處看到那樣和藹的笑容還要更危險的。116Please respect copyright.PENANAyxrff10MrG
116Please respect copyright.PENANAOrYZI3IoOr
「歡迎,札托薩哈所感招的迷途之子。」116Please respect copyright.PENANAbFaBvWNGG6
116Please respect copyright.PENANAsjE9gIsjaa
女士平靜的開口。她的手上拿著一只雕有洛可可式紋樣的金屬杯子,裡面裝著血一樣的深棕色液體。116Please respect copyright.PENANA3SttM2H7mA
116Please respect copyright.PENANAxPVgJzXEMy
「這是在『看見』之前的必經之路。妳不必抵抗,因為真露會替妳指引去向。」116Please respect copyright.PENANAyx9u7skFl7
116Please respect copyright.PENANAp5zDmUGJZK
女士舉起杯子,湊近露娜的臉龐。116Please respect copyright.PENANAvYHTHBCgb8
116Please respect copyright.PENANAd0ocf3TSQs
——不要動。116Please respect copyright.PENANAENU0H5j4h6
116Please respect copyright.PENANAmZKOciQC7N
冰冷的金屬杯緣靠上露娜的嘴唇。116Please respect copyright.PENANAXeKGdcS7Cc
116Please respect copyright.PENANAu2WLTBA3bA
——喝下去。116Please respect copyright.PENANAPyLdKNsokP
116Please respect copyright.PENANAX9A4um6ZfQ
杯子傾倒,冰冷黏稠的觸感滑入喉嚨。那是如鐵鏽一樣苦澀的味道,或像泥土和煙灰攪和在一起的惡臭。116Please respect copyright.PENANAeRvlJcW0fI
116Please respect copyright.PENANALlR3jBqyoB
哐當一聲,露娜將金屬杯從女士的手中揮落,殘留的液體灑在衣服和紅毯上。她掐住自己的喉嚨,向後踉蹌,跌落在地上。116Please respect copyright.PENANAk42l0w09BI
116Please respect copyright.PENANABCZjky9M6k
「混蛋……」116Please respect copyright.PENANA8zfeYCPEiB
116Please respect copyright.PENANACuL42FdVtQ
她咒罵道。腦中的低沉嗓音終於消失,但一切都太遲了。116Please respect copyright.PENANAMWYToC7Wxh
116Please respect copyright.PENANAh8EQvGzxAc
她不知道自己喝下了什麼。她想吐,卻吐不出來,腸子彷彿有生物在裡頭攪動一般。兩眼開始模糊,不,準確來說是被許多東西佔據。那些是一條條透明蠕蟲,隨著氣流不斷扭動。她抬頭張望,看見女士以及信眾身上爬滿與蠕蟲相同的紋理。它們迅速擴散,滲透到信眾的手、腳、脖子和臉上。信眾的五官已不付存在,只剩下一雙不知何時長出來的札托薩哈之眼,盯著露娜,唱著歌,那歌聲好像把人當成石榴剖開時所發出的慘叫,又像是某種長著角與尖牙之哺乳類的欣喜狂嚎。116Please respect copyright.PENANAf668NAj5Ff
116Please respect copyright.PENANAZqmZilVa0t
露娜想起身奔跑,卻發現自己失去了雙腳。地上滲出與紅毯相同顏色、如膠水一般黏稠的液體,冒出煙,惡臭撲鼻而來。用雞血調成的香水會是這種味道嗎?死在電網上的知更鳥會是這種味道嗎?跟艾瑪一同葬在墳墓裡的薰衣草現在會是這種味道嗎?露娜伸手,抓著滾燙的地毯,想要掙脫流沙一般不斷下陷的地板,但一切都是徒勞。她太渺小、太無助。116Please respect copyright.PENANABLZTvnKdbW
116Please respect copyright.PENANAgBdmnLNLii
「救我……」116Please respect copyright.PENANAdaqdmELFPs
116Please respect copyright.PENANAEqApOKHS71
她看了看身邊的人,有那位女士,有信眾,有自己的母親,有同學,還有一位留著淡金色齊肩短髮的少女——是她自己。116Please respect copyright.PENANATMNasyVZDx
116Please respect copyright.PENANA2XSytNmydP
金髮少女冷冷地看著一切,看著自己受苦。當自己的貓咪去世時無情的拋棄了自己,當所有人都不和自己說話時冷漠的離自己而去。所以自己死了,同薰衣草葬在墓園裡了,再也無法跟最要好的朋友一起去科博館了。116Please respect copyright.PENANAm8c36AgTLQ
116Please respect copyright.PENANAVrBxF0p2No
「你現在在哪裡?」116Please respect copyright.PENANAuDMbibIUGU
116Please respect copyright.PENANA12CJlj9ecV
自己問道。她只是想要知道那個金髮的少女到哪裡去了。如果可以,她還想再跟她多走一會兒。116Please respect copyright.PENANA9weWhYf0J7
116Please respect copyright.PENANAtVEQW8xbN6
一會兒,一會兒就好,在自己還沒喝下相同的真露之前,在一切還未墜入無盡的深淵之前。116Please respect copyright.PENANAfFNkGG6OUf