不過，並沒有太大期待。RPD藥廠可是世界頂尖的製藥公司，這次徵募的消息一定吸引了大量申請者，我未必有機會被選中。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ9ix6NysJ
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWi0WObx5Z
——「咚！咚！咚！」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GqvrC6io7
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXaj9V6a3w
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0UhM8kcrt
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFHJHmkcWp
急促的敲門聲將我從睡夢中驚醒。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlcQnE4wWW
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40lgPB0EHL
「靠，是誰這麼早？」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaCyIx3JRh
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhraRZ6exCA
我揉了揉惺忪的雙眼，瞥了一眼床頭的鬧鐘，才 上午十一點。打了個哈欠，伸了個懶腰，慢吞吞地走到門口。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuVDfRu1xw
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJtjwHNZ8u
「是郵差嗎？」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0chDlhN5v
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCa68Wc7Uz
低頭一看，幾封信件靜靜地躺在門縫旁。我將它們撿起，隨手翻閱。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKurRDlq4Fx
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4c4cPahsr
「切……」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP0hZhFy5g
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOcGZlNANG
水電費帳單、銀行催款通知、垃圾宣傳單……都是些煩人的信件。我不耐煩地將它們塞進抽屜，只剩最後一封。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLJMalovkk
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxnQChUrrn
信封左上角印著 「R.P.D」 三個字母。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrXyXLnURN
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtHuIeE2QK
我微微一愣，心跳竟不自覺地快了一拍。視線順著信紙往下滑——49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV7unTsgPc
「恭喜你，您已獲選參與S-12的最終研究。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFN2O5ay0z
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡze8gqvLe8S
我盯著這行字，怔了幾秒。雖然稱不上像中樂透那樣興奮，但至少，我不必再為生活發愁了……這封信，對我而言就是一根救命稻草。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRyqE33vyK
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2C2GRg6rU
繼續往下讀——49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VoLhIJhwy
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURH0Jo9uEd
「若確定參與，請攜帶身份證明文件，前往RPD研究所總部報到。研究所24小時運作，生活用品將由RPD提供。請於今日內抵達總部，並再次恭喜您被選中。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZQ40YELBC
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu76ZMRh94
RPD的效率還真高……49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDgxG0reXl
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCfYatThXI
既然不需要準備行李，那我基本上可以 馬上出發。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrHdXPOQoC
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4HVjJ1GC7
<封閉的研究所>
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhdE0QZZoJ
我拉開抽屜，拿出身份證明文件，塞進背包。打開手機查詢研究所的位置，確定路線後，便拎起包包，轉身走出門外。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNPWAObgoW
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyvAXlpYv8
門「啪嗒」一聲關上，像是將過去幾個月的頹廢與迷惘，也一併鎖在門內。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwQYwMuKd3
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KTK4Ygw6o
我坐上公車，打開手機，確認導航路線。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY4c5zCVjT
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvo0Q1645V
「東部郊區……四個小時的車程。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOZffNfFyd
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv81tfSyO8D
如果是以前的我，這種長途跋涉一定會讓我感到焦慮，但現在……或許是因為好久沒有離開家，這趟旅程竟讓我產生一絲學校旅行的錯覺。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjkE9YvDVV
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hmYNz4Eis
「什麼都不用操心，什麼都不用計劃，甚至還有人照顧……接下來的六個月，說不定會是我人生中最輕鬆的時光。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy4Bi5CgPq
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvDd1NP5B5
我將耳機戴上，讓音樂填滿耳朵，視線落在窗外，沿途的景色由市區的高樓大廈逐漸變成荒涼的郊區，零星的工業建築點綴在陰沉的天空下。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCvuRcZcD9
公車顛簸地行駛著，不知不覺間，我竟沉沉睡去。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC93lNHFHxX
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaSIn6aPCK
「下一站，RPD藥廠。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc5D8YH4It
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7qzew9pCC
「Next station, RPD Research and Development Department。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vYnJLjDcI
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEIbrlOLqp
廣播聲驟然響起，我瞬間睜開眼。窗外天色已暗，濃厚的雲層壓在地平線上，給人一種詭異的沉重感。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwDLP9lQXQ
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0Hq1LjTTT
我環顧車廂，才發現車上已經只剩下我一個人。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRB23wK39E
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJp9qVoc86
車子減速，緩緩駛向路邊，停在一座龐大的白色建築前。透過車窗，我看見巨大的招牌上刻著 「RPD R&S」——我的目的地。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwlZ5FUqCR
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zOIt6534h
我背上背包，走下車。夜風帶著微涼的濕氣撲面而來，我下意識地裹緊外套。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6jxdCmisQ
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZtZkzrHaR
周圍靜得出奇，放眼望去，除了這棟孤零零的建築和周圍稀疏的樹木，四下無人。建築物外圍設有高聳的鐵柵欄，每隔三四米便裝有一個監視器，冰冷的紅光在黑暗中一閃一閃，像是不斷掃視著一切入侵者。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDBxIw7qpu
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaAYOXgiRP
「這地方還真是偏僻……」
這裡幾乎不可能有路人經過，應該只有研究所的員工和……我們這些「受試者」會來。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnTSurqQGQ
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8Rqkphcf8
但仔細想想，這麼大規模的研究機構，若設在市中心，建設成本恐怕是天價。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTW7WTYaPD
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTnaDSLURB
我深吸一口氣，快步走向大門。剛靠近，一名身穿黑色制服、配戴槍械的守衛便擋在我面前。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFncagDwMpC
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMb9tlkWqcZ
我的腳步微微一頓。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4D1A7YlCu
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrvmsOVkyl
「一個醫藥研究所，竟然需要武裝守衛？」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVo5h8hwG6
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaj1NL3P08
這樣的安保等級，幾乎和某些軍事基地沒兩樣。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsNt0IQSVj
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MMOGQwK7v
我迅速掏出邀請信，遞給對方。守衛低頭確認後，才按下身側的機關，讓大門緩緩打開。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDrqjosgjN
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYHEJ7jfiP
走廊的盡頭沒有光，只有頭頂的白色冷光燈延綿不斷地向前延伸。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42QEtIy0R7
帶領我的研究員身穿潔白的實驗袍，腳步沉穩。整棟建築的設計極為簡潔，純白的牆壁、天花板與地板沒有一絲污漬，消毒水的味道在空氣中瀰漫，讓人不自覺屏住呼吸。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TmS8Em2l4
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gzFRd77h1
「在這裡往右走，第一道門推開就是接待室。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQ1Q1cmGdv
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdpyQpNZfz
簡短交代完，他便轉身離去，連一句多餘的話都沒有。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6BqxssM0W
我推開門，原本以為只會有三三兩兩的志願者，畢竟我是在公車站唯一下車的乘客……49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowE5rfrc6f
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFovY4p38l
但眼前的景象讓我微微一怔——49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD2oLeDOrk
房間裡已經坐滿了人！49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm65dRqmwL
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxKREZF1Vf
我迅速掃了一眼，粗略估算，這裡至少有四十幾個人。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKRL1wZIXF
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgPdlhwbu5
我悄悄尋找座位，最後排還剩下一個空位，我走過去坐下。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0InZPN8U52
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIar3psXEEI
「又來一個人……還要等多久？」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNSwapat89
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRTDZ93eRZ
坐在我前方的男子不耐煩地抱怨，語氣中透著煩躁。我剛落座，便察覺到不少視線落在我身上，我微微點頭示意，對方們則紛紛移開目光。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu8OSj2Pos
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5XjxqIob9
「我也等很久了……要不找個人問問？」旁邊的人嘆道。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNlzFUSLQa
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UW6X5ttgN
「沒用的。」前排的一名男子淡淡地說，「我是第一個到的，他們只會叫我們『耐心等待』。據說等人到齊，項目負責人才會來。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuc542TutT
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ476weauOzf
「媽的，我收到信後就開車趕過來，下午一點多就到了……要不是最近缺錢，我才不會大老遠跑來！」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oLAexz6rG
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVCiNil5eY
坐我旁邊的大叔怨聲載道，語氣裡滿是不耐與無奈。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNONs5TsPwR
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KdTmiIGNb
「他……也是為了錢？」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kCKRwOLU7
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNaQGsKHJr
我側眼打量他，他的衣著簡單，眉宇之間透著一股疲憊，像是長期處於經濟壓力下的人。他的話讓我意識到，房間裡的大多數人可能都有類似的理由。
