「我做了無法原諒的錯事。」那名女子如是說道。416Please respect copyright.PENANA0FlfODR4JB
416Please respect copyright.PENANAZWGgVtDRtG
對方是幽靈,這顯而易見的事實著實讓玄鶚嚇得發抖。由於早在久遠年代以前成為幽靈,女子整體的「質地」看起來相當晦暗。視覺上也很輕易便得以透視過去,透過女子看到的背景,諸如櫃子、藤椅椅背……等,都猶如洗了拖把的髒水,看來稍顯灰黑。古老幽靈顯現出來的色澤或透明度,與新生的幽靈有著絕對分別。416Please respect copyright.PENANAHdpLQkBjwv
416Please respect copyright.PENANANp55jXKOGc
而這名女子穿著富含時代感的衣著,寬大的半袖與長裙幾乎看不出樣式。五官的輪廓更是時而扭曲,時而模糊。然而,時不時浮現的身體結構卻讓人不由得不寒而慄。416Please respect copyright.PENANADYmmeVQcr3
416Please respect copyright.PENANAm3V9wwRE0b
首先,是臉。女子的右眼異常凸出,整顆眼球有大半名符其實的「奪眶而出」。右眼旁的太陽穴也破了一個窟窿,圓形的,但斷面組織亂七八糟,有些像是被竹竿或其他圓柱刺破,加上左臉頰也有一個一樣的破洞,令人不難聯想曾經有一根柱狀物從太陽穴或是左頰刺入,又從兩者其一穿出……右眼的凸出顯然也是因此造成。416Please respect copyright.PENANAnksAcqB1OA
416Please respect copyright.PENANAoKGnGWnQFF
除此之外,女子的皮膚大片大片的、這裡一塊、那裡一塊的狀似潰爛,凹凸不平。探出袖子的手臂上也有一條條黑色的裂縫,從那裡不斷滲出黑色黏液,正以為要流出時,黏液變成一縷黑煙,滲入狀態悽涼的幽靈體表。那些裂縫很像是年久未癒的傷口,若滲出的黏液是血,那回到身體裡的黑煙在某方面代表著循環的能量。這位女子以自身能量殘存至今。416Please respect copyright.PENANAPv8UGiVftr
416Please respect copyright.PENANAJzFkT8Ye7r
「但我……贖罪至今已經將近百年。在回到輪迴以前……果然,還是想先確認一件事。」女子顫抖著咽喉,輕飄飄地說。416Please respect copyright.PENANAJzo5eNMW8I
416Please respect copyright.PENANAYDifWmDh7e
店長從意識中望著與萬事屋店員們隔著茶几相望的女人,深刻感受到或許是古老幽靈的氣場所致,二名少年都沒有提出要她先恢復生前樣貌再詳談……不過,更可能是他們怕要求這樣做以後,女子會用盡最後的氣力而魂飛魄散。416Please respect copyright.PENANAy7SEFT1ySL
416Please respect copyright.PENANA2hkGQ2xHxM
結果,萌理佳下一秒便推翻了以上兩種臆測。416Please respect copyright.PENANABM17g8SSbm
416Please respect copyright.PENANAty0cYGdGa7
「那個……請問您可以先恢復生前的樣子嗎?」她在籐編茶几上放下茶水,「看您的身體搖搖欲墜……要是不方便請直說,是我失禮了。」416Please respect copyright.PENANAkMbwTOalGi
416Please respect copyright.PENANAoN83NZSN2G
二名少年頓時驚愕地轉向少女。416Please respect copyright.PENANAVu9XZEyiRJ
416Please respect copyright.PENANAuEVckbyWgU
「啊……可以。我今天疏忽了……畢竟就要去到陰間。」女子點頭答應,「就像是化妝一樣,每天都要轉變成生前的樣子才在其他幽靈眼前現形……」416Please respect copyright.PENANAOI8CqnIxIw
416Please respect copyright.PENANAnx6Jxqgepx
女子原地磨了層皮。龜裂的皮膚相互接合,突出的眼球回到眼眶,太陽穴與臉頰的大窟窿也絲毫不留痕跡。416Please respect copyright.PENANAm79QT4YV0D
416Please respect copyright.PENANAFaowq85sxA
話雖如此,在店長意識中的女子依然混濁而朦朧。只是似乎變成了一個漂亮的女人。店長原先如是以為……卻在那張臉上感受到某種詭譎。416Please respect copyright.PENANAvmw3eFVsqO
416Please respect copyright.PENANAkjYrgGN25p
拉門外,萬事屋的三人終於可以順利問話。416Please respect copyright.PENANArohqtEaE57
416Please respect copyright.PENANAKpAfI9qGWu
女子是本國日治時期中後出生的,年紀輕輕就嫁進有錢人家,也為夫家生下了一個兒子。可這個被婆婆視如珍寶的長孫卻在某日走失了,被夫家怪罪不提,她這個媽媽更是自責不已,成日以淚洗面……416Please respect copyright.PENANAAaZU7W89Uv
416Please respect copyright.PENANAIoDAOomsKH
「無論怎麼找都找不到……我這個將孩子弄丟的母親犯下的罪孽之大,應遭天打雷劈!」女子淌落黑色血淚,從不知道哪裡取出的灰色絲絹輕拭眼角。416Please respect copyright.PENANAkFedzwoRB3
416Please respect copyright.PENANAHyKS0Fy9Om
那絲絹上,用相同顏色的絲線繡了一個「玫」字。416Please respect copyright.PENANARiSQXWz8Lg
416Please respect copyright.PENANAmAQBE3OSnc
「一定是這樣的,因為我弄丟了孩子……上天才懲罰我,要我贖罪。」女子將手絹輕按在人中處。舉手投足乍看之下十足的富家少奶奶氣質。416Please respect copyright.PENANA85v3xdsuFr
416Please respect copyright.PENANAClBDuC7Til
「上頭不會因為如此留您近百年。您剛才好像有提到有事情想確認?請問,那個是什麼事?」絳雉彷彿課堂上驚醒的學生,忽然之間回過神。416Please respect copyright.PENANAU5Inzy0tYV
416Please respect copyright.PENANAmFpBztfZmG
啊……那個啊……女子將拿著絲絹的手按住胸口。416Please respect copyright.PENANAzZy9XXPrQh
416Please respect copyright.PENANAr6lzlwArm8
「被我弄丟的那孩子,我想確認是不是能夠去到跟他一樣的地方?」416Please respect copyright.PENANAia90k8vPHF
416Please respect copyright.PENANAr92g7wUPXH
女子贖罪的這段時間,那不知去向的孩子說不定已經死亡。要是那孩子已經不在人世間,至少現在想去到他身邊。416Please respect copyright.PENANAfNgSxaBUBj
416Please respect copyright.PENANAtsxrJfxHsR
店長的黑霧動搖了起來。416Please respect copyright.PENANAcfQhR7yYCI
416Please respect copyright.PENANAFePbsicQul
然而,黑白二名少年卻僵在位子上。二人表情僵硬地盯著眼前的古老幽靈,彷彿舌頭被拉住一樣不發一語。416Please respect copyright.PENANAMILLrMXSQ8
416Please respect copyright.PENANAZ58XC7MFrj
萌理佳察覺少年們態度詭異。她乾咳了幾聲,回神的只有靠近她這一側的玄鶚。他眨著眼,神情好似發現什麼難以置信之事般,看看萌理佳,又瞥了眼女子,最後將目光移到並肩的另一名少年。416Please respect copyright.PENANAq8fUVNYjMG
416Please respect copyright.PENANAmbZZikbOJ5
入目的是對方幾乎流出血的罌紅眼眸,直勾勾地瞪著眼前的委託人,幾乎要將人生吞活剝。416Please respect copyright.PENANAUKPFMgaE6I
416Please respect copyright.PENANAQfaZVMAxNp
「絳……絳!」玄鶚出聲叫喚,但那視線卻釘在女子身上。416Please respect copyright.PENANAB98vobyOEa
416Please respect copyright.PENANAqhYcufOFUt
「喂,妳是什麼人?」絳雉緊握雙拳,說話也咬著牙。416Please respect copyright.PENANAP2ux8V99GC
416Please respect copyright.PENANAsrC8Tt8vDm
店長感受到相當驚人的憎恨,夾雜著些許懷念與大量的困惑。複雜的情緒宛如濃煙,漸漸往天花板上聚集。416Please respect copyright.PENANAYgbg1MhMhb
416Please respect copyright.PENANARHptc4JuhP
女子明顯因為那眼神而退縮。然而並未就此逃開。416Please respect copyright.PENANA5JZtuqWJi0
416Please respect copyright.PENANAEVU4iGv2yr
「這是……在問我的身世嗎?」416Please respect copyright.PENANAsRdkbOY8JO
416Please respect copyright.PENANAxqpxvDxPby
「抱歉,但可以請您說一下嗎?」玄鶚輕聲說道,「畢竟我們似乎在您身上感覺到不同以往的情緒。」416Please respect copyright.PENANANiJFFaQJYE
416Please respect copyright.PENANA25nRhDKc0E
絳雉是憎恨與迷茫。416Please respect copyright.PENANA9HtZnayukA
416Please respect copyright.PENANAmYuae9KWko
玄鶚是懷念而憂傷。416Please respect copyright.PENANAUMcFHKMyL1
416Please respect copyright.PENANA4GDwOt4z6E
夾在他們中間的萌理佳不安的抱緊端茶水的托盤。416Please respect copyright.PENANAtfYHsdHNHL
416Please respect copyright.PENANAqe75jygxHZ
而店長則有股不好的預感。416Please respect copyright.PENANAubiXB4VbS4
416Please respect copyright.PENANAYcL1oxzJ9f
於是,女子以嘆息般的口吻娓娓道來。416Please respect copyright.PENANArdOIQ5nc3m
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*416Please respect copyright.PENANAiwQZL7Ryok
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說到「不好的預感」,指的就是所謂「預先感覺到事態會往壞的方向發展」這樣的「直覺」。416Please respect copyright.PENANA04bgBjoPI6
416Please respect copyright.PENANAwSLle0GlfB
店長的這種直覺相當敏銳,可說是百發百中的程度……雖然整體來說,僅限於不好的這一邊特別準,也算是一種才能了。416Please respect copyright.PENANAUgeZGCNFhM
416Please respect copyright.PENANAUCZcwydHR7
不過,在萬事屋裡的店長,本身其實不需要「才能」這種東西。不需要,卻又存在,時不時的冒出頭來。店長為此困擾,也無可奈何。416Please respect copyright.PENANAcNqSwc3pdv
416Please respect copyright.PENANAU1yYsOL2P4
容貌與身形已經模糊不清的女子訴說起距今幾十年前的往事。以被弄丟的孩子為中心,她從嫁進大戶人家的那時開始說起。416Please respect copyright.PENANAb0nEegkkmM
416Please respect copyright.PENANAg3fI0x1qeU
「我和上官老爺是在鎮上的茶館相識。老爺他面容年輕、英俊,當時才不過二十八九,長相卻比實際稍減幾歲,是個年紀輕輕便接手家族事業的男人。我們很談得來,從文學到藝術,老爺沒有一件事不懂。我很崇拜他,常在課後去茶館見他。老爺溫柔的接待出身貧困的我,將我當成妹妹一樣疼愛。而我卻對他悄悄產生了其他情愫,一天不見他便會感到心情低落,甚至痛苦。說來害臊,當時的我眼裡心裡都只有老爺,深深的愛上了這個大我十多歲的男子。416Please respect copyright.PENANATdzkvbTfDf
416Please respect copyright.PENANAihF9rdzWLv
之後,也如願以償,雙親在幾年以後迎來媒人婆的提親。對象便是上官老爺。416Please respect copyright.PENANA18JIdTDDGp
416Please respect copyright.PENANAHxwHmniW9q
我當時才剛從高等中學畢業,打算找個好工作供養雙親。與同個年代的女孩相比,我是比較幸運的一個。當時正提倡受教育,才剛開始推動進學校去接受教育是學齡孩子應當履行的義務這個政策。然而,還是有一些孩子交不出買書的錢,或是為了生計乾脆逃學。總之,當時民眾的觀念還是勞動大於讀書。在這之中,我已經算是相當幸運的一路讀到高等中學。416Please respect copyright.PENANAPYrkA9sDSr
416Please respect copyright.PENANAI9QlaUlm6H
然而,仔細思考便會察覺,以當時我家的經濟其實很難有餘裕讓我讀書。卻每在緊要關頭,都會不知道從哪裡湊出一筆剛剛好的錢充當我的學費。當時只覺得是我太幸運了,沒有細思。或許是因為我的這種個性,所以一路走來都沒有真正煩惱過錢的問題,也沒有發現身邊的人是如何為我擔憂、為了我辛苦。想奉養雙親的心情固然強烈,卻怎麼樣也無法放棄老爺……這時,父母才向我坦白,多年以來資助我上學的人其實就是老爺。」416Please respect copyright.PENANAZuBwkc0ZEb
416Please respect copyright.PENANAsqYRQm8rOD
其實是女子父母為了讓孩子讀書去拜託上官。而條件是,要女子在畢業那年嫁進上官家。416Please respect copyright.PENANACqZ606aTpA
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然後……416Please respect copyright.PENANA8Tx8Hl9Rr1
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「我雖然喜歡老爺,卻相當憤慨。一度不吃不喝,也不見人,甚至想拒絕這門親事。但是,當年哪有我選擇的餘地,既然是雙親許下的諾言,由女兒償還是天經地義的。況且……我已經懷了老爺的骨肉。這個婚是非結不可。我們就這樣結為連理。幾個月後,我為他產下一名男嬰。416Please respect copyright.PENANALdYaEqeV0P
416Please respect copyright.PENANAuyXtIWSwqG
老爺家裡只有老爺、我、和大姐一起住,公公婆婆住在別院裡。結婚以後,我備受寵愛,孩子也是。雖然我被稱為當家夫人稍嫌年輕,大家還是禮讓我三分。直到那天……」416Please respect copyright.PENANAQIuHDcTKlY
416Please respect copyright.PENANA1aghD6mKYg
那天早晨,她帶著年僅三歲的孩子出門,一不留神,孩子便不知去向,怎麼找也找不到。416Please respect copyright.PENANA0W5uxfi9ZX
416Please respect copyright.PENANAjvyuGT1m0e
或許是跟著賣糖的小販不知道走去了哪裡,或是鬆開母親的手,被人群沖散,女子崩潰的四處找尋,依然沒有尋回。416Please respect copyright.PENANAqCxrcEfiaO
416Please respect copyright.PENANADtrJMJq9ry
「老爺他勃然大怒,要所有僕人打著燈籠去找,而我坐在大門階梯哭泣,遲遲不肯進屋。孩子失蹤之後,大姐和其他人的態度變得冷淡,家裡的氛圍更是令人窒息……不久,我便離開了老爺家。」416Please respect copyright.PENANAseTtwjPUlW
416Please respect copyright.PENANAjI9krjeqRU
店長聽著女子訴說的故事,黑霧依然蠢動。416Please respect copyright.PENANAs1xZEVICSc
416Please respect copyright.PENANAzg4HhW9FrV
即使沒有記憶,刻在靈魂深處的情緒仍然不會忘記。應該記得的並未被奪走,即使是變成萬事屋的二名少年,也擁有上天這一份仁慈。416Please respect copyright.PENANA8xNVx2RNHi
416Please respect copyright.PENANAg40l0mr14v
萌理佳發現絳雉雙拳緊握,指節都變得慘白。玄鶚也面色悽慘,雙唇緊抿。416Please respect copyright.PENANAhkAaHcvEGb
416Please respect copyright.PENANAiLmztM6kcf
「冒昧……請問,那孩子叫做什麼名字?」半晌,玄鶚顫抖著雙唇開口。416Please respect copyright.PENANAKaWnuKG3cN
416Please respect copyright.PENANAsySMx0vCIL
「咦?啊……上官黎燕。」女子面對著少年們,端坐著,「老爺名為上官然碩。」416Please respect copyright.PENANAjLSohAGX05
416Please respect copyright.PENANA173rB4aTp7
室內瀰漫的混濁濃煙一時之間平靜了下來。416Please respect copyright.PENANAqTVva5SFcR
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那是暴風雨前的寧靜。416Please respect copyright.PENANAzYn9ihdfTj
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深知一切的店長已然發出悲傷的嘆息。416Please respect copyright.PENANAyyxNJihm34
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*416Please respect copyright.PENANAgSVICdGSv4