78、78涂奶油

    蓝嘉带着帕子匆匆走出庙宇，阿姐一边跟随，一边提心提眼。落日时分，庙宇中的佛像、香炉等东西都被夕阳的红光染成了艳丽的色彩，而蓝嘉看起来显得非常沧丧。Bluemistswirledaroundher,likeaveilthathidherface.Shefeltlikeshewaswalkingthroughadream,butitwasanightmare.Shestumbledandalmostfell,andwhenshelookedup,shesawhimagain.Hewasstandingthere,lookingatherwiththesamewarmsmilethathadcaughtherattentionearlier.

    Blue嘉‘seyesmethis,andforamoment,theyjuststaredateachother.Itwasliketimehadstopped,andallthatexistedwasthetwoofthem,lostintheirownlittleworld.Then,withoutaword,hereachedoutandtookBlue嘉‘shand,leadingherawayfromthecrowdandintothequietoftheeveningair.

    Blue嘉feltasenseofcalmwashoverherasshewalkedbesidehim.Shecouldn‘texplainwhy,butbeingwithhimmadeherfeellikeeverythingwasgoingtobeokay.Theywalkedforwhatfeltlikehours,notsayingawordtoeachother,butjustenjoyingthepeacefulnessofthesurroundings.

    Eventually,theycametoastopinfrontofabeautifuloldmansion.Thehousewassurroundedbytalltreesandovergrownwithvines,givingitasenseofageanddecay.Blue嘉feltashiverrundownherspineasshegazedupatthemansion,butwhensheturnedtolookathimagain,hewassmilingather.

    “Weehome,“hesaid,hisvoicelowandhusky.“I‘vebeenwaitingforyou.“

    Blue嘉‘sheartskippedabeatassheheardthosewords.Shehadnoideawhattheymeantorwherethisplacewas,buttherewassomethingaboutthewayhesaidthemthatmadeherfeellikeeverythingwasgoingtobealright.

    Withoutanotherword,hetookBlue嘉‘shandandledherupthepathtothefrontdoor.Astheywalked,shenoticedthatthetreesseemedtobemoving,theirbranchesreachingouttotouchherlikeskeletalfingers.Shefeltachillrundownherspine,butwhenshelookedathimagain,hewasstillsmilingather.

    Theyreachedthedoorandhepusheditopen,revealingagrandhallwaywithchandeliershangingfromtheceiling.Blue嘉‘seyeswidenedasshegazedupatthem,feelinglikeachildinacandystore.Shehadneverseenanythingsobeautifulinherlife.

    Heledherdeeperintothehouse,showingherroomsthatseemedtostretchonforever.Therewasalibrarywithshelvesuponshelvesofbooks,amusicroomwithapianothatseemedtocalltoher,andadiningroomwithtablessetforten,eventhoughtheywerealone.Blue嘉feltlikeshehadsteppedintoafairytale.

    Asthenightworeon,theysatdowninfrontofaroaringfire,watchingasflamesdancedacrossthehearth.Theytalkedaboutnothingandeverything,theirwordsspillingoutlikewaterfromafountain.Blue嘉feltlikeshewashomeatlast,likethiswaswhereshewasmeanttobe.

    Butasthehourspassed,shebegantofeelasenseofuneasecreepingoverher.Shecouldn‘tquiteputherfingeronit,butsomethingdidn‘tfeelright.Sheglancedupathimagain,andforamoment,theireyeslocked.Inthatinstant,shesawsomethinginhiseyesthatmadeherbloodruncold.

    Itwasaglintofsteel,aflashofmenacethatseemedtosay“I‘mnotwhoyouthinkIam.“Blue嘉‘sheartskippedabeatasshefeltajoltoffear.Shetriedtopullawayfromhim,buthejustsmiledandreachedoutagain,hishandwrappingaroundherslikeavice.

    “Don‘tbeafraid,“hesaid,hisvoicelowandhusky.“Ipromiseyou,I‘lltakecareofyou.“

    Blue嘉‘seyesmethisagain,andthistime,shesawsomethingtherethatmadeherbloodruncold.Itwasasparkofcruelty,aglintofsteelthatseemedtosay“I‘mnotheretoprotectyou,I‘mheretocontrolyou.“