Ben had known her since kindergarten, and her eyes had always been green.

本從幼兒園起就認識她，她的眼睛一直是綠色的。

They were definitely green before he left for Cape Cod, so when he returned from vacation to be greeted by a Jade who had hazel eyes, it left him quite confused.

在他去鱈魚角之前，他的眼睛肯定是綠色的，所以當他度假歸來，迎接他的是一雙淡褐色眼睛的小玉時，他感到非常困惑。

So far, it was all he could do to pay attention during their lunch.

到目前為止，他只能在午餐時注意聽他們說話。

She was telling him some story about something she and their other two friends, Casper and Erica, had done while he was away, but all he could focus on was her eyes.

她正在給他講她和另外兩個朋友卡斯珀和艾麗卡在他不在的時候做的一些事情，但他能關注到的只有她的眼睛。

Nothing else had changed, at least nothing particularly noticeable, but her eyes.

除了她的眼睛，其他地方都沒有變化，至少沒有什麼特別明顯的變化。

What had happened to her eyes?

她的眼睛怎麼了？

Her voice trailed off as she noticed him staring.

當她注意到他在盯著自己看時，她的聲音低了下去。

Are you okay?

你還好嗎？

she asked.

她問道。

Ben leaned in a bit closer, nearly knocking over his soda as he attempted to get a better look, which made Jade visibly uncomfortable.

本靠得更近了一些，為了看得更清楚，他差點打翻了汽水，這讓小玉明顯感到不自在。

She moved away, not by a lot, but enough to make a point.

她走開了，雖然不是很遠，但足以說明問題。

I'm sorry, he said, trying to shake himself out of his head, but did you get contacts?

我很抱歉，他說，試圖讓自己清醒過來，但你有戴隱形眼鏡嗎？

Jade frowned.

玉皺起了眉頭。

Uh, no.

沒有

Oh, but your eyes look- he rubbed the back of his neck nervously and said, maybe it's just the lighting, sorry.

哦，但你的眼睛看起來--他緊張地揉了揉後頸，說，也許只是光線的問題，抱歉。

Shrugging, his friend waited a few moments to make sure he was alright, and continued the story.

他的朋友聳聳肩，等了一會兒，確定他沒事後，繼續講故事。

He tried to listen this time, and told himself that it had to just be an illusion of some sort.

這一次，他試著傾聽，並告訴自己這一定只是某種幻覺。

Still, he was determined to know for sure, so as she was talking, he pulled out his camera and snapped a photo.

不過，他還是下定決心要弄清楚，於是在她說話的時候，他拿出相機拍了一張照片。

Jade paused for just a moment as he did so, then continued the story without questioning it.

小玉聽後只是停頓了片刻，然後不置可否地繼續講述。

It wasn't unusual for him to be taking pictures, because truth be told, he was practically obsessed with his camera.

他拍照並不稀奇，因為說實話，他對相機幾乎著了魔。

Originally, he was only interested in it because it had belonged to his father, who had passed away a few years ago from lung cancer.

最初，他對它感興趣只是因為它曾屬於他的父親，而他的父親幾年前因肺癌去世了。

The more he used it, the more interested he became in photography, and similarly, in investigative reporting.

他用得越多，對攝影的興趣就越大，同樣，對調查性報道的興趣也越大。

Something about photography fascinated him.

攝影讓他著迷。

Perhaps it was the way a whole story could be captured in a single image, or perhaps it was the potential secrets that could be uncovered.

也許是一張圖片就能捕捉到整個故事，也許是一張圖片就能揭開潛在的祕密。

This time, his focus was definitely on the mystery aspect.

這一次，他的重點無疑是神祕方面。

Something was up with Jade's eyes, and he hoped the picture would be able to give him some clues.

小玉的眼睛有些不對勁，他希望這張照片能給他一些線索。

If nothing else, it would be useful in comparing how his friend looked before and after he went for a vacation.

如果不出意外，這將有助於比較他的朋友度假前後的樣子。

Of course, he would have to account for lighting, camera angle, Jade's pose, but he was sure he had enough pictures to do the job.

當然，他還得考慮燈光、拍攝角度和 Jade 的姿勢，但他確信自己有足夠的照片來完成這項工作。

An hour later, they had finished their lunch and had met up with Casper and Eric at the latter's house to go swimming.

一小時後，他們吃完午餐，與卡斯帕和埃裡克在後者家碰頭，準備去游泳。

By then, Ben had been able to put the concerns about his friend's eyes aside, because he knew he had the ability to figure everything out later.

那時，本已經能夠把對朋友眼睛的擔憂放在一邊，因為他知道自己有能力在以後弄清楚一切。

Focusing on something other than wild theories about what was happening was a bit harder, thanks to his chronically overactive imagination.

由於他的想象力長期過度活躍，除了胡思亂想之外，專注於其他事情就有點困難了。

However, eventually, he was able to calm down.

不過，他最終還是平靜了下來。

That was, until he noticed Erica's medium-length hair was now shortened.

直到他注意到艾麗卡的中長髮已經變短。

Just by an inch or two, it seemed, but it was shorter, and that's what counted.

似乎只差一兩英寸，但它更短了，這才是最重要的。

He might have just been looking for things to be paranoid over, as he had been accused of several times before for believing things like that one of the teachers at school was a murderer, or that the noise he'd sometimes hear at night wasn't house-settling, but a monster attempting to kill him.

他可能只是在尋找可以讓他疑神疑鬼的東西，就像他以前曾多次被指責相信學校裡的一位老師是殺人凶手，或者他有時在晚上聽到的噪音不是房子裡的動靜，而是一個怪物試圖殺死他一樣。

It wasn't his fault that his stepfather's insanely loud snoring sometimes sounded like a growling beast.

繼父響亮的鼾聲有時聽起來像野獸在咆哮，這不是他的錯。

Anyway, this time was different.

總之，這次不一樣。

He remembered that her hair, before he left for vacation, had reached down to the strap at the back of her red and white bikini.

他記得，在他去度假之前，她的頭髮一直垂到紅白比基尼後面的帶子上。

Now, it hovered just above it.

現在，它就在它的上方徘徊。

Ben nearly took a picture, before he paused and said, Hey, Erica?

本差點拍了一張照片，然後他停頓了一下，說："嘿，艾麗卡？

Did you do anything to your hair?

你對頭髮做了什麼處理嗎？

It looks different.

它看起來與眾不同。

Her brow furrowed in confusion as she looked at him and said, No, I just brushed it.

她眉頭緊皺，困惑地看著他說：不，我只是刷了一下。

Maybe that's it, he muttered.

也許就是這樣，他喃喃自語道。

She rolled her eyes and set off for her backyard with Jade in tow.

她揉了揉眼睛，帶著小玉向後院走去。

With her back turned to him, he quickly snapped the picture, zooming in specifically to see where the tips of her hair ended.

她背對著他，他迅速拍下了這張照片，特意放大到她髮梢的盡頭。

Now, he was just left in the living room with Casper, who'd spent the time quietly putting on suntan lotion.

現在，他只能和卡斯珀一起待在客廳裡，卡斯珀則靜靜地塗著防晒油。

However, he knew he'd been paying attention to the exchange between Ben and Erica, so he wandered over and said, What's up?

不過，他知道自己一直在關注本和艾麗卡之間的交流，所以他走過去說："怎麼了？

He leaned against the doorframe, waiting for an answer, with the usual air of cool he always had.

他靠在門框上，等待著回答，一如既往地冷峻。

Ben only wished he could be that relaxed, especially now that the theories were returning to his head.

本只希望自己也能如此放鬆，尤其是現在理論又回到了他的腦海中。

Jade's eyes had changed color, and Erica's hair became shorter, he blurted, after a moment, I'm not going crazy because I know I have the pictures to prove it, but I need to know what the hell is going on.

傑德的眼睛變了顏色，艾麗卡的頭髮變短了，過了一會兒，他突然說："我沒有發瘋，因為我知道我有照片為證，但我需要知道這到底是怎麼回事。

Casper's eyebrow raised, and then he moved away from the wall to come closer.

卡斯帕眉毛一挑，然後從牆邊移開，走近了一些。

Have I changed at all?

我有什麼變化嗎？

With anyone else, the question would have seemed mocking.

如果是其他人，這個問題就會顯得很嘲諷。

He was sure Casper was just humoring him, but he was a trustworthy friend, and Ben felt confident as he checked him over.

他確信卡斯帕只是在逗他開心，但他是一個值得信賴的朋友，本在檢查他時感到很有信心。

As far as he could tell, not much had changed.

據他所知，情況並沒有什麼變化。

The tattoo Casper had on his shoulder of a cartoon ghost was in the right place and looked correct.

卡斯帕肩膀上的卡通幽靈紋身位置正確，看起來也很端正。

His eyes were still the same shade of grey, and his hair was still the same shade of black, as well as the same length.

他的眼睛還是一樣的灰色，頭髮還是一樣的黑色，長度也一樣。

He hadn't grown taller or shorter, he wasn't carrying himself in any new way.

他沒有長高，也沒有變矮，他沒有以任何新的方式表現自己。

He was the same Casper he had known when he left two weeks before.

他還是兩週前離開時認識的那個卡斯帕。

No.

不

Good to know.

很高興知道

I really don't understand what's going on with the girls, though.

不過，我真的不明白女孩們是怎麼了。

It's like they've been taken over by shapeshifters who just can't get the image perfect, or something.

就好像他們被變形人佔領了一樣，就是無法讓形象完美，或者其他什麼的。

Casper blinked at him, then shrugged.

卡斯帕對他眨了眨眼睛，然後聳了聳肩。

I guess that's possible, but why would they be taken over by shapeshifters?

我想這是有可能的，但它們為什麼會被變形人佔領呢？

I don't know, but I'm sure I can figure it out.

我不知道，但我肯定能想出辦法來。

Come on, man.

來吧，夥計。

He moved to open the door, letting sunlight stream into Erika's living room.

他打開門，讓陽光灑進艾麗卡的客廳。

They're waiting for us.

他們在等我們

I'll help you figure out what's going on tonight, alright?

我會幫你搞清楚今晚發生了什麼事，好嗎？

Ben put down the camera and grabbed his towel, but hesitated as he neared the door.

本放下相機，拿起毛巾，但在靠近門口時猶豫了一下。

What if they're demons who will reveal their true form and try to kill us?

如果他們是惡魔，會顯露真身並試圖殺死我們呢？

Casper snorted.

卡斯帕哼了一聲。

Isn't that just a thing girls do?

這不就是女孩子做的事情嗎？

I'm serious.

我是認真的。

He threw his hands up.

他舉起雙手。

Alright, alright.

好吧，好吧

If they try to murder us, I'll help you escape, and we'll deal with the demon apocalypse or whatever's going on.

如果他們要殺我們，我會幫你逃走，然後我們一起對付惡魔啟示錄或其他什麼東西。

Ben still didn't feel completely safe, but knowing that he had someone on his side, he agreed to go swimming.

本仍然不覺得完全安全，但知道有人在他身邊，他同意去游泳。

Luckily, Jade and Erika had acted normally the whole time.

幸運的是，小玉和艾麗卡一直表現得很正常。

They played Marco Polo for a while, before having a few races and a pathetic diving contest that really involved stupid jumps more than it did actual tricks.

他們玩了一會兒 "馬可波羅"，然後進行了幾場比賽和一場可悲的跳水比賽。

He was wary around the girls, but decided that if they really were possessed by a demon of some sort, pretending everything was fine wasn't a bad idea.

他對這些女孩很警惕，但他決定，如果她們真的被某種惡魔附身，假裝一切正常也不失為一個好主意。

If they weren't demons, then it was just fine, anyway.

如果他們不是惡魔，那就無所謂了。

At one point, Casper swam over to him and whispered, So, I'm not sure about Erika, but Jade's eyes have definitely changed color.

有一次，卡斯珀游到他身邊，小聲說："所以，艾麗卡的情況我不太清楚，但小玉的眼睛肯定變色了。

Ben's heart started beating faster with excitement.

本激動得心跳加速。

You see it too?

你也看到了嗎？

he asked, his voice coming out louder than he intended.

他問道，聲音比他想的要大。

He took a breath and steadied himself as he continued, Isn't it weird?

他深吸一口氣，穩了穩情緒，繼續說道："是不是很奇怪？

his friend nodded, I don't think they're demons, but something's wrong.

他的朋友點點頭，我覺得他們不是惡魔，但有些不對勁。

I'll crash at your place tonight, and we'll figure this out, yeah?

我今晚去你那兒住 我們一起想辦法，好嗎？

Yeah.

是啊

Casper splashed him a bit and motioned toward Erika, who had turned at the exclamation, looking confused.

卡斯帕給他潑了點水，然後朝艾麗卡示意了一下，艾麗卡聽到驚歎聲轉過身來，一臉困惑。

Just making plans for tonight, Ben explained.

本解釋說，只是在為今晚做計劃。

She turned away and swam back towards the diving board.

她轉身離開，游回跳水板。

That was close.

好險

Rolling his eyes, his friend said, Relax, we've got this.

他的朋友翻了翻白眼說："別緊張，我們能行。

I know.

我知道

He watched Jade do a cannonball, sending ripples throughout the pool.

他看著小玉做了一個炮彈動作，在整個池子裡激起了層層漣漪。

I just hope it's not actually demons.

我只希望它不是真的惡魔。

Casper let out a light laugh and dived down under the water, leaving Ben alone with his thoughts.

卡斯帕輕笑一聲，潛入水底，留下本一個人沉思。

He joined back in with the activities, but spent the entire time trying to imagine what the problem could be.

他又參加了活動，但一直在試圖想象問題出在哪裡。

Clones?

克隆人？

Maybe, but if so, there'd have to be some weird science fiction shit going on and that would be an even bigger investigation.

也許吧，但如果是這樣，那就得有一些奇怪的科幻小說了，這將是一個更大的調查。

He simply told himself to pay attention for any clues that might point to a secret laboratory somewhere.

他只是告訴自己要注意任何可能指向某個祕密實驗室的線索。

Aliens?

外星人？

It was more sci-fi stuff, but this one felt more plausible.

它更像是科幻小說，但這本感覺更可信。

In theory, all it would take would be an abduction.

從理論上講，只要發生綁架事件就可以了。

Any cloning elements would have likely come from the technology on the UFO, and there was always a chance of the aliens being shapeshifters.

任何克隆元素都可能來自 UFO 上的技術，而且外星人也有可能是變形人。

It didn't seem likely to be possession of some sort, unless whichever pair of spirits were controlling two of his best friends only wanted to change their appearance slightly.

這似乎不太可能是某種附身，除非控制他兩個好朋友的那對鬼魂只是想稍微改變一下他們的外表。

There was still always a chance of demons, but he hoped desperately that that wasn't the case.

惡魔還是有可能出現的，但他迫切希望情況並非如此。

The day ended on a pretty average note.

這一天就這樣平平淡淡地結束了。

He hugged the girls goodbye, though it was mostly to make sure they weren't somehow swimming robots.

他和女孩們擁抱道別，雖然主要是為了確保她們不會莫名其妙地變成游泳機器人。

Then, he and Casper drove to Ben's house, where they prepared some snacks and got the pictures ready to compare.

然後，他和卡斯帕開車去了本的家，在那裡他們準備了一些點心，並把照片準備好進行對比。

As Ben spread out the pictures on his bed, Casper came in with a bowl of popcorn.

當本把照片鋪在床上時，卡斯伯端著一碗爆米花走了進來。

Then, his friend paused and nearly spilled the popcorn all over the carpet.

然後，他的朋友停頓了一下，差點把爆米花灑在地毯上。

What?

什麼？

Casper motioned towards the mirror in the corner of his room.

卡斯帕指了指房間角落裡的鏡子。

Ben nervously approached, before seeing something that made his stomach drop.

本緊張地走近，然後看到了一個讓他胃裡發酸的東西。

His eyes had changed colour.

他的眼睛變了顏色。