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* THE GLASS FACTORY. *
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@@§%*†~,.. SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. AND A GIFT SHOP. ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. CONSIDERED POOR. ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... SOME ARE SHATTERED. ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. ** ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. ** ** .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. ~~~~~~~ * * ~~~~~~~ ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... ** ** ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. ** ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. LIT FROM BEHIND. ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. ** ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... ** ** ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. ~~~~~~~ * * ~~~~~~~ ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. ** ** .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. ** ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... FLOOR. ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... BECOME STILL. ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. ** .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. ** ** ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... ~~~~~~~ * * ~~~~~~~ ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. ** ** ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. ** .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND ..,~†*%§@@
@§%*†~,... I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE ...,~†*%§@
@@§%*†~,.. THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? ..,~†*%§@@
#@@§%*†~,. .,~†*%§@@#
@@§%*†~,.. I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. ..,~†*%§@@
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