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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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