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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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