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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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