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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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