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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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