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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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