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* TH3 GL4SS FACTORY. *
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#@@¤¤**«:¨ S3VER4L C3NTUR1ES 4FT3R 1T H4D L4ST ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ B3LONGED TO US, W3 W3NT ON 4N OUT1NG TO ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ TH3 GL4SS F4CTORY TH4T BOR3 OUR F4M1LY ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ N4M3. 1T H4D CH4NG3D OWN3RS M4NY T1M3S ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ S1NC3 OUR 4NC3STORS D34TH, 4ND TH3N ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ STOOD 4BANDON3D FOR 4 LONG WH1L3. ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ F1N4LLY, TH3 N4TURAL 3ND ST4T1ON FOR ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ TH3 BU1LDINGS TH4T SURV1V3: 4 MUS3UM, ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ 4ND 4 G1FT SHOP. ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ TH3RE'S 4 LONG T1M3 S1NC3 MY F4M1LY ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ M4D3 4NYTH1NG. BY M4NY, W3 WOULD B3 ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ CONS1D3RED POOR. ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ TH3RE 4R3 TWO M41N F4CTORY BU1LDINGS, ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ DOM3D TH1NGS OF S3VER4L FLOORS, M4D3 1N ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ Y3LLOW BR1CK. L4RG3 BUT N4RROW W1NDOWS, ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ R3M1NESCENT OF SOM3 C4TH3DRAL. ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ CUSTOM-M4D3 GL4SS, OF COURS3, L4RG3 4ND ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ L34D3D, 4ND 4SH3N. 4 B1T TOO D4RK TO B3 ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ PR4CT1CAL. ON TH3 34STERN BU1LDING, ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ SOM3 4R3 SH4TT3RED. ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ TH3 OTH3R ON3 1S PUBL1CLY OP3N. TH3RE'S ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ 4 MUS3UM, W1TH W4X F1GUR3S OF MY GR34T ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ GR34T GR34T GR4NDFATH3R, OR SOM3TH1NG. ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ V4R1OUS TOOLS (OR R3PL1C4S) L41D OUT ON ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ T4BL3S, W1TH 3XPL41NING T3XTS. 4 LOT OF ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ GL4SS OF V4RY1NG TH1CKN3SS. ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ ** ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ ** ** ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ ««««««« * * ««««««« ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ ** ** ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ ** ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ 1 QU1CKLY SN34K OUT, 4ND CL1MB 1NTO TH3 ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ OTH3R BU1LDING. TH3 CONTR4ST 1S ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ OV3RWHELM1NG. 1T MUST H4V3 STOOD ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ D3REL1CT FOR 4 LONG T1M3, W1NDOWS ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ BROK3N, M3T4LL1C TR4SH 4ND POOLS OF ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ D4RK GL4SS 4LL OV3R TH3 FLOOR. NO ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ 3LECTR1C L1GHTS, BUT 1 C4N S3E BY TH3 ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ L1GHT TH4T SH1N3S 1N WH3REVER TH3 D4RK ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ W1NDOWS 4R3 M1SSING 4 P4N3. ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ HOW3VER, TH3 GR34TEST D1FF3RENCE 1S TH3 ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ H1GH3R FLOORS: TH1S BU1LDING H4S NON3. ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ 1T 1S ON3 M4SS1V3 H4LL, STR3TCH1NG 4WAY ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ 1NFINIT3LY 4BOV3 M3. SOM3WHERE UP TH3RE ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ 1S SOM3 GR34T 1RON L4TT1C3WORK, FROM ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ WH3RE CH41NS 4R3 SUSP3NDED, 4ND P4RTS ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ OF M4CH1N3RY H4S B3EN F4LL1NG DOWN. ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ TH3RE 1S, 1N TH3 M1DDL3 OF TH3 GR34T ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ H4LL, 4 TH1N SP1R4L ST41RCAS3 TH4T ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ L34DS UP TH3RE. 1 SN34K OV3R TH3RE, 4ND ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ T4K3 4 F3W R3LUCT4NT ST3PS. 4FT3R JUST ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ 4 R3VOLUT1ON, 1 NOT1C3 TH4T FOR 34CH ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ ST3P TH3 BU1LDING ST4RTS TO GLOW, TH3 ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ BR1CKS TURN1NG 4 D4RK R3D, 4ND TH3N ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ OR4NG3, 4LL TH3 P1L3D UP D3BREE B31NG ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ L1T FROM B3H1ND. ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ 1 STOP R34DY TO RUN DOWN 4ND OUT, BUT ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ TH3RE'S SOM3ONE 3LSE ON TH3 ST41RCAS3 ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ W1TH M3 NOW, PR3SSED CLOS3. H3'S ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ LOOK1NG L1K3 M3, SHORT H41R 4ND TH1N ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ 4RMS, BUT W1TH 34RS FROM SOM3 4N1MAL, ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ 4ND MOR3 D1STURBINGLY, COMPL3TELY M4D3 ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ OF D4RK L1QUID GL4SS. ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ ** ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ ** ** ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ ««««««« * * ««««««« ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ ** ** ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ ** ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ MY F34R HOLDS M3 1N PL4C3 WH1L3 H3 ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ ST4RTS OP3R4T1NG L3VERS 4ND D14LS S3T ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ 1N TH3 C3NTER OF TH3 ST41RCAS3. SLOWLY, ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ 1T ST4RTS SP1NNING, C1RCLING UPW4RDS. ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ 1T'S 4N 3LEV4TOR! 1 ST4RT TO RUN ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ DOWNW4RDS, BUT NOW TH3 L1QUID BOY ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ CR34TURE GR4BS HOLD OF M3. 1 TRY TO ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ SH4K3 H1M OFF, BUT H3'S TOO STRONG, 4ND ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ PULLS M3 B4CK UP B3S1DE H1M. ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ TH1S T1M3, 1 TURN 4NGRY 1NST34D. WH4T ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ TH3 H3LL? WHO 1S TH1S GUY, 4CT1NG L1K3 ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ TH1S? 1 R34CH OUT MY FR3E 4RM 4ND SL4M ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ 4 R4NDOM L3VER. SOM3 M3T4L B4R 1S ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ SUDD3NLY R3LE4SED B3TWEEN US, H1TTING ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ H1M ON TH3 4RM, FORC1NG MY R3LE4SE. 1 ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ SHOV3 H1M OFF OF M3, 4ND H3 F4LLS 1NTO ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ TH3 L3VERS, M3SS1NG TH3M UP. ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ 1MM3DI4TELY, 4 TH1N RUSTY CH41NMAIL ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ CURT41N 1S DROPP3D 4ROUND M3. BUT TH3 ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ 3LEV4TOR 4LSO SP3EDS UP S1GNIFIC4NTLY. ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ TH3 W4LLS 4R3 FL4R1NG NOW, Y3LLOW, ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ WH1T3, 4LMOST BLU3. 1 CLOS3 MY 3YES 4ND ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ CURL 1NTO 4 B4LL. BUT TH3N, TH3 GL4SS ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ BOY SCR34MS, 4 P13RCING SOUND TH4T ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ FORC3S MY 3YES B4CK OP3N. 1 W4TCH 4S H3 ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ B3COMES TOO L1QUID, H1S BODY POOL1NG ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ DOWN 1N H1S NOW M4SS1V3 T41L, 4ND TH3 ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ T1P OF 1T SUDD3NLY BR34KS OF 1N 4 GL4SS ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ DROP TH4T F4LLS TOW4RD TH3 F4CTORY ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ FLOOR. ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ H3'S CR4WL1NG ON TH3 ST41RS, UN4BL3 TO ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ K3EP H1S BODY UPR1GHT. C4N'T R34CH TH3 ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ L3VERS, CL4WS 4T MY CH41NMAIL C4G3, ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ WH1L3 H1S BODY 1S TURN1NG 1NTO D4RK ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ P34RLS. F1N4LLY, H3'S LOST TOO MUCH OF ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ H1MS3LF 4ND TH3 SCR34M 1S CUT SHORT. ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ TH3 L4ST OF H1M R41NS DOWN. ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ 1 ST1LL C4N'T R34CH TH3 L3VERS FROM ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ W1THIN MY C4G3. LOOK1NG UP, 1 TRY TO ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ M4K3 OUT TH3 C31LING, BUT 1T'S 4LL 4 ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ WH1RLING S34 OF COLOURS. B3LOW M3 GLOWS ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ TH3 H3LLF1RE OF TH3 F4CTORY W4LLS, BUT ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ V3RY F41NT. 1 S1T DOWN, CURL B4CK UP, ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ B3COME ST1LL. ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ ** ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ ** ** ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ ««««««« * * ««««««« ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ ** ** ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ ** ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ 4 L4RG3 CLUNK SH4K3S MY 3NT1RE BODY, ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ 4ND SN4PS M3 B4CK 1NTO R34L1TY. 1'M ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ B4CK 4T TH3 F4CTORY FLOOR, BUT TH3 ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ ST41RS 4R3 ST1LL MOV1NG SL1GHTLY, ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ CL1CKING 1N PL4C3, C4RRY1NG M3 TH3 L4ST ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ F3W C3NT1METERS. 1 C4M3 FROM B3LOW, ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ SOM3HOW. TH3 CH41NMAIL 1S R3TR4CTED, ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
#@@¤¤**«:¨ 4ND 1 SLOWLY D1SMOUNT TH3 ST41RS. ¨:«**¤¤@@#
@@¤¤**«:¨¨ ¨¨:«**¤¤@@
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ SH4K1NG 4ND CRY1NG, 1 M4K3 MY W4Y OV3R ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ TH3 F4CTORY FLOOR, W4D1NG THROUGH D4RK ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ GL4SS M4RBL3S. 4 QU1CK GL4NC3 DOWN, 4ND ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
**«:¨¨¨¨¨¨ 1 S3E TH3RE'S SOM3TH1NG F41NT 1NSID3 ¨¨¨¨¨¨:«**
¤**«:¨¨¨¨¨ TH3M. 3MBRYOS? 4R3 TH3SE 3GGS? ¨¨¨¨¨:«**¤
¤¤**«:¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨:«**¤¤
@¤¤**«:¨¨¨ 1 SHUDD3R, 4ND CL1MB B4CK OUT. ¨¨¨:«**¤¤@
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