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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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