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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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