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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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