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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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