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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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