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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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