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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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