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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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