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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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