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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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