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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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