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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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