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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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