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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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