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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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