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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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