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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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