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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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