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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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