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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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