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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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