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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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