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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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