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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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