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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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