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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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