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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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