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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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