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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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