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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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