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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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