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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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