^^^^^^^^
^^^^ ^^^^
^^ ^^
^ ^
^ ^
^ THE GLASS FACTORY. ^
^ ^
^ ^
^^ ^^
^^^^ ^^^^
^^^^^^^^
,,:-^@§@@# 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. #@@§@^-:,,
^^
^^ ^^
^ ^
^^ ^^
^^