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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. @&£%†=,,,,
,,,,,=†%£& &£%†=,,,,,
,,,,,,=†%£ %% £%†=,,,,,,
,,,,,,,=†% %% %% %†=,,,,,,,
,,,,,,=†%£ ======= % % ======= £%†=,,,,,,
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,,,,=†%£&@ %% @&£%†=,,,,
,,,=†%£&@# #@&£%†=,,,
,,=†%£&@## 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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