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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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