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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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