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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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