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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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