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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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