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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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