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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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