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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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