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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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