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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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