%%%%%%%%
%%%% %%%%
%% %%
% %
% %
% THE GLASS FACTORY. %
% %
% %
%% %%
%%%% %%%%
%%%%%%%%
,-~/%££@## 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. £%/~-,,,,,
%%
%% %%
% %
%% %%
%%