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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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