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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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