$$$$$$$$
$$$$ $$$$
$$ $$
$ $
$ $
$ THE GLASS FACTORY. $
$ $
$ $
$$ $$
$$$$ $$$$
$$$$$$$$
§@$*~:.... SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... AND A GIFT SHOP. ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. CONSIDERED POOR. ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. SOME ARE SHATTERED. .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. $$ ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... $$ $$ ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... ~~~~~~~ $ $ ~~~~~~~ ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... $$ $$ .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... $$ ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. LIT FROM BEHIND. ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... $$ ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... $$ $$ .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... ~~~~~~~ $ $ ~~~~~~~ ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... $$ $$ ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. $$ ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. 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. .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... $$ ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... $$ $$ ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... ~~~~~~~ $ $ ~~~~~~~ .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... $$ $$ ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... $$ ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. ..:~*$@§¶#
##¶§@$*~:. .:~*$@§¶##
#¶§@$*~:.. SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER ..:~*$@§¶#
¶§@$*~:... THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK ...:~*$@§¶
§@$*~:.... GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND ....:~*$@§
@$*~:..... I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE .....:~*$@
§@$*~:.... THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? ....:~*$@§
¶§@$*~:... ...:~*$@§¶
#¶§@$*~:.. I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. ..:~*$@§¶#
$$
$$ $$
$ $
$$ $$
$$