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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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