$$$$$$$$
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$ THE GLASS FACTORY. $
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,,,,,-:$$§ 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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