$$$$$$$$
$$$$ $$$$
$$ $$
$ $
$ $
$ THE GLASS FACTORY. $
$ $
$ $
$$ $$
$$$$ $$$$
$$$$$$$$
,,,,,:~\$$ SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST $$\~:,,,,,
,,,,:~\$$@ 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 @$$\~:,,,,
,,,:~\$$@@ THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? @@$$\~:,,,
,,:~\$$@@# #@@$$\~:,,
,:~\$$@@## I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. ##@@$$\~:,
$$
$$ $$
$ $
$$ $$
$$