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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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