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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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