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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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