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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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