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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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