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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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