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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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