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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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