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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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