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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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