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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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