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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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