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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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