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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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