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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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