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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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