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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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