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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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