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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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