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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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