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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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