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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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