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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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