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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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