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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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