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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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