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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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