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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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