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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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