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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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