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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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