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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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