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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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