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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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