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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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