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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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