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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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