The pedaling didn't hurt Lina as much as the bouncing and rocking did. She felt nauseous and on the verge of passing out when they finally broke through a wall and stopped.

"Cover it up!" Doon exclaimed, reaching for a thin sheet that was laying crumpled in a corner. Lina wasn't sure where it came from, but helped him cover up his father's invention anyway. She felt her legs get a little wobbly so she sat down quickly.

Doon crouched in front of her and viciously opened the box. He noticed the little silver buttons that opened the small drawer below the instructions and pressed them. The tray shot out, revealing the clear glass square.

Seeing it reminded Lina of the darker, dirtier one she nabbed from the mayor. "Oh, that reminds me," she muttered, digging in her pocket and pulling it out. "The mayor had one just like it."

Doon took it from her hand and looked into her dirty face. "He gave this to you?" he questioned.

Lina forced herself to shrug without wincing. "Not exactly."

As Doon held the two squares together, Lina closed her eyes, succumbing to the pain. She heard them slide together as she lowered her body to the dirt ground. "The generator," Doon muttered thoughtfully. He looked up to see Lina lying on the ground. "Lina?" The boy dropped the glass and knelt close to his friend. "Lina?" He put his hand on the back of her head.

"Ow!" Lina shrieked in pain, unable to contain it anymore. She put her hand behind her head and glared at Doon. "Don't touch me there!"

"Wha-what happened?" Doon asked, concern bubbling in his voice.

"I just hit my head…" Lina started. Doon pulled her to her feet to examine her. She moaned when her back straightened.

"Turn around," Doon ordered.

"I'm fine," Lina attempted convince him.

"Turn!" Doon cried, wanting to discover what had happened to her. When she finally turned, he saw the edge of a dark blue bruise on her back where her shirt had slid up her torso. Doon's anger boiled over as he fought the temptation to see just how bad the bruise actually was. "What happened to you? You don't just get this by hitting your head!"

Lina turned back to face him. "It's nothing," she began.

"It's not nothing!" Doon yelled. "A bruise this color on your back is not nothing! What has happened?" He towered over her, his face bright red from rage.

Lina quivered. "I…I was at the Town Hall, telling Barton Snode about what we saw the mayor was doing." She swallowed before continuing. "He acted surprised at first, but he led me toward the mayor anyway. I didn't realize it until it was too late. I…I tried to get away…" Lina stopped talking, trying to choke out the words.

"Lina, what did they do to you?" Doon asked her, the anger not so eminent in his voice. Instead, concern filled his words. "Please, tell me."

Lina swallowed a sob. "Barton wouldn't let go of my arm! He swung me into the wall, where I hit my head on the bottom of a portrait frame, and then tossed me into the mayor's office." Lina was outright sobbing now. "I've been trying so hard to be brave and pretend it doesn't hurt, but I can't anymore!"

Doon felt pained for her. "Lina," he said softly, lifting his hand to stroke her cheek. "It's alright now."

Lina's lips quivered as she tried to cry silently. She sniffed and shook her head. "N-no it's n-not!" she stammered.

Doon leaned closer. "Yes it is," he murmured as he gently kissed her lips.

Cliffhanger! Well, sorta, I suppose :) Don't worry, more will come! This is only the start of what should have happened :D

Hearts! 3