Meanwhile, in an old mine shaft, Lincoln sat in his cage. It was cold, damp, and miserable. But Lincoln didn't care. He other things on his mind.
"I hope everyone is safe." He thought. Now that Lincoln knew Diane's plan, he decided to not hand over the clue for one reason. To buy everyone in Michigan to leave the state before Diane would start looking for the clue herself and kill him in the process. Lincoln was going to sacrifice himself to save everyone.
Lincoln was thinking about Abby, Dot, and his family and friends when Diane walked in holding the Aqua Gem.
Lincoln's cage sat in a blocked shaft hidden by a big tarp hanging from the roof support.
"Ok freak, let's try this again. WHAT'S THE CLUE TO THE TREASURE?!!" Diane shouted. Lincoln looked at Diane in frustration. "In case you weren't listening the first twenty times I've said this, I'll say it again: I'M NOT TELLING YOU!!" Screamed Lincoln. "What do you need me for?! Is it really that difficult to figure something out on your own?? And that was a rhetorical question by the way."
Diane picked up a small rock and threw it at Lincoln, who ducked.
"Why can't you just cooperate?! I don't have to do anything I don't want to!! You're going to give me that clue so I don't have to waste any of my brain power on solving a puzzle!! Just talk!!"
Lincoln gathered all the courage he had and stood up. Diane's torturing had made him sore, which hurt his arms as he got to his feet.
"You can't make me talk. I'm not just going to let you walk over all these people just because you can't accept the fact that you never found that gem first! That treasure belongs to Abby and You'll always be a greedy thief!!" Shouted Lincoln.
Diane hit the cage with her sword. "How dare you talk to your ruler that way!! Just remember: 24 hours!" And she stormed off.
Lincoln felt pleased that he stood up to Diane, but was still scared that he and everyone he knew was still in danger. But little did he know that help was right outside.
Stay tuned for chapter 28!