The Logical Exception

{ Chapter 41 - Piece by Piece}

Virgil was down; Remus was down; Deceit could barely move; Roman was shaken; Patton was in shock; and Logan? Logan was on his knees, feeling an emptiness he couldn't describe. It was deeply set in his bones, an exhaustion he couldn't shake. It was a winter that wouldn't lend its way to spring. It was a cold chilling numbness that kept his knees stuck to the floor, even as he heard muffled voices shout and scream. His powers were gone and all of his pieces had fallen.

This was checkmate, they would win. Everything Logan had sacrificed, every plan that he had made, it was all for naught. When had the air become so thick? When had he not been able to control the torrent of emotions in his head? Everything was stuck in his throat, every scream, every emotion, every word. He clawed at his throat. That's what he deserved for what he was going to do. He wasn't a good person. He had always known that so why was it just now crashing down on him with the weight of every sin he had committed.

"Focus on my voice, Logan." His hands were slowly being pulled away from his throat.

"Focus on my voice. We are going to breathe in slowly, follow me." Instead of his own throat, Logan's fingers sunk into the hands that were now holding his. He could feel waves of calming energy clearing the fog of his mind but there was still an intense fear and pain that was sitting in his heart. At any moment his parents could come back.

"It's okay, focus on the here and now, look up at me." Logan slowly brought himself to look up at Patton who had one had on his shoulder. He hadn't even felt the weight. Patton's own eyes were misted with tears and Logan was acutely aware that they might be because of him.

"There you are, keep breathing, slow deep breaths." It took a few more minutes before Logan was able to breathe normally. Patton, the Bishop, never attacking straight ahead. He was safe and unharmed. Small miracles.

Logan began to push himself up, though the empty weight of his body still clung to every part of him.

"We need to get out of here." Logan's normally calm voice shook with the effort of speaking, his voice only faltering more as he put weight on his leg. He really did need to let it heal.

"On it Specs," Remus was already creating, despite how tired he also looked. He formed something that might have looked like a camel at one time but had a strange way about it that Logan couldn't describe as being anything camel-like. Really the only resemblance was the humps that separated out 'seats' for all of them. "Can you get me some stairs bro?"

Roman hesitated, reaching out his hand to create and a look of pure relief lit up his face as he was able to create a set of stairs. There were a lot of questions to have and a lot of things to be confused about but Logan was too tired to ask questions right now. Patton helped everyone onto the beast and they began to leave the house behind. Logan wanted nothing more than to burn down that building right now, but he was so worn out.

"ReRe, you okay?" Patton asked as he reached out for his boyfriend's hand. Logan didn't see the response but considering Patton didn't immediately start doting on Remus, Logan assumed that he was okay. Remus, the knight, who could travel in his own creative way across the board, was okay.

"Is everyone else okay?" Logan asked quietly.

"Deceit and I are okay."

The pawned turned rook and the other knight.

"I've been better," Virgil groaned a bit, sleep lacing his voice.

The Queen.

Everyone was okay. He had been the only piece taken out of the game.

"Good, good," Logan muttered before letting his body slump, exhaustion overcoming him completely.

He had been naive to think that it was checkmate, he was relieved it hadn't been. His parents didn't win, they had only escaped.

AN: This is short, and unedited, and I kind of don't like it, but you know what? I'm proud I was able to update today and stick to my schedule even if it is posted later than I would like. I'm still proud. Love you all.