A/N: Special thanks to Ravenshell for being an awesome beta!

Chapter 48

"You must keep him still!"

"We're trying!"

My attention is split between my two youngest sons. One has foolishly gone into the spirit realm and grows slack in my arms; the other writhing in turmoil as his soul is literally being ripped apart. I can only hope in Michelangelo's fool-hardiness that he was able to reach April before she completely destroys Donatello. I fear the aftereffects will destroy her as well. "Michelangelo. You must wake up." I have been trying to rouse him for fifteen minutes now. I only hope he has not stayed too long and cannot find his way back.

My head jerks to the couch as Donatello grunts in agony. He is wet with perspiration as his brothers do their best to keep him still. This is no easy task as Donatello's body is larger than their own. The bulk of his mutated arm is proving to be difficult to hold down, but there is also much strength behind his more gangly limbs. A hungry gasp from my lap brings my attention back to my youngest son, his wet blue eyes the size of saucers as he tries to untangle himself from my hold.

"Be still, Michelangelo. You are all right." It takes a moment for him to regain his bearings but when he does, he holds me tight.

"April's still in there."

"Did you tell her? Does she know?" I ask in urgency, when his attention turns from me to his struggling brother on the couch.

"She knows now, but I don't know if she can fix him."

Before I can question Michelangelo for clarity. My ears twitch. I gaze across the pit to the arcade machine that has suddenly come to life, an animated logo blinking across the screen. The machine shakes, but my attention is quickly drawn to the practice dummy swaying more forcefully than it should. It is now floating along with the arcade machine, and several VHS tapes and the TV. The tire at the pool rips from its rope joining the other floating inanimate objects.

"Uh…Sensei? ...What's going on?" Leonardo asks with the same spooked expression his other two brothers have on their faces as the objects start drifting lazily in the open space. They begin to encircle us. Raphael and Leonardo are thrown back by an unseen force and its source becomes more than obvious when April and Donatello also levitate, their contact never breaking.

"April." As I say her name, her eyes open wide revealing opaque glowing orbs. I fear she is in over her head and losing herself within her powers that are still very new to her. Donatello's body succumbs to her hold as he shouts in pain unable to move.

"We gotta do something!" Raphael is quick to demand, but Michelangelo holds his shoulder.

"Wait." My youngest says nothing more, but I am almost certain his wisdom comes from something neither his brother or myself can see.

"I didn't know….I didn't know I was hurting you." My soul feels so heavy and dark after hearing the truth. I was so determined to save Donnie, I didn't realize I was killing him in the process.

"I know. It's okay." He gives me a weak smile, finally able to stand without trembling now that I'm no longer trying to shred his aura apart.

"There's nothing okay about this." I grunt under the strain of holding the dark mass in a compact form. It's so heavy and I'm tired. Is this how Donnie has felt for the past several months? Like a depressing dark weight was threatening to squash his very existence?

"You're right. It's not okay," he admits morosely.

"There has to be a way to destroy it, without hurting you." I feel his aura for any brilliant ideas, any rays of hope we've overlooked, but there is nothing. Only this disheartening reality.

"There isn't. Just promise me when you do it, you'll be quick. I can't… I can't take this." It takes a moment for me to realize what he's saying, what he is asking me to do. On my rampage of vengeance, I was killing Donnie, tormenting him with a promise of a slow and painful demise. He wants his death to be quick.

I shake my head, closing my eyes to refocus my wavering energy on containing the darkness. "I can't. If… if this is a part of you," I motion to the trembling glob above us, "then so be it. I'll take all of you—the good and the bad. We'll deal with the bad together, okay?"

"Okay," he agrees solemnly. My aura flickers from the weight of darkness pressing down, tilling away at my strength. "But you have to let it go." I look up at the murky mass above us as it pushes spiky limbs at every angle of my force field trying to break free of its bondage.

"I know." My voice cracks as I hesitate to let this evil, darker part of Donatello free. "I don't want to lose you, Donnie. You have to promise to come back to us." My eyes plead with him. There's so much of this darkness thriving and growing within his aura like a jungle of sticky vines waiting to entrap the weak-minded. I've only held this darkness with my powers for a few moments and I'm struggling not to lose my battle with the wriggling mass. What if it overpowers Donnie? What if he gets lost in here?

"I'll find my way back, no matter what hell I have to fight through I'll always find you, April."

In that moment, our auras overlap like a kaleidoscope of yellow and purple; it's a connection more intimate than any kiss he could give me. My guard slowly slips as black sludge rips from above like thick molasses. In an instant, Donnie's aura surges with energy that shoves me away as the muddy creature recollects itself. It sounds like several sinister voices whispering all at once but as they fuse together, the legion becomes one. Its red eyes glare hungrily at me.

I will destroy her mind here and make her body easy prey out there.

I am too tired to conjure another forcefield to protect myself and in that moment, I know I'm going to die, but the creature's attention turns from me back to Donatello. Several slithering limbs shoot from its massive, towering body, wrapping around Donnie's arms, legs, and torso. Donatello doesn't flinch. He stares it dead in the eyes, his fists held high in a fighting stance, refusing to back down from this creature. And in a blink, it lunges for him, swallowing Donnie's purple aura.

"No!" I scream as the blob begins to warp and shift upon itself. As it moves like molding clay, its form makes a nauseating wet squishy noise that sounds like vomit hitting a tile floor. Please Donnie, please be okay….

Suddenly the bulky blob freezes like it's struck by rigor mortis. What once moved like liquid evil was now stiffening like calcium on bones. I can hear the thing as it struggles and screeches in frustration. Its frame is shrinking, no longer towering over my small aura, and becoming familiar. Hope fills my heart until I think I'm going to burst. It takes the shape of Donatello but it's still black and it struggles to keep its mutant turtle form. Collapsing to its knees the darkness recedes to its center as it fades into my favorite tone of purple. I step back when it looks up at me.

"April…" It looks like Donnie, but his eyes. He has its eyes. Crimson red glowing eyes stare back at me. His voice isn't quite right. There's a malicious aftereffect as he says my name. His voice warms my soul and chills it at the same time. "I'm here…. I'm… I'm still here…." he grunts before his form is enveloped in darkness again. His form changes again to an arachnid and he screeches at me, "Leave! Leave now! I'll find you!"

His voice is no longer his as the beast fights for control. I don't want to leave, but I know I can't stay. I have to trust that Donnie will find his way back to us.

TBC

A/N: Woot! Another cliffhanger! Man, these are fun to write, lol. I hope you guys enjoyed this small Apriltello moment. If you liked this chapter, leave a comment/review. I love hearing from you guys. I'm so excited about the upcoming chapters, I just can't seem to get them out fast enough but I'll have the next chapter posted before you know it. ;)

Also a huge thank you to those who nominated 'Logic of the Soul' for:

Best portrayal of Mikey and Donnie

Best portrayal of a Villian

Best romance

Most interesting OC (Simone)

This story has been going strong since 2014 and to know that I still have faithful readers (and newcomers) blows my mind. I don't proclaim to be a great writer, but I do enjoy writing and telling stories that I hope encompass some of the values, morals, lessons that are important to me. Thanks for reading, guys. I'll see you next chapter!

Poetique