I decided to change rated to T. It doesn't mean there will be a lot of violence in this story, but I think Sophie and Frank's impending death will be very emotional and younger readers would not be able to understand it.

I have also recently set up my own Tumblr and Instagram account, where I will gradually publish drawings of some characters and scenes.

Thank you very much for the nice private messages and reviews. I'm so glad you enjoy my stories:)

5. Tears and Pain

Sophie and Frank, meanwhile, unpacking their suitcases.

*Phone rang.*

"All right, I'll do it," Sophie said, picking up the phone.

"Hello? Yes, this is Sophie Dollar speaking. Yes. I'm his sister." Sophie's eyes widened. "W... what?" she said softly. Sophie dropped the telephone handset on the floor. She didn't speak.

"Hello? Hello? Are you still there? I do not hear you." the man shouted from the phone, then hung up.

"Sophie? Did something happen?" Frank asked.

She looked at him. Her eyes were full of tears. Her voice trembled. "They called from the hospital. John... had an accident." she hugged him tightly and began to cry hard.

"My God! And what exactly happened? How is he? "Frank said.

"They... they don't know. That policeman said he was the victim of a large explosion. Frank, I have to go to the hospital!"

"I will go with you!"

"No, you're not. Someone has to stay here. Penny will be back any minute," Sophie protested and took her purse.

Frank knew she was right. "Okay. Take care of yourself."

"I will," she said, closing the door behind her.

I had piano lessons every Monday. I've never been good at it, but my mother wanted me to have a bit of a musical education. I usually went home alone. It was only a few blocks from our house.

"This weekend was amazing. Am I right Brain?" Penny asked her dog, who was carrying her school bag.

"Ruff!" he barked loudly and wagged his tail.

As they walked down the empty street, they heard the loud hooting. Lots of police cars and several ambulances drove by.

"Look! Uncle John seems to have a job."

Brain didn't like it, it looked like there was a big accident somewhere.

"Hi Dad. Don't you know what happened out there?" We saw a lot of ambulances outside.

Frank looked at his daughter with a very sad expression.

Penny didn't like it. "Is something wrong? Where is mom?!"

Frank didn't know how to tell her. "Penny... I have bad news for you. There was an explosion in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of town and your uncle... and your uncle was there at the time."

I had tears in my eyes. Dad's answer hit my heart like a sharp knife. It was one of the worst news I've ever heard in my life.

Chief Quimby, along with other police officers, was investigating the crime scene. All that was left of the whole building was dust. Burned debris lay everywhere.

"I'll fire him for this. He didn't carry out my order and worked on this case without my permission... I can't tolerate someone as incompetent as him in my department," Quimby shouted angrily.

"That is, if he survives," the young constable said.

"What do you mean?" Chief asked in surprise.

"His injuries are too serious. According to doctors, he has very little chance," the policeman said sadly, taking off his cap.

"Chief! I think you'll be interested in this," one of the incoming officers said, pointing to an old woman standing next to one of the police cars.

"This is Mrs. Taylor. She saw a man running away from the blast."

"Is it true?" Quimby asked.

"Yes. He was running towards the main road," Mrs. Taylor answered. "I didn't see his face. He was wearing dark clothes and limping. He looked hurt."

"More than one person appears to have survived." Chief Quimby said and started smoking his pipe.

"Hello, my name is Frank Dollar. My brother-in-law, John Brown, was brought to your hospital a moment ago... Okay. Nevertheless, thank you."

"So how is he?" Penny asked her father.

"They have no news." he said sadly.

"If I hadn't talked to him about the bank robbery ..."

"Penny, it's not your fault!" Frank disagreed. "John has always been used to taking risks. It's his job."

"But...I asked him why he wasn't working on the case." his little daughter said. She blamed herself.

"Shouldn't we go see Mom? Maybe he'll know more." he suggested.

"I guess you're right. If we sit here, we won't know anything."

"Come on. We'll go there," said her father, reaching into his key pocket.

"You have to stay here, Brain! Dogs are not allowed in the hospital."

Brain lowered his ears and whimpered. He didn't want to be home alone.

It was dark outside. Penny put on a pink coat and Frank started the car. They soon arrived at the city hospital. They went inside and asked at the front desk where they could find Jonathan Brown. The receptionist told them he was in the intensive care unit. Penny grabbed her father's hand and they walked along the long white corridors. She was terribly afraid. When they opened the door, they saw John lying on a hospital bed. Sophie sat next to him, clutching his hand. She cried.

"Sophie?" Frank said.

"Frank."

"Shh .. Everything will be fine. Don't cry," he tried to comfort her.

Penny went into the room and fixed her eyes on Uncle's pale, bruised face. His eyes were closed. She didn't see a smile on his white lips. The warm smile she had always loved was not there. Just a sad expression. Penny didn't even want to think about what her uncle had to go through and the pain he must have felt. He was very injured. His entire head and most of his body were wrapped in bandages. There were traces of blood almost everywhere. He must have bled a lot.

"Uncle John?" she said. "Uncle, can you hear me?"

"He... he can't hear you, Penny. He's in a coma." her mother said, pulling a clean handkerchief from her purse.

"How's he, Sophie?" Frank asked.

"Bad. Too bad. It was a great heat. The whole ceiling fell on him. He has broken legs and arms and a lot of burns. He lost a lot of blood."

"But he'll recover, won't he?"

Sophie was silent for a moment. "I... I hope so, Penny." Then she looked at her husband. "Frank, I need to talk to the doctor. Will you come with me?"

"Of course. You stay here, Penny! We'll be right back. Take care of your uncle."

Penny nodded. She knew her parents wanted to talk about something important. About something she shouldn't know. As soon as they left, she watched them through the keyhole in the door and listened to their conversation.

"So what's up, Sophie?" her husband asked impatiently.

"Frank, he ... he's dying. His heart is too weak. And even if he survived, he would remain paralyzed. Why? Why did he always want to be a policeman? Why did he go there alone? I always told him to be careful."

Frank tried to comfort her, but his wife was too upset. He hugged her tightly.

Penny heard it all. She covered her face with her hands and began to cry hard.

For the first time, I thought life was terribly unfair. I couldn't understand it. My uncle never did anything wrong to deserve this. On the contrary. It was a brave act from him. He saved the lives of his colleagues and now he was to die. It wasn't fair.

To be continued...