Eric sprinted up the stairs of the hospital. Christine desperately attempted to keep up with his long strides.
"Madam! I'm looking for a William Smith." Eric yelled to a nurse mopping the floor.
The woman looked up startled at his mask but quickly pulled herself together.
"He is in room 3."
"How is he?"
The woman didn't answer, she didn't need to.
Eric weaved quickly around the maze of people and supplies. Quietly he pushed open the door. "Monsieur?" He asked his voice low.
There was no answer just harsh wheezing. A lump formed in his throat when he saw his boss and friend.
His face was bloody burns his entire body wrapped in bandages.
The doctor approached him, "he is in bad shape, but he has been asking for you."
Eric shot a glance towards Mr. Smith who was asleep in the hospital bed. "What happened?" Eric asked his voice shaking.
"We don't know." The man sighed jotting down some notes.
Smith groaned moving ever so slightly. "Eric," he cried, his voice was pained and weak.
"I'm here Monsieur." Eric replied trying to hide the sorrow in his voice.
"Take," Smith gasped "take the opera house."
Eric but his lip looking up trying to pull himself together. "You will be fine, you can get back to work as soon as you feel better."
The man rolled his eyes towards Eric pained from even the slightest movement.
"Don't lie to me. I, I know it will be in good hands."
Eric closed his eyes his head overflowing with sorrow. He couldn't decipher why he was upset.
"You are just like a son Eric." The man panted.
Eric tried not to let the tears fall. "Thank you for all you have done, I don't know where I would be without you."
William cracked a smile weakly, closing his eyes. "Don't leave me." Eric cried grasping the old mans hand. The hand went limp his head falling to the side.
Eric covered his face with his hands, feeling a gentle hand on his shoulder rubbing it gently. "Eric, I'm sorry."
Quickly he jumped up, "I should go see the condition of the opera house." He mumbled giving a quick wipe to his eye. "You wanna go get Rosa?"
Eric strolled down the street kicking a rock as he walked towards the opera house. The Smiths add on home was in shambles and the west wall was damaged but nothing that couldn't be easily prepared.
Eric searched through the rubble knowing full well nothing could be saved. A chill of hopelessness ran down his spine.
"I'm sorry sir." A soft gentle voice sounded behind him. Eric turned his head peeking over his shoulder noticing Mary one of the younger ballerinas.
Eric chewed his lip kicking away some of the ashes.
"Sir, whats going to happen to the opera house?" Mary asked twirling her golden hair around her finger.
Eric sighed, "I'll take it on."
The girl squealed running up to him and hugging him. "Thank you, Oh I was so afraid that you would let it go."
Eric couldn't help but crack a smile despite the depressed state he was in.
Eric lay under the warm covers. Thankfully one of the employees who rented a room had moved out giving him and Christine a place to stay while the house was being rebuilt.
The bedroom door cracked sending a light in. "Is she asleep?" Eric groaned closing his eyes blinded by the sudden light.
Christine nodded. "Rosa wouldn't stop babbling." She said grabbing a nightgown. Eric smiled watching her change out of her dress.
"She sure can talk." he chuckled as Christine snuggled up beside him.
"How are you doing?" Christine asked suddenly becoming concerned.
Eric stayed quiet for a moment thinking of the fire and the burns that covered William. "I'll be fine." He mumbled pulling Christine closer.
Eric rose from his sleep the next morning, everything seemed to be in a haze his emotions were everywhere. There was Christine the love of his life tangled in the sheets next to him, and there was the hopelessness he felt that someone that he dearly loved was torn away from him.
Slowly he got up and reached for his cloths. Christine stirred in the bed giving a little moan.
"Its too early Angel." She mumbled her voice still hoarse from sleep. Eric smiled turning to her as she halfway attempted to sit up.
"Go back to sleep." Eric whispered giving her a gentle kiss.
A tap sounded on the door, Eric got up glancing back at her as Christine was back to sleep a smile on her lips and the sheets pulled up around her neck.
Mumbling a curse to the person disturbing him slowly he cracked the door popping his head out. No one.
"Dam ballerinas and their games." He hissed.
"Daddy!" An unsteady voice squealed pulling his pant leg.
Eric sighed, lifting up the child. "Bites please." She begged clutching her belly.
Eric laughed tickling the child, "Is the little miss hungry?" Eric asked plopping the child on his hip.
Rosa nodded her black hair flopping against her face. "Alright miss blue eyes lets see what is for breakfast." He asked straightening out the child's hair. He had everything he could ever dream of in this room.
The final chapter comes next!