(A/N: sorry this chapter's a bit short, I was going to merge this chapter and the next one, but that would make it a bit long. Anyway, enjoy!)
Eric jumped, as did Carlotta and Dr Sheffield.
"What on earth" Carlotta mused out loud. The scream was soon followed by another, and soon the sound of panic reached Eric's room.
"I'm going to go and see what's happening" said Carlotta, placing Eric back under the covers. She turned to leave, but was soon stopped when Eric gripped her hand. She turned slowly to face the young Prince, seeing almost immediately the fear in his eyes.
"Eric don't worry darling, I'm sure everything's all right" she said, trying to ease not only Eric's worry, but her own as well. Eric didn't look convinced. He'd only moments ago woken from a nightmare, in which he'd found himself alone. He had called out for Carlotta, and the Grimsby, and in the end even resorted to his parents. But no one came, and the darkness drew in, submerging him in a world of distortion and horror. No way, was he about to let Carlotta leave him. No way!
"Eric I won't be long" she said, pulling away slowly but firmly, until she had released herself from Eric's grip.
"Would you like me to stay with him until you return" asked Dr Sheffield?
"Oh, that would be brilliant, thank you so much" said Carlotta, her voice filled with relief as she hurried from the room before Eric could protest. But Eric mistook the action for one of dismissal. She had left him. No, she had wanted to leave him. Hadn't she? Eric didn't understand. Usually Carlotta would insist on staying with him at all times; but now… Eric started to cry. Carlotta was one of the few people who cared for him, if she turned away, he would have no one.
"Come now Eric, Carlotta will be back before you know it" said Dr Sheffield, placing a hand on Eric's shoulder. To his surprise, Eric shrugged him off. In all honesty, Eric surprised himself with the action. But he was hurt… confused. He knew the doctor was trying to help, but he didn't want help. He wanted to be alone. He wanted to hide. He wanted to hide himself from the world and everyone in it. With tears streaming down his face, Eric pushed aside the covers and practically fell onto the cold, stone floor… and he ran.
"Eric" called Dr Sheffield! He reached out to stop the young Prince, but he was too late. Although Eric was only young, and nowhere near as fast as his opponent, he had been confined to the palace all his life, he knew it inside out, and as soon as he was out the room he had the upper hand over anyone. Only two corners later, Dr Sheffield had lost sight of Eric and, quite truthfully, wasn't sure where he was at all.
Eric didn't know where he was going; all he knew was that he needed to be alone. He ran until his legs felt like lead, until his lungs begged him to stop until his heart was pounding so hard against his chest it hurt. With tears rolling down his cheeks, and choked sobs ripping from his throat, Eric stopped. He dropped to his knees and crawled into the corner, slotting himself between the broken stones. It had once been the laundry room, but since it moved, the door had been bricked over, and the space forgotten. Eric had discovered it when he was only two years old, and used it as a hiding place ever since. The stones in the wall had been stacked poorly, leaving a big enough gap for Eric to squeeze through.
He sat there, bring his knees to his chest and burying his tear stained face in his crossed arms. He hated the dark, he hated being alone, but that's exactly what he was… alone. And it hurt, knowing that nobody cared, knowing that he'd done something wrong, something to make everybody dislike him. He was alone. He'd always be alone.