When Eric heard her screaming he skidded to a stop and tried to not panic as he figured out where it was coming from. He knew that voice anywhere. It came again and he took off toward the sound.
"Ariel!"
She didn't hear a word. The only thing she knew was pain. Her body wracked with agony as she twisted and struggled on the sand. When he found her the Prince hit his knees, trying to figure out what was wrong. The transformation was a slow process. Picking up the bottle that was next to her he desperately tried to figure out what it was.
Afraid to touch her, all Eric could do was cry her name and watch helplessly. When her tail began to split apart he understood what was happening and pulled her head into his lap. He tried telling her it would be okay as she gripped his arms and howled in anguish. Her back arched and she jerked every which way. When it finally ended she went limp and Eric was terrified what she was gone. Shaking her shoulders he called to her, "Ariel!"
Finally she took a deep breath and jerked upright. Gasping she shook uncontrollably while the Prince held her close. She collapsed into his chest as he rocked back and forth, kissing her forehead.
"It worked." She said, out of breath.
Holding her away from him he looked at her face and growled, "Why would you do that? Did you know it would hurt that bad?" She looked away again, her silence confirming his question. He pulled her back over to him and locked his arms around her, "You can't do that to me."
"No other way," She gasped.
"What did you do?" He shook her with each word.
Her eyes fluttered dangerously for a moment before she answered. "Three days… only three…"
He looked at her in horror, "Three days for what?"
"Break the spell… Only you… Or…"
He clenched his jaw in anger, "Or what?" For a moment she didn't hear him. The change had taken a lot out of her. She didn't know it was possible to survive that much pain. He lifted her chin to look at him and asked again, "Hey, Hey! Stay with me! What happens after three days?"
She only managed to get out two words, but Eric felt a chill of fear down to his bones at the sound.
"Gone forever…" Then her world went black.