A.N. I do not own SpongeBob.
It was nighttime and everything was silent in Squidward's household. In bed, Squidward was sound asleep, but he woke up. He checked his clock to see the time. "12:14," Squidward said. "What a time to be alive."
Squidward got out of bed and opened his bedroom door. A stairway would lead down to his kitchen where he now stood. He opened his refrigerator door and took out a carton of milk. He got a cup out of his cupboard and poured milk into it. Then, Squidward noticed something peculiar: a dark mass hovering at the kitchen door leading into the living room.
He disregarded the dark mass as a piece of the dark the night brings, but he quickly changed his mind when it moved. Squidward dropped his glass of milk at this sight, shattering the glass and spilling milk on the kitchen floor. He let out a small yelp, backing toward the wall. The dark mass followed.
Bargaining, Squidward talked to the mass. "Please… please… what do you want from me? Do you want my…" Squidward listed various things in his house that he could give away to the mass. This all ended when the dark mass held up a hand, making a squeezing motion with its hand.
Squidward immediately held his hands to his heart. It was starting to slow and stop… slow and stop… repeatedly while he clutched his chest. It was like he was dying, but the mass seemed to be toying with his health. Dropping to the floor, Squidward tried to breathe for air. Suddenly, in a coarse, raspy voice, the dark mass began to speak.
"Now that I've calmed you…" it said,"I want to explain why I'm here. You see, you are a person yearning for freedom from the life they have been given. I know about your neighbors, the boss, and the under-appreciation. I want to hear what you want, but if that's too hard for you, then you'll end up like…"
The dark mass stopped, then said,"Well, it doesn't matter. Now that I'm here, will you accept my offer?"
Squidward didn't listen to his speech and stirred when he noticed his heart was fine again. He went through the doorway leading into the hallway with rooms and attempted to run down it. Then, a cold hand grasped onto his leg. Squidward fell to the floor and turned back. The dark figure loomed over him.
"Looks like we're going to have to have a private conversation," said the dark mass before pulling Squidward into one of the dark rooms in the hallway. Squidward screamed while he was pulled in. The door slammed shut right behind the two.
From outside the door, the sound of Squidward struggling was heard along with the sound of the mass's voice.
"Ironic. You were so angry about people not giving you attention, but when I arrived to give full attention to you, you wanted to leave. You only crave attention when it's people you have no feelings for, but you avoid me because of the feeling of fear. I think it's time you got the attention you deserved, Squidward."
Squidward screamed, but was silenced in a matter of seconds. The door remained closed for the rest of the night. The dark mass wasn't in there anymore, as it had more matters to attend to. The sun rose the next morning, shining through the windows of Squidward's house. The light cast over things left behind by the wretched attention-seeker. It was peaceful, as there was nobody to screech over a clarinet. It was finally a peaceful, happy house. Misery only hid in the darkness now.