Chapter 5: Big Money, Big Problems.

The money was on his doorstep when he woke up. Spongebob tore open the bag and was almost salivating over the beautiful money that he had just received. After this he could pay off his debt to the Clam Casino, all thanks to-

Who?

Who was that at his door last night? Spongebob had never seen him before in his life. His mind was in a haze due to his day...but the voice sounded...familiar. He was a loan shark, that much was true, but what was his name?

Spongebob left this question for another time as he made his way down to the Clam Casino to give the money to the clerks.

"The Casino thanks you for your diligence." Was all that they said to him. Spongebob glances at his watch leaving the casino, checking the time. It was time for another day at work.

Spongebob considered staying at the casino; who needs work when you're rich? He had a good deal left over after repaying his debt, perhaps he could spend a short while tripling his income.

And with that Spongebob spent the evening at the clam once more, losing all of the extra shells allotted to him. His addiction truly sucked all that was good from him. Spongebob felt like his steps were a lot heavier as he exited the clam, over 2 hours late for work. Little did he know, those two hours would change things drastically.

Spongebob entered the Krusty Krab with a sunken face, feeling worthless after losing almost a thousand clams. Squidward looked at Spongebob with shock, "You're late, where were you?"

"Gary had a thing" spongebob swiped his hat from the coat rack. He had just noticed this place was deserted. "Where is everyone?"

Squidward shook where he stood, when suddenly the kitchen door swings open, revealing the one and only... Sheldon J. Plankton.

"Hello Mr. Square... I was just leaving." Plankton had changed plenty in the last few years, he now sported a trendy mustache.

Squidward looked towards Spongebob, clearly distressed. Spongebob knew, that this was his time to shine.

Back a few years ago, Plankton proved himself to be all the more entrepreneurial than Krabs. Spongebob was still just an average square, and Patrick still mingled with the living.

The Chum Bucket was finally done for. An employee suffered third degree burns during a grease fire that started when he was frying chum. He was across the room at the time, but the fire manifested itself and travelled across the room to time. Grease fires spread in water, and it eventually burned the entire goddamn place down. He lost Karen in the fire, and now she only exists in the cloud drive that he set up for her. He never really did reactivate her after that. A reflection of what happened to them there would be too much.

After pretty much faking her death and losing his restaurant, Plankton received a hefty lump sum in insurance. Opening a restaurant was something that destroyed him. Everyone in Bikini Bottom was destroyed in some way in the past ten years. This was just one example of it. Plankton left town for a while, gave up on looking for Mr. Krab's secret recipe and went to find himself. Blow, weed, you name it. Everything just lead to more questions, and less answers for them.

Nearly at the end of his insurance money, a man approached him. Asked if he'd like to invest it. He trusted the complete stranger and gave him every last penny he had. It was a gamble, really, and his life depended on it. With the money, they opened a strip club called the Shell String, the only thing covering the fish there being shells. It made him more money than he ever imagined, more than he would make managing a shoddy restaurant. He came back from the brink, and made it better than ever before.

Plankton sat down at the chair closest to the door. "A vodka tonic, on the rocks" His eyes gleamed with not confidence - but arrogance. "and a Krabby Patty," Spongebob gasped. "Hold the pickles." Plankton pulled out a large wad of money and flipped through it.

"You know we can't serve you Sheldon." Spongebob said through the cook's peephole. Squidward seemed dissatisfied with the third wheel, hoping to spend quality time with Spongebob.

"My money is good here. I have no intention of stealing Krab's recipe." He lifted his hands, a sign of humility "No tricks." They hadn't seen Plankton in years, they assumed he had crawled in some hole and died.

"Krab's isn't here right now, I'm not going to make any decisions till he gets back." Spongebob shut the flap of the cook's peephole.

"You better get out." Squidward motioned.

"That's very hateful of you, Tennisballs" Plankton took out a piece of gum. "Let Mr. Squarepants know he's acquired some very powerful enemies" He tipped his head forward, "The family sends their regards."

Plankton turned around swiftly, and made his way to the door of the Krusty Krab.

"What was that all about?" Squidward asked, blushing at Spongebob.

"I don't know." Spongebob pondered.

Nothing of particular importance happened for the rest of the day, until Mr. Krabs got back from the errands he was running. It was friday, and that was payday. The Clam Casino was waiting for him. Spongebob left the Krusty Krab with haste, needing his fix on gambling and alcohol. He was able to cash his check at the bank, called the Central African Republic Franc Bank and started walking down the road towards the Clam Casino. It was conveniently placed down the city funded asphalt lane from the bank, almost too conveniently.

Making his way down the black slim path, he heard a rustle in the bushes of seaweed behind him.

"Is someone there?" Asked Spongebob. He stopped and was scanning the landscape around him. There was no one there. He kept walking down the road, the casino was just in site. The dopamine in Spongebob's brain would finally be flowing again, for once in his miserable life.

There was a shuffle again. Spongebob whipped out his switchblade that he's been carrying with him since the incident with Sandy. He hasn't had to use it...yet.

A crash came down onto his head, with a shattering crack that echoes throughout the environment around them. All Spongebob saw after that was black.

He woke up with a headache worse than any hangover that he ever had. He had one arm shackled to the wall behind him, and the other arm as well. His legs were tied together at his feet, and he couldn't move. Spongebob's eye was throbbing, someone had beaten him while he was unconscious. Torches were placed on either side of the stone wall, it was almost dungeon like. There was a wooden door straight across from Spongebob. He felt uneasy, nervous even. Who came after him? Why would someone do this to him?

There was a squishy, wet noise from behind the door. Spongebob's heart raced. Someone was coming. The sound got louder and louder, and then stopped. The door creaked open, and Spongebob didn't see anyone opening the door until he looked down.

It was Gary.