Author's Note: WOW! You readers out there must really like this story! I'm getting tons of reviews. Once again, I'm going to give separate credit.
flaming-1251: I'm glad you think this story is suspenseful. That's what I was aiming for. Thanks for telling me who you think Stalker is. Sadly, I can't tell you if you're right, that would ruin the story! Thanks for reviewing!
Dianna: Thanks for telling me who you think Stalker is. Sadly, I cannot tell you who it is. That would ruin the story! You'll just have to wait and see! ;) Thanks for reviewing!
WoRdLiFeCeNa4: Thanks for liking the story. I'm not sure when I'm going to reveal who Stalker is. I do know how, though. ;) Thanks for reviewing!
TJhawke: Thanks for your…uh…comment? Lol, I'm joking. Thanks for reviewing.
A. Nonymous: I am SO sorry you couldn't review. I thought I was allowing anonymous reviews, but then I found out I wasn't! blush Thanks for telling me who you think Stalker is. I can't tell you if you're right or wrong, because that would ruin the story. I did some research on the vampire squid, and I am most defiantly going to include it in my story. I think it would make a great character. Umm…about the coffee thing with Sandy…that was sort of a mistake. Thanks for pointing it out, though. I'm going to be more aware of Sandy's capabilities later on. Thanks for the long review!
Estelle Rabon: Thanks for telling me who you think Stalker is. I cannot tell you if you're right or wrong, though. It would ruin the story! I don't really know how long this story is going to be. I sort of improvise throughout my writing. Thanks for reviewing!
smx underground: Thanks for the review. I'm glad you told me who you think Stalker is. Enjoy the story!
AMX: Thanks for telling me who you think Stalker is. Sadly, I can't tell you because it would ruin the story! Thanks for reviewing!
Chapter 4
Spongebob looked around the lobby. It wasn't much brighter than the outside. In fact, it looked darker. (If that was even possible.) Spongebob's eyes had become accustomed to the darkness by now, so it didn't take long for him to find a desk with another odd looking fish behind it.
"Hello, phhhpt," said Spongebob to the fish.
"Hello, phhhpt, may I help, phhhpt you?" asked the fish.
"I'm looking, phhhpt, for Rick. I'm scheduled, phhhpt, for a job interview with, phhhpt, him," replied Spongebob.
"Name, phhhpt, please."
"Spongebob Squarepants, phhhpt."
The fish looked at a clipboard he held in his hands. He then pointed down an extremely black hallway.
"Rick's office, phhhpt, is the last door down there, phhhpt. You can't, phhhpt, miss it.
"Thank, phhhpt, you," replied Spongebob. He trudged down the long, frightening hallway. It seemed never-ending.
He finally came to a walnut door. It looked like it was painted black. Then again, it might have been the darkness playing with Spongebob's eyes. Either way, Spongebob felt extremely nervous. Spongebob raised a quivering hand and cautiously tapped the door.
"Come in," sang a treacherous voice in a sing-song tune. The sound sent shivers racing up Spongebob's back. The voice was like none other he had ever heard. It was screechy like nails against a chalkboard, yet it sounded calm and relaxed. The voice was in a low tone, like the person was born for evil. Spongebob was shaking all over. His trembling arm reached for the door knob. (It too, looked black). Spongebob opened the door. It made a squeaking sound when he opened it. He stepped inside the room. It was incredibly dark. Spongebob's eyes needed to stop and adjust to the darkness of the room. Once he could see, he saw only a chair turned towards the opposite wall.
"Who is it?" asked Rick.
Spongebob was shaking all over. "It's, phhhpt, Spongebob Squarepants," he squeaked.
"Oh, please," said Rick. "Don't use that stupid accent. I can understand you just fine." Spongebob didn't reply. He wasn't sure of what to say. "Close the door please," said Rick. Spongebob closed the door noisily.
Rick turned around in his chair. Spongebob couldn't contain the small gasp of horror that escaped his lips. Rick looked unlike any sea creature Spongebob had ever seen.
Rick's body looked like one of a jellyfish, only stretched vertically, so the result was a long, slender gelatine body. Rick was black, with huge red eyes. The eyes of Rick seemed to dig into Spongebob's mind and feed on his deepest fears. There were spikes that had the appearance of giant teeth all over Rick's tentacles. Rick started to glow slightly so he could see Spongebob.
"Do you know why you're here?" questioned Rick in that awful voice of his. Spongebob was taken aback by Rick's terrifying appearance. He was shaking all over.
"Umm, for a job interview?" questioned the sponge.
"Correct. My good friend…" Rick paused. He was about to say a name. Spongebob was listing hard. Was Rick going to tell him the identity of Stalker? "My good friend Stalker sent you, did he not?"
Spongebob let go of his breath. He felt very discouraged that Rick had not breathed the true identity of Stalker. "Yes," replied Spongebob. "He did."
"Good," said Rick. He held out a glowing tentacle so he could see Spongebob in better light. Spongebob twinged as a sharp spike brushed against his cheek. "Well," said Rick. "I see no reason why I shouldn't give you the job."
"Umm, what exactly is the job?" inquired Spongebob. Rick gave him a terrible smile. Whatever the job was, Spongebob knew it wouldn't be good.
Sandy and Patrick were on the bus to Rock Bottom. Patrick looked scared, as if the bus was about to explode at any minute. Sandy was curious why Pat was so nervous, but it was eerily quiet on the bus. Sandy didn't want to break it, so she left Patrick to his nervousness.
It was twenty minutes later, and it was very dark. Sandy pulled one of her arms out from her space suit. On her wrist was a watch. She put it on when Patrick and she started looking for Spongebob. 11 o' clock. Sandy gave a big yawn. She looked at Patrick. He was snoring. She wasn't surprised. It was unusual for a starfish's system to stay up late. Sandy was about the fall asleep, but then it came. A horrible lurch. The sudden movement caused both Patrick and Sandy to become wide awake.
"Oh no," said Patrick. "Not this part."
"What…" Sandy couldn't finish, because al of a sudden, the bus fell straight down, plummeting towards the darkness of Rock Bottom. Patrick was thrown to the back of the bus, but Sandy (being Texas tough) held onto her seat. The bus did a ninety degree turn and then gave a sudden stop. Patrick was thrown to the front of the bus, but Sandy still clinged to her seat. Sandy got off the bus, followed by a very dazed and dizzy Patrick.
"So this is Rock Bottom?" Sandy asked Patrick. Patrick shook his head to regain consciousness, and then looked around. It was as scary as before.
"Yep," he replied. It was a short answer, but no more had to be said. The darkness and the eerie sensation spoke for itself. "Time to find Spongebob," said Patrick. Sandy agreed. The two friends wandered into the darkness, hoping to find their lost friend.
Stalker pounded the table with his fists. He was furious. He wasn't about to let Sandy or Patrick persuade Spongebob into returning to Bikini Bottom. Stalker made up his mind. Making Spongebob miserable wasn't good enough anymore. Stalker held up a picture of Sandy and Patrick he took earlier that day. They were boarding a bus for Rock Bottom. He took out a marker and drew on the picture. "Looks like it's time to kick butt," Stalker said, as he threw the picture onto the table. On the picture, there was a long slash right through the figure of Sandy.
