READER'S HINT! It's been a while since I did one of these, so I thought I would let you readers know what was coming. After Sickness I will write I Scream For Ice Cream, then Perfect Pet, 2010 Sponge Odyssey (based on 2001 Space Odyssey), then Good and Bad, The Beginning (used to be New Neighbours) and then Hooded Sponge. Sad to say, Dreams wasn't going anywhere, so I had to cancel it. More details about the new story, (2010 Sponge Odyssey) will be giving closer to the publishing time. Also, more details about The Beginning. I changed to plot a bit... Thanks for reading!

Author's Note: My update speed will probably be a lot slower now that school is back. I'm getting lots of homework... Enjoy! WARNING! THIS CHAPTER GETS VERY DARK! THOSE WHO DON'T LIKE DARK STUFF BETTER TURN AWAY FROM THIS STORY NOW!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the man, the small village, and the thing. You can't sue me.

tootierulez: Thanks so much for pointing out that mistake. I almost never miss my mistakes. I guess I was just really tired when I revised it... Thanks for reviewing!

Bladequeen2000: When I look back on that chapter, I notice that you're right. It does sound like something that could be from little mermaid. Only this fairytale doesn't have a happy ending. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

A. Nonymous: Yes, I thought that mentioning that it was the very first time might add a small bit of humour. I didn't think that anyone would suspect Mindy, actually, I was going to use Mr. Krabs, but I was able to build a better plot with Mindy. That scarecrow idea sounds pretty funny! Thanks for reviewing!

WoRdLiFeCeNa4: You weren't spazzing... you were... um... were... wow you were spazzing. LOL! Kidding! Ummmm... A little obsessed are we? But then again you're right, continues talking is fun! It would really suck if that rumour came true... I can hardly wait! When I grow up, I want to become an electrical engineer or an architect. I love electricity and physics, so those seem like the best jobs for me. No, actually, I don't copy and paste it. I just write it over and over. Sort of like a special trademark... LOL! Thanks for blah blah blah... LOL!

venusgal100: It's not wrong! It's just expanding certain rules... LOL! I don't mean for her to be up to trouble. I mean for her to be on the mischievous side. Besides, if she didn't go to the island you wouldn't be reading this story, now would you? LOL! Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter 5: A Story of Sickness

"Four days after I saw the man... something terrible happened."

Flashback

Mindy was happier then ever before. She had been swimming to the island every day to visit the man, and nothing was stopping her from doing it the rest of her vacation. At least for now...

To keep her father from being suspicious, Mindy made the excuse that she was playing with her sea-horses in the field. The way Mindy looked at it, everyone was happy that way.

Mindy was swimming with her seahorses to the field. It didn't take long until she got to her destination. She left them to amuse themselves, as she swam towards the surface.

Her head reached the crisp, sea air. Mindy looked around for the island, and soon spotted it. She was slightly sad to see that the man was not by the beach today, but she guessed that he would make an appearance. Quite a few people were resting by the sea shore, so it was only a matter of time before he appeared.

Mindy silently waited in her hiding place, making sure that no one on the beach spotted her. Nothing much was happening, only that it appeared that one of the citizens was catching a cold. Mindy was quickly becoming bored. She wished the man would show.

Seconds turned to minutes, minutes turned to hours, yet still the man did not show. Probably the most amazing thing she saw while observing the humans was when three children did a synchronized sneeze.

Mindy gave a depressed sigh and turned away from the island. Nothing at all was happening. What had happened to that special spark in her soul that lit when she saw the large piece of land?

Maybe today was just a slow day. There was a faint mist over the water... The villagers probably felt sulky. Mindy started to swim back to the underwater field, pledging that she would return to the island tomorrow in higher spirits.

However, the next day, Mindy's heart sank as she saw the island. The sky was grey, and the faint fog Mindy had witnessed yesterday had grown thicker. As Mindy stole a glance at the island, the depression that rested in her stomach grew larger. The man was not on the beach. The only people Mindy could see through the fog was the village leader, two adults and a single child. What was happening to the brief tropical paradise that Mindy had known and loved?

However, Mindy was desperate to keep in high spirits. With the fog so thick, she could inch closer to the island... That was something good. Mindy started to swim nearer to the island. She could now see the faces of the citizens of the island. At first Mindy thought that this would be a good point, but it turned into something horrible.

The two women standing on the beach were wearing looks of concern. Their once beautiful faces were being demolished by wrinkles of worry. Even the child in its innocent youth was no as playful as it usually was. Mindy started to worry. She turned to the elder's face for the warm reassurance that she could often see when there was a big crowd at the beach, but her heart sank as she saw that his face was the worst of all. He wore a look of worry unlike any other. His blind left eye made him look like a grotesque stone gargoyle, waiting to be eroded by the sea.

Mindy realised that this was no ordinary depression. Something had happened... Did a member of the tribe die?

Mindy's heart rose as she saw a familiar shape come out of the trees. However, she was shot down again once more, as she observed that the man's face was no different than the women's.

The man approached the village leader. Mindy listed as he whispered something to the elder. She was crest fallen as she realised it was in a different tongue than which she spoke.

Her sprits rose as she remembered something. When she was very young, her grandmother taught her the power of tongues! Mindy gave a feeble laugh as she remembered fighting against her grandmother and saying that learning tongues was a waste of time.

Mindy snapped out of her happy daydream and turned back towards the humans. The man had stopped whispering to the leader and the pair started to walk towards the other side of the beach. Mindy followed, cautious to stay just out of sight.

The two men stopped behind a stone wall. The boulder kept them hidden from the other villagers. Mindy had no idea what they were going to talk about, but she could sense it was going to be very important.

Mindy unleashed her understanding of tongues, and started to listen to one of the most important conversations she had ever heard...

"Master, the townspeople are acting strange... Why is this so? I've heard rumours in the village that there is something you are keeping from us..." The man obviously didn't know what was happening. Mindy smiled. She was going to get all of the details.

The elder looked out at the sea and sighed. "I fear a sickness is upon us."

"...Is that all? Just a sickness? Well, we have dealt with sickness before. I'm sure our healers will be able..."

"Our healers cannot prevent it."

The man fell silent. The elder was acting strange... "Master?"

The old man gave another depressed sigh. "It is time you learned what is happening. If I pass away, you will be the one ruling this village. I want to make sure I'm leaving it in good hands."

Mindy gave a slight gasp. The man she had fallen for was the heir to the village?

"Master, you are acting strange. Please, won't you explain to me what the matter is?"

"The thing that is stalking our city cannot be explained. Nor can it be understood. It is simply here because it was meant to be here."

"The thing? I thought you said it was a sickness... and...meant to be here? You mean it just appeared?"

"Long ago, an ancient prophecy was made. It was said that an evil stronger than man would stalk the land. It would eat it's victims from the inside, and leave their bodies to die of a terrible plague."

"Are... master... surely you must be exaggerating... You can't... is it really?"

The man was left babbling with fear and confusion.

"The monster that was prophesised has risen. I don't know why. I'm sure no one knows why. However, what I do know is that it is here. There is no doubt."

"What is it that you are exactly telling me?"

"My son don't you use your sense! We are going to die!"

A silence more quiet than death followed the elder's words. The fog covered the stunned look on Mindy's face. The man wore an exact replica.

"Is there any way to stop this... thing?"

"None that I know of. However, there was another prophecy that foretold of a being that could vanquish the beast. However, no such hero has risen. I fear that this will be one of our final days."

"Was there any information on this... hero?"

"Not much. Only that they would be invincible to the creature's powers. The monster would not be able to possess them. No such person exists."

"Surely there must be another way to defeat the monster..."

"I highly doubt it. Our village has reached its darkest hour."

"How will we be able to tell when the beast is present?"

"The villagers first catch an illness. Then it gets worse..."

"Worse?"

The elder grew silent. He did not reply to the inquiring youth.

"Father, what do you mean it will get worse?"

Still there was silence. "We have to take precautions. Look for anyone on the island who appears ill. Bring them to the other side. Let them start their own colony. I don't want it to spread."

"It has... already begun?"

"Yes, my son. I can already feel the presence of the monster."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes, the hour of darkness is now."