Author's Note: I'm sorry that this chapter sucks out loud. No, really, it sucks. I had writer's block while I wrote it, the people are out of character, and it's short. I just needed to get it over with. School has been crazy! Ugh... Anyways, I hope you enjoy! (Not like that's going to happen...)

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the cruddy plot.

T: Thanks for the nice comment for Losing His Past. Thanks for reviewing!

A. Nonymous: It sucks you didn't have a great weekend, but I'm happy to hear you had a nice trip! That zoo sounds pretty cool! Awwwww, thanks so much for that lovely detail comment! No, I haven't read The Masquerade of the Red Death. It sounds really interesting, though! Corpse Bride is already playing in theatres in the states! Dang, it hasn't come out in Canada yet. I REALLY want to see it. I loved Nightmare Before Christmas, and Corpse Bride looks like it has a pretty good plot! Anyway, thanks for all of the nice comments! Thanks for reviewing!

venusgal100: Thanks for reviewing!

WoRdLiFeCeNa4: I'm glad you thought it was really descriptive. LOL! You are so funny! Evil laugh much? Even with all of the requirements, I wish you best of luck with that astronaut thing. I know what you mean when you say you "don't read it". That's like me and reviews. If people write ASAP, I don't really process it through my brain, but I still read it, you know? ("Screw the homework" LOL!) Reviews make me happy, so according to how many reviews you have given me, you have made me MEGA happy! Thank for reviewing!

Bladequeen2000: Thanks for reviewing!

tootierulez: I'm glad you liked my idea! I can hardly wait until you publish it. I might read Snowbound too if I have the time... Sorry about the errors in the review I sent. I was sending it around midnight, and I was really lazy... LOL! Anyway, I'm glad you like my story! Thanks for reviewing!

C. Anon: I'm glad you liked that chapter! Thanks for reviewing!

bettyboots: I'm glad you like it so much! Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter 7: An Unknown Hero

"You... what?" Spongebob couldn't believe what Mindy just said.

"I think the sickness... monster... whatever it is... is in Bikini Bottom."

"Mindy how can you think that? I mean... how... why would it come? How would it even know about out small city?"

"I think... I think it knew that I had witnessed the events. What it did to the island. Don't you see, Spongebob? The elder was right. It is smart. It knew I had seen its work and now it wants to..." Mindy broke off in mid-speech. The conclusion was too horrible to think of. The she looked sheepishly up at Spongebob. "You probably think I'm crazy telling you this..."

"No I don't!" protested Spongebob. However, Mindy's story did seem... unrealistic. "What makes you think it's in Bikini Bottom?"

"I've seen the same signs that I did at the island. I'm not sure if you noticed, but it seems like a lot of people have been catching a cold recently."

"Well... there wasn't much business at the Krusty Krab..."

"Are you sure that's all?" Mindy asked. Her voice was stony, yet serious. "All of your friends are in perfect health? No one seems ill? Or maybe even a headache?"

All of a sudden, the events of the past few days came back to Spongebob. Squidward said he had a headache. Sandy said she felt dizzy while they were doing her housekeeping. Patrick stumbled when they were jellyfishing...

"Are you sure this sickness is here?"

"Yes! Don't you see, Spongebob? It's slowly taking over our town! We have to do something to stop it!"

Finally, Spongebob was convinced. Believable or not; Mindy's story made sense. They had to start thinking.

"Can't your father do something?"

Mindy turned to face the small fire burning in the fireplace. "Father... has a cold..."

"What? You mean he's infected too? Well, why isn't he doing something?"

"I haven't told him about the sickness."

Spongebob gave a yell that might have given away Mindy's secret room. "WHAT! THE KING OF THE SEA DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS!"

"Spongebob, calm down. Look at things from my point of view! I would get in serious trouble if father knew. And not only that, but if people knew about this thing, it would only get worse! People would panic, and the disease would only spread faster! Don't you see, Spongebob? It's for the best!"

But... but... but..." Spongebob was left speechless. It was only Mindy and him who knew about the terrible plague? "What do you think we should do? I mean, according to your story, only a hero of some sort can fight the... thing."

"Well... that's why I told you... I think... I think you're that hero..."

This time it was a yell of shock instead of rage that escaped Spongebob's lips. "YOU THINK I'M SOME SORT OF HERO!"

"Spongebob, PLEASE! Won't you just listen to reason? You've been around almost everyone who has caught the sickness, and you're still in perfect health!"

"That may be true but..." Then a thought hit Spongebob. "How did you know I was with Sandy, Patrick and Squidward? And how do you know they're sick?"

Mindy looked sheepishly down at the floor. "Well when I thought about you being the hero... I sort of... spied on you..."

"You WHAT?"

"Well it doesn't make any difference now does it? You and I both know it's out there and we need to do something about it! Please, Spongebob, won't you help?"

Spongebob eyed Mindy suspiciously and then sighed. "Fine. I believe you. What should we do?"