Author's Note: Yes, I know what you all are thinking. "HOLY COW! SHE'S ALIVE!" The really crappy truth is that I have been having the worst writer's block in history. Not to mention school has been really terrible with the workload. I'm barely finding any time to write now! I hope you understand. Bye!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot and the sickness. You can't sue me.
venusgal100: Yah, I have been getting pretty dark lately. Thanks for reviewing!
Bladequeen2000: Yah, I know it was short, but this chapter makes up for it! Thanks for reviewing!
tootierulez: While I was writing chapter seven I kept asking myself, 'How can I expand on this?' I think the title is okay, although I think the story would have more of an effect if you kept it a surprise. Thanks for reviewing! P.S. I read the first chapter of Snowbound (sorry I didn't review) and it is SO FUNNY! I loved the spaghetti joke! LOL!
ComicCrystal: I was wondering if anyone was going to pick up those hints... Thanks for reviewing!
A. Nonymous: Yah, I think that that segment you mentioned was one of the better parts of that chapter. The reason I wrote Masquerade is because in the Phantom of the Opera it's called a Masquerade and the Phantom dresses up all in red. Corpse Bride is still in theatres, so I'll be able to see it. Anyway, thanks for reviewing!
WoRdLiFeCeNa4: You're saying it didn't suck out loud, but in your mind your saying, "Oh my gosh! This sucked out loud!" LOL! No, when I said I don't process it, I mean the thing like "Bye" or "ASAP". I still love your reviews! Down with homework! LOL! Thanks for reviewing! (Tee hee).
Sponge5: I've said it once and I'll say it again. I CAN'T DO REQUESTS IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORY! It would screw up the plot! Sorry, but Plankton is nowhere in this story! Thanks for reviewing!
C. Anon: LOL! Yes, I think that is everyone's worst nightmare! And it's only going to get worse! MWAHAHAHAHA! Sorry I'm a little hyper. Thanks for reviewing!
baby blue ice cream: Yes, I agree that exams are 'freakin'. LOL! Thanks for reviewing!
flaming-1251: YAYNESS! You're back! Although, I already knew that... Oh well! Yes, it was the same guy. I thought people had caught onto that ... oh well. Thanks for reviewing!
Chapter 8: A Sickening Encounter
Spongebob sat in Mindy's carriage. The two were going to find where the sickness resided. Mindy told Spongebob that she believed that the sickness had not possessed its victims entirely; it just infected them. It was still out there, waiting to strike.
Spongebob was worried. Was Mindy really expecting Spongebob to defeat it? Sure, he survived shell city, but this was something... completely different. Spongebob shifted nervously and started to twiddle his thumbs. If he was meant to be some sort of hero of legend thing, then why did he feel so scared?
Mindy was inside; handling her father. She told him that she was going to a friend's house for a few days. Normally, King Neptune would have refused; but lately a gloom was hanging around the castle. He thought that a change a view might do his daughter some good; so he agreed.
Spongebob watched as Mindy emerged from her castle, and crawled into the carriage. She took her sea-horses' reins and gave a quick 'yah'. The carriage began to move down the pavement.
Spongebob was suffering from a worried gloom as he and Mindy rode. The only thing that made Spongebob the slightest bit happy; was the fact that there was an absence of fog.
The carriage bounced up and down as they passed the streets. The first place they were heading was the west side of town. Mindy and her father traveled west for their vacation; so Mindy figured it would have made a home on the west side of town before it invaded the city.
Before long, the carriage stopped, and Spongebob found himself on the west side of town. Mindy exited the carriage, and Spongebob followed suit. Spongebob wore a trace of worry on his face, but Mindy wore an expression of disappointment.
"It's not here," she said glumly.
"It's... not?" asked Spongebob, timidly. He was slightly relieved to hear her saying that.
"No. I can't sense it. Not to mention that there would be a horrible fog..."
Spongebob looked around. Things did seem pretty quite... "Where should we go now?" asked the small sponge.
Mindy started to head for the carriage. "We'll move slowly across the town and eliminate the possible areas it could be resting in. Even if it takes all day, we're going to find it and fight it."
Spongebob snapped out of his daze of relief as he heard the last three words. He then started to become nervous again. "Umm, Mindy? Are you sure I'm this hero guy? I mean... ...I'm not the bravest sponge around."
"Of course, Spongebob!" Mindy replied as she crawled into the carriage. "Who else could it be? Everyone else is sick, and the hero is supposed to be invincible to the monster's powers."
"Still..." Spongebob said. He was doubtful of his qualifications.
Mindy and Spongebob continued to ride through Bikini Bottom. No one was out in the streets, and the sky was a pale grey. Even though there was no wind, Spongebob could feel a cold biting at his face. Slowly, Spongebob felt as if he was descending into an old black and white horror movie. Only this time, the plot was much scarier.
Mindy and Spongebob drove through Bikini Bottom. However, when they passed a certain street; something caught Spongebob's eye.
Spongebob saw Sandy's house.
"Mindy! Stop!" Mindy drove the carriage to a halt.
"What is it, Spongebob?" Mindy asked with a small bit of worry and excitement in her voice.
"It's Sandy's house! I need to make sure she's okay!" Spongebob jumped out of the carriage and made for the treedome. He was slightly shocked when he saw that it was covered in metal plating. (See episodes: Texas and Survival of the Idiots). However, he didn't care if Sandy's house looked cold and uninviting. In fact, it made him want to check on her even more.
Mindy strained to watch Spongebob head towards his friend's house. It was hard to make out his figure through the fog. Wait... fog?
"Spongebob, WAIT!"
Before Spongebob heard her, he entered the chamber leading into Sandy's house. There were water helmets hanging on the wall. Spongebob grabbed one and jammed it on his head. He then pushed the call button. There came no reply on the speaker. He pushed the button again but there was no reply. However, he wasn't going to let that stop him. He pushed the button meant to drain the water. Slowly, the water started to drain from the chamber. Spongebob was so anxious to check on his friend, he didn't wait for all of the water to drain. He opened the door and half of the contents of the chamber poured into Sandy's treedome. Spongebob then gasped at what he saw.
It looked like everything in Sandy's dome was... dead. Her tree was leafless, her picnic table was full of rotting wood, and even her exercise wheel was rusty. The grass was brown and prickly, and even through Spongebob was inside, there was a horrible fog inside the dome. How was it possible that all of this could happen, when Spongebob had cleaned out Sandy's treedome less than three days ago?
Spongebob cautiously walked among the gloom.
"Sandy?"
No reply came. Spongebob walked closer to the oak and knocked on the wooden door.
"Sandy? Are you okay?" Spongebob realised how stupid his question was. Without hesitation, he entered the tree.
"Sandy? Are you in here?" There was still no answer. Spongebob walked into the center of the room. There was fog there too. "Sandy!"
Then out of the corner of his eye, Spongebob saw something pass by. It might have been his shadow; or something else. Spongebob couldn't tell. He walked towards the spot he saw the flash. He was about to reach the place, when he heard the most revolting sound imaginable. Not even words could describe what he heard.
At first Spongebob got the impression of someone being violently ill, but then it sounded like they were calling for help. Then a horrible scream echoed throughout the halls of Sandy's house.
Spongebob ran towards the room where he heard the sound coming from. He entered it, and then gaped at what he saw.
Sandy was in the middle of the room, lying down. She looked unconscious. He fur wasn't the normal, rich brown it always was. It was a deep grey, as if the colour had drained from her body and only the neutral remained. Her flesh was a frozen white. It was impossible to tell if Sandy was alive or dead, but Sandy wasn't the only thing Spongebob saw.
In the center of the room was the sickness. It was unlike anything Spongebob could even imagine. At first, Spongebob got the impression of a giant leech, but it was much more treacherous. The thing had a long slender body like that of an eel, yet it was entirely pitch black. All around its mouth it had three rows of teeth. Each tooth was at least twice the size of a shark's. Its mouth was stained red from an unknown substance. Something told Spongebob it was blood. It had two pinpricks for eyes. They were filled with a black evil. The thing had no limbs; it seemed to float in mid-air as in swimming yet flying at the same time. There were spots of red all along the hideous black. It looked like more blood, yet it seemed to be a part of the sickness' flesh. If you could call it flesh... The thing looked solid, yet it moved like smoke. It was icy cold, yet it flickered like flame. Nothing could describe how horrible it was.
Time froze for minutes, and then Spongebob snapped back to his senses. He gave a petrified scream and ran as far away from the creature as possible. He exited the tree, entered the entrance chamber and threw off his water helmet. He then exited the dome altogether.
Mindy turned around in shock as Spongebob came bursting out of the dome.
"Mindy! The monster! Sandy is..." But before Spongebob could say another word, the sickness approached him from behind... and then it attacked.
A/N: Sorry for the sudden ending, but I thought it would make a great cliff-hanger! That ought to keep you guys petrified for a while! See ya soon! (Hopefully)!