Will they get there in time?

Enjoy!

Chapter 14

A Race Against Time

The three friends stood together in the dining room, they were trying to think of a way to get SpongeBob back and keep the formula in the right hands. They were huddled together near the doors, discussing in low voices.

"We can't let Mr Krabs lose the formula." Squidward insisted, "SpongeBob wouldn't want us to hand it over."

"I know but that's the price! Who knows what they'll do to him if we refuse!" Sandy shook her head.

"We're doing the trade!" Patrick growled, "SpongeBob's in danger!"

"But if we do the Krusty Krab is in danger… I want SpongeBob back safe too but if we lose our jobs what else are we supposed to do?" Squidward frowned, "It's a tiny town, there aren't a lot of jobs going!"

"Yeah? Well, there isn't another SpongeBob anywhere!" Patrick snapped.

Mr Krabs walked out of his office, glass bottle in hand. He sighed sadly as he closed the door behind him, he glanced up and frowned as he saw his friends huddled together fighting in hushed tones. He strolled over, he heard their discussion and felt himself anger with disgust.

"That's enough!" He commanded furiously, the three jumped and looked at him. "This is not your decision to make, it is my restaurant and my fry cook. I am not letting Phineas and Plankton use the lad like this, if handing over my formula means the boy comes home safe then that's a trade I'm willing to make!"

Patrick nodded confidently in agreement, Sandy and Squidward bowed their head in shame. They were happy with Mr Krabs' decision, they wanted their friend home safe. Receiving the ransom note with the blood-stained tie had been jarring, they never thought their rival would stoop this low.

Mr Krabs lead the group out the restaurant, he locked the doors behind him.

"I never thought Plankton could do something so evil." He growled bitterly as they walked down the road. "How dare he threaten my family?"

"I always thought he was just a bit of a weirdo." Squidward agreed in disbelief, "But I don't think any of us knew he was capable of this!"

"He's gonna learn real quick what a huge mistake he's made!" Sandy growled as she marched along, Patrick agreed and knew he couldn't be held responsible for whatever happens to the men who hurt his best friend.

Meanwhile back at the docks, Phineas finally entered the warehouse after his delivery. The water had risen significantly and was now up to his waist, which meant it was chest level for their prisoner. As he walked in he noticed Plankton was waiting by the door for him, he glanced over to see the water lapping at SpongeBob's neck and the boy was eyeing it nervously.

"Done." Phineas nodded, watching as the boy looked at him pleadingly.

"Good, they'll be here soon." Plankton nodded in satisfaction, "We'd better get out of this death trap."

They began to walk away but SpongeBob's muffled yelling, struggling and splashing caught their attention. His eyes were begging them not to leave him, to not keep him tied up with no escape.

Plankton smirked, glancing over his shoulder at the boy.

"Tide's coming in... I do hope they hurry." He chuckled nastily.

SpongeBob tried to scream as he watched the two walk out the door and out of sight. He struggled desperately but his binds were too tight and strong, he whimpered as he realised he was truly running out of time. He gulped as the water lapped his neck, he raised his chin warily. He could smell salt, the tide was already mixing with the rain.

He whimpered fearfully, where were his friends?

Mr Krabs, Squidward, Sandy and Patrick arrived at the docks. Before them Phineas and Plankton stood blocking the staircase leading down to the six warehouses flooded by water. The group paled when they saw how high the water was and there was no sign of their missing friend.

"Hi." Plankton grinned viciously, "Didn't see this coming huh?"

"You're a monster." Eugene snarled, glaring at his enemy. "That boy better be unharmed."

"You didn't see the bloodstain on the tie?" Phineas frowned, Plankton rolled his eyes.

"Did you bring it?" Plankton asked, back to business.

Mr Krabs pulled the bottle out of his back pocket, he held it up for all to see. Plankton grinned, his eyes shining with delight.

"Give us the boy." Eugene demanded. "Then, you get the formula."

"No, that's not how this works!" Plankton cackled, "I hold the cards here, there's a life at stake! That water's rising quickly and your little fry cook is running out of air as we speak!"

Patrick stepped forward threateningly, only stopping when Sandy put her arm out.

"Hand over the formula and I'll tell you which warehouse he's in. Then you can go fetch him while we head back to the new and improved Chum Bucket." Plankton informed them, he held out his hand expectantly.

"That's not fair!" Patrick snapped, "Give SpongeBob back!"

"Tough kid, life's not fair!" Plankton growled back. "So, what are you going to do? Let him drown all alone?"

Eugene grit his teeth in disgust, Squidward, Sandy and Patrick all looked over to him.

"What happened to you Sheldon?" The old man shook his head, "We used to be friends, you were always an odd one but I never thought you were... dangerous! Why are you hurting the kid? What did he ever do to you? He's a good person and has nothing to do with this stupid rivalry! This is between you and me!"

"Tick tock." Plankton threatened, not fazed by the speech. "Today would be nice, at this rate you're gonna be collecting a corpse."

Mr Krabs sighed in defeat, there was no convincing him. He stepped forward to hand over the formula when suddenly the air was filled with a terrible screeching and groaning. All six looked over towards the warehouses just in time to see the first on the left crash down, collapsing with a splash as the whole roof hit the water. The strong current dragged some of the debris into the next warehouse, it swayed to the side dangerously with the heavy load pushing it.

Back in the warehouse, the water was now lapping SpongeBob's chin. He tensed when he heard the other warehouse collapse, his eyes widened when he saw the wave the roof created coming towards him. He tried to take a deep breath but the wave lifted the water over his head, he came out spluttering when it lowered.

He coughed wetly and began to pant, he didn't have long left.

Sandy screamed as the second warehouse collapsed from the debris of the first destroyed building, they were running out of time! The first warehouse on the right collapsed next, debris being washed away with the current.

The four friends watched in horror as the dock seemed to collapse before their eyes. What were they going to do?

He's running out of time! Maybe if you leave a review he'll survive?