The cramped interior was littered in potted chrysanthemums, glass paraphernalia, and tie-dyed shirts emblazoned by cotton-candy-colored peace signs. An impenetrable haze permeated the tent, slightly blurring Squidward's and Mr. Krab's vision. Krabs leaned toward Squidward speaking in a hushed tone

"Well, this sure takes me back to me younger days."

The palmist, sitting atop a cushioned purple pillow made of silk, made no effort to confirm that he had noticed the two enter. He sat there in utter silence, his wrists rested on his knees arranged in a criss-crossed pattern. His head slightly tilted up as if desperately seeking enlightenment from an omniscient being summoned by the ingestion of illicit substances.

"Ok, this was a mistake" Squidward said before turning heel

"2 weeks, Mr. Squidward" was all Krabs had to say

"Mr. Krabs" Squidward retorted in a hushed tone "What does any of this have to do with finding SpongBob?"

"Squidward... That there is a fortune teller. A fortune teller, Mr. Squidward. You could ask him where SpongeBob is, and I could ask him where the treasure is. Win win eh?"

Squidward wasn't sure if he actually believed in fortune tellers, if Krab's explanation of them was even accurate, or if there was something in the haze starting to get to his head, but he agreed with a nod and decided to take a seat on a cushion in front of the palmist.

"Hello?" Squidward asked warily. The palmist didn't even move a muscle.

"Helloooooo? Anybody home?" The palmist remained still.

"Maybe we should copy him, boyo" Krabs whispered from the side of his mouth before shortly arranging himself in the same pose.

"I am NOT going to sit like a simpleton. I just need to find SpongeBob. Can ya do that oh powerful one? Hello?! Are you even alive?"

"YOUR CLAW, KRABS" the palmist boomed, his eyes emitting lavender purple lights.

"DEAR NEPTUNE!" Squidward screamed as he jumped back bumping into a lacquered coffee table. Glass beads rolled onto his head and a vase depicting meditating fish smashed to pieces next to him.

"YOUR CLAW!" the palmist demanded impatiently "I WILL NOT ASK A THIRD"

Keeping his eyes closed—and with the composure of a stone wall—Krabs obeyed, slowly bringing his left claw up. The palmist felt the ridges of the crustacean's clammy pincer thoroughly, rubbing each ridge as if they bore dirt obscuring the connection between the two. Meanwhile, Squidward, frozen with fear, sat firmly into the ground like a potted chrysanthemum.

"YES. YES. A TREASURE IS HERE BUT IT IS NOT THE ONE YOU SEEK. THIS TREASURE IS FAR GREATER AND WILL FREE YOU FROM THE CHAINS THAT YOU ARE UNKNOWINGLY BOUND BY. IT IS... IN THIS PARK... YOU MUST SEARCH... SEARCH... SEARCH FOR THE CHEST THAT CONTAINS NO DOOR, LOCK, HINGE, OR HANDLE. THERE YOU WILL FIND A TREASURE BEYOND YOUR IMAGININGS! NOW LEAVE MY ABODE IMMEDIATELY AND BE ON YOUR JOURNEY!"

Not a second later, Krabs dissipated in a poof of smoke, nowhere to be seen.

"NEPTUNE WHY!" Squidward wailed "Why didn't I stay home and just play my clarinet" the words become more difficult to say as he buried himself in his hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

"YOU THERE!" the palmist yelled, their eyes unwaveringly locked into a stare. "COME FORWARD, BOTTOM FEEDER! COME AND FACE YOUR DESTINY!"

"Screw destiny!" Squidward retorted as he wiped the tears from his eyes, "I'm getting out of this hell hole!". He leaped for the entrance of the tent and made it in a single bound. He stopped for second, trying to think of something clever to say, but unable to find the words, he walked out without saying a syllable more.

"WELCOME BACK, CEPHALOPOD!"

Squidward opened his eyes. His brow dripped with sweat and his heartbeat was running a thousand miles an hour. He was sitting on a silk pillow again, this time his body paralyzed in a meditative pose.

"READY TO GIVE ME YOUR TENTACLE THIS TIME?"