Chapter 5: Into the Kelp Forest
The group stumbled through the undergrowth, exhausted and battered from their recent battle. The second ingredient sat securely in SpongeBob’s backpack, but their journey was far from over.
The path ahead grew darker as towering kelp stalks loomed overhead, blocking out what little light filtered through the ocean depths. The eerie rustling of the kelp swaying in the current sent chills through the group.
“Are you sure this is the right way?” Squidward snapped, glancing nervously at the shifting shadows around them.
“Positive,” Sandy replied, though her voice carried uncertainty. “But these kelp fields… they weren’t this thick before. Stay close, y’all.”
“Close?” Squidward muttered. “We’re already practically swimming in each other’s bubbles.”
“Better that than getting picked off by something lurking in this chum-forsaken forest,” Plankton growled from his mecha suit.
As they pressed deeper, the sounds of distant groaning and snapping branches put everyone on edge. Blood-stained kelp strands tangled with the stalks, and the occasional dismembered limb swayed ominously in the current.
“I think I’m gonna be sick…” SpongeBob whimpered, clutching his stomach.
“You’re not the only one, boy,” Mr. Krabs muttered, his claw twitching near his bandaged scratch.
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Setting Up Camp
After what felt like hours of aimless wandering, Sandy held up a hand. “We ain’t getting anywhere tonight. We’ll camp here and set out at first light.”
“You want us to sleep here?!” Squidward exclaimed. “In this slimy, zombie-infested jungle?”
“You got a better idea, Tentacles?” Sandy shot back.
Reluctantly, the group cleared a small area and sat in a tight circle. Sandy rigged up a makeshift alarm system with some string and empty shells to alert them to movement, while SpongeBob rummaged through his bag for what little food they had left.
As they ate in silence, the tension became unbearable.
“This whole thing is a barnacle-brained disaster,” Squidward grumbled. “We’re lost, we’re out of food, and we’re probably gonna end up as kelp monster chow!”
“Quit yer whining!” Mr. Krabs snapped. “We’re still alive, ain’t we?”
“Barely,” Squidward retorted. “And for what? This whole plan is doomed. We should’ve just hidden in Sandy’s dome and waited this out.”
“And done what?!” Sandy yelled, slamming her fist into the dirt. “Twiddle our thumbs while this infection spreads to every corner of the ocean? We’ve got a chance to stop this, so grow some fins and deal with it!”
The argument died as a low growl echoed through the kelp. Everyone froze.
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The Monster Attack
The growling grew louder, accompanied by the sound of something massive moving through the kelp. The group scrambled to their feet, weapons ready.
“What the sea slug is that?” Plankton muttered, his suit’s laser cannon powering up.
The kelp parted, revealing a horrifying sight: a massive, grotesque kelp monster, its body a twisted amalgamation of seaweed, bones, and the remnants of zombified fish. Glowing red eyes stared hungrily at the group, and its vine-like arms writhed menacingly.
“Great Neptune’s beard!” Squidward screamed. “Kill it! KILL IT!”
The creature lunged, its vine arms snapping like whips. SpongeBob ducked just in time as one vine sliced through a kelp stalk, sending debris flying.
“Light it up!” Sandy shouted.
Plankton fired a laser blast, severing one of the creature’s arms. It roared in fury, slamming the ground and sending everyone sprawling. Sandy leaped onto its back, using her karate skills to pound at its head, while Mr. Krabs and Squidward worked to slice through its remaining arms with broken coral shards.
“Over here, you kelp-covered freak!” SpongeBob yelled, distracting it long enough for Plankton to charge his suit’s cannon.
“Get clear!” Plankton bellowed before firing a massive beam. The blast hit the monster square in the chest, causing it to explode into a shower of kelp and bone fragments.
The group collapsed, breathing heavily as the pieces of the monster floated around them.
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Finding Hope
“Well, that was a pile of chum-filled fun,” Squidward muttered, wiping blood and seaweed off his head.
“At least we’re alive,” SpongeBob said, trying to smile despite the terror in his voice.
“We need to keep moving,” Sandy urged. “There’s no tellin’ what else is out here.”
“Wait!” SpongeBob said, perking up. “We can go to my house! I’ve got a stash of Krabby Patties there—enough to last us a while!”
“Food?” Squidward said, his exhaustion replaced by hope. “Why didn’t you mention this earlier, you yellow sponge?”
“I-I forgot!” SpongeBob stammered, blushing.
“Lead the way,” Sandy said. “And keep quiet. That monster’s roar probably attracted more trouble.”
As the group set off again, the thought of food and shelter kept them moving, even as the horrors of the kelp forest loomed all around them.
YOU ARE READING
Bikini bottom plague
HorrorPlankton and Mr. Crabs have been business Competaters for years, and Plankton is determined to make better food, so will in his lab making a special sauce for his food something bad happened starting the bikini bottom plague
