Bikini bottom plague

Chapter 16: The Final Stretch

Chapter 16: The Final Stretch

The wind howled through the ruined streets of Bikini Bottom, sending dust and debris swirling through the air. It had been weeks since the infection had begun, and the city they once knew was unrecognizable. Buildings were reduced to rubble, streets were overrun with mutated creatures, and the once-vibrant town had become a haunted shell of its former self.

The group trudged on, each step more tiring than the last. Sandy, leading the way, moved with the determined resolve of someone who had seen too much. SpongeBob followed closely behind her, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, while Squidward, with a deep scowl, lagged a little behind, looking more worn down than usual.

Sandy: "We’re close now. The lab’s not far from here. Just hold on."

SpongeBob: "We’re almost there, I can feel it."

Squidward muttered under his breath, though he didn’t slow his pace.

Squidward: "Yeah, yeah, don’t get your hopes up. We've been ‘almost there’ for days now."

Despite his cynicism, Squidward couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope. The reality was, they were nearing the end of their journey. They had gathered all the ingredients needed for the antidote. They just had to get to the lab, create it, and then… then they could stop the apocalypse. They could save Bikini Bottom.

But that was the problem. Could they?

Every step forward was met with new obstacles—mutated creatures, hordes of zombies, and endless dangers that kept testing their resolve. And each time, it felt like they were losing a little more of themselves in the process.

Sandy was the first to break the silence.

Sandy: "We can’t stop now. We’ve got one shot. This antidote is our last hope. If we don’t make it, then... then this whole place will fall."

Squidward snorted.

Squidward: "I’m getting real tired of hearing that speech. We’ve been fighting and scraping by just to stay alive. And now you want me to believe that a couple of vials of potion are gonna fix everything?"

Sandy turned to him, her expression hardened but calm.

Sandy: "You’ve got two options, Squidward. You can keep doubting, or you can fight with us. If you’re gonna help, then help. If not, stay out of the way."

Squidward clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing, but he didn’t argue. He was tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of the constant fear. But one thing was clear: even with his complaints, he was still here, still fighting alongside them. They had all been pushed to the brink, but none of them were ready to give up just yet.

Sandy turned back and pressed forward.

Sandy: "This way. It’s not much further."

The group followed her, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the dust. The road had been clear for a while, but they knew better than to let their guard down. The infected were everywhere, lurking just out of sight.

SpongeBob: "I miss the old Bikini Bottom. I miss the Krusty Krab... I miss everything."

Sandy glanced at him, her eyes softening for a moment.

Sandy: "I know, SpongeBob. I do too. But right now, we’ve gotta focus on making sure there’s something left to save."

Squidward grumbled.

Squidward: "Just remember: we’re all walking into a death trap. That lab might be crawling with zombies by the time we get there."

Sandy didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. She had already seen the horrors waiting for them. What mattered now was the mission. The antidote was their last hope, and they couldn’t afford to fail.

---

As they rounded a corner, they saw it—the lab. It stood ahead, half-buried under debris, but it was unmistakable. The place where it all began. The place that held the cure to end it all.

But as they approached, the air shifted. The once quiet streets were suddenly filled with the sound of approaching footsteps—the unmistakable shuffle of the infected. A group of zombies, their twisted bodies barely held together by rotten flesh, emerged from the shadows, their hollow eyes fixed on the group.

Sandy: "Get ready."

Squidward’s face twisted with a mixture of frustration and fear.

Squidward: "I thought we were supposed to be done with this."

Sandy: "We’ll be done when we get the antidote. Until then, just keep moving."

SpongeBob nodded, gripping his weapon tightly.

SpongeBob: "Let’s do this."

With a collective determination, the group charged forward, cutting through the zombies as they neared the lab. The fight was brutal and bloody. The air was filled with the sound of screeching creatures and the sickening thud of their bodies hitting the ground. But no matter how many they fought off, more seemed to appear.

Finally, they reached the door of the lab, pushing through the last wave of zombies. With the door now open, they burst inside, breathless and covered in blood. The lab, though damaged, still held the remnants of its former purpose—test tubes, machines, and computers all around, the tools they needed to make the antidote.

Sandy immediately moved toward the central computer, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she accessed the lab’s files.

Sandy: "I need a few minutes to set this up. Guard the door."

SpongeBob and Squidward positioned themselves, their weapons at the ready, while Sandy worked furiously to bring up the correct files. The sound of zombies shuffling closer filled the air, and the tension grew thick as the seconds ticked by.

Squidward: "Can you hurry up? I don’t know how much longer we can hold them off!"

Sandy: "I’m doing the best I can, Squidward. Just keep an eye out."

But it wasn’t enough. The door shuddered as zombies slammed against it, and it wouldn’t hold forever.

Sandy: "Almost done... just a few more seconds..."

Just as the door started to splinter, the system beeped. A small vial containing the antidote appeared on the screen. Sandy grabbed it, holding it up triumphantly.

Sandy: "We’ve got it!"

The group stared at the vial, a mix of relief and exhaustion on their faces. But they knew the real battle was just beginning. They had the antidote, but getting it into the right hands—and making sure it worked—was going to be their greatest challenge yet.

Squidward: "Great. Now, let’s get the hell out of here."

But as they turned to leave, the door broke open completely, and a wave of zombies flooded the lab.

Sandy: "Run!"

And with that, the group sprinted toward the exit, the fate of Bikini Bottom hanging in the balance.

---