Squidward's Daily Life At The Krusty Krab

Squidward stared at the fish, his normally bored expression faltering into something closer to dread. He glanced toward Mr. Krabs, who was now frozen behind the counter, his claws clutching a stack of cash like it might shield him from whatever danger loomed in the air.

"Listen," Squidward began, forcing his voice to sound steady, "if you've got a message for Mr. Krabs, why don't you tell him yourself? I'm just the cashier here."

The fish chuckled low and deep, a sound that sent a chill through the Krusty Krab. His tattooed arm reached over the counter, grabbing Squidward by the collar of his shirt and pulling him close. "Because you look like the kind of guy who doesn't want trouble," he growled.

"Uh… you'd be surprised," Squidward muttered, but the quip lacked its usual bite. His heart pounded in his chest as he caught a whiff of the fish's scent—saltwater and something metallic, like rust.

"Put him down!" SpongeBob's voice rang out, startling the entire room. The little fry cook had stepped out of the kitchen, his spatula raised like a sword. His wide eyes burned with determination, though his knees trembled slightly.

The fish turned to SpongeBob, still holding Squidward by the collar. "And what are you gonna do? Flip me to death?"

"I might!" SpongeBob replied, his voice shaking but firm.

Squidward groaned. "Oh, great. Now I'm going to die with him."

"Enough," Mr. Krabs barked, stepping out from behind the counter at last. His eyes, usually consumed by dollar signs, were now hard as steel. "What do ye want, stranger?"

The fish finally released Squidward, who stumbled back, adjusting his shirt with shaky tentacles. The stranger turned his attention to Mr. Krabs, his smirk returning. "You owe someone a lot of money, Krabs," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "And my boss doesn't like waiting."

Mr. Krabs's mouth tightened, but he didn't flinch. "I don't know what ye're talkin' about."

"Oh, I think you do," the fish countered. He reached into his vest and pulled out a damp piece of parchment, tossing it onto the counter. The paper was covered in smudged ink, but the bold lettering at the top was unmistakable: DEBT NOTICE.

Squidward leaned over, squinting at the paper. "This looks bad," he muttered under his breath.

Mr. Krabs snatched the parchment, his claws trembling slightly. "I—I just need a little more time," he stammered. "Business has been slow."

"Not my problem," the fish said, crossing his muscular arms. "You've got 48 hours to pay up, or my boss will come down here himself. And trust me, you don't want that."

The air in the Krusty Krab was thick with tension. Customers whispered nervously among themselves, a few slipping out the door in hushed silence.

"Fine," Mr. Krabs said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll get the money."

The fish nodded once, satisfied. "Good. And just so you know we mean business…" He turned abruptly, his eyes locking onto Squidward.

"Oh, no," Squidward whispered, backing up instinctively.

In one swift motion, the fish grabbed a tray from the counter and hurled it against the wall, shattering it into pieces. The sound reverberated through the restaurant, making SpongeBob jump.

The fish leaned in close to Squidward, his voice a sinister whisper. "Next time, it won't be a tray."

With that, he turned on his heel and stalked out of the Krusty Krab, the door swinging shut behind him.

For a moment, the room was silent. Then, SpongeBob rushed to Squidward's side. "Are you okay?"

Squidward waved him off, though his hands were still trembling. "I'm fine. Just another wonderful day at the Krusty Krab."

Mr. Krabs, however, looked anything but fine. His usual bluster was gone, replaced by a haunted expression. He clutched the debt notice like it might burst into flames.

"What's going on, Mr. Krabs?" SpongeBob asked, his voice soft but insistent.

Mr. Krabs didn't answer right away. He glanced at Squidward, then at SpongeBob, and finally at the shattered tray on the floor. "It's… complicated, lad," he said at last. "But I've got to fix this before it's too late."

"And if you don't?" Squidward asked, his tone sharper than he intended.

Mr. Krabs didn't look up. "Then we're all in trouble."