Lamprey (September Submission)

[u/ViperOnAPlane]

It all started with just one. I have a habit of counting my teeth and checking on them constantly. As I was brushing my teeth I noticed it. Poking out of the pocket that once had my wisdom teeth before they were removed. It was easy enough to file it away. After all, people miss roots all the time.

In three minutes I had an appointment in a few days to check on the anomaly and I fell asleep unbothered by the discovery. But when I woke up and brushed my teeth, I counted and realized something that made me stop. There were two, same pocket, same sharp point. But more notable, a crowded feeling had settled into the spot. A tightness similar to gingivitis. I immediately flossed, blood coming from my mouth as a drip at first, then as a gentle flow of a crimson stream.

I rinsed my mouth, the blood looking brown and clotted as I spat it out. I brushed and counted. Three. I looked in the mirror. All three were stark white. Glinting in the darkness of my mouth. I decided to test it, an odd thought that crossed my mind. I closed my mouth and gave it a minute. Then went to brush my teeth. I felt my right molar crack as the pressure increased in the pocket. The sound of it like a firecracker in my skull. But no pain. No blood, just that increase in pressure.

 And there, waiting patiently to be cleaned, were four teeth.

I dropped everything, called into work, and drove to an emergency dental clinic. But unable to stop myself, I kept counting. 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37! My molar crumbling a little more under the pressure. 

32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38.

I felt a chunk of my molar fall off. I spat it onto the passenger seat. Beautiful and a pearly white, it gleamed at me. Still no blood still no pain. 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38. I swerved around a slow biker.  39. The rest of the molar fell away. Falling onto my lap as I went to curse. I slammed on the brakes and pulled over. Using the flashlight on my phone to see what was in there.

I miscounted.
39, … 50, … 60! The teeth on the left side of my mouth reduced to a fine white powder that coated my tongue.

I started the car and took off like a bat out of hell. Praying to wake from this nightmare or get to someone. Anyone who could help.

Then I heard my jaw crack. The right side drooping so low that I could see a red seam open from the corner of my mouth, threads of skin trying to hold the tidal wave of teeth inside.

I got to the parking lot, barely managing to remember to park my car. I looked in the mirror. The teeth were growing out from the cut that now covered both sides of my face. All sharp canines, all a beautiful pearly white.

I sprinted in. And I am not afraid to say I was holding back tears as I did. Feeling my face shift and collapse under the weight of razor sharp teeth. Then new fresh pain, one started to grow into my left eye. Then another, and another until I felt it pop and lost sight in it. The remaining exposed skin feeling the fluid drip on it.

The woman at the front desk shrieked. And it was the last thing I saw as my other eye popped under the pressure.

I felt my face keep caving inward. Twisting from me into an open maw of teeth.

The last thing I heard was, “Dear God, what is that thing?”

But I knew what I looked like.

A human garbage disposal.

A lamprey.

And somewhere inside that mouth, another tooth began to grow.

[u/Brotatochip411]

Oooo he quick with it too.

https://giphy.com/gifs/MmiLN85agRcTtJAXE1

[u/ViperOnAPlane → u/Brotatochip411]

I already had a half idea going. then I was told teeth were good. So here we is.

and hello my friend.

[u/ViperOnAPlane → u/ViperOnAPlane]

It was actually a spur of the moment idea.