Ben stepped outside. "I just want to go home and crash, but let's see if the dentist can see me earlier." After a quick phone call, it was arranged. Ben was about to take his car, then thought better about it. He slithered toward the bus stop.
Someone bumped his shoulder. A voice said, "Watch where you're going, man." Without stopping, Ben turned back and whispered, "Sorry."
BANG!
He walked headfirst into a pole and fell back on his ass. Someone laughed and said, "No man, really, look where you're going."
Ben sat on the ground. Not in a hurry to get up. He put two fingers in his mouth and prodded around, barely feeling any pain, but they came out bloodied. At least no new teeth lost.
He got up and brushed his pants. Let's say the worst is behind, I can live with that. He was about to continue walking, but something was off. Where was this intense feeling of frustration coming from? Like he got promised a candy and it was snatched from him at the last moment. He shook his head and continued walking. This is getting weirder and weirder…
Ben was in the dentist's waiting room. As soon as he entered the premises, he felt an unnatural elation. Since when do I like dentists? After shaking his head in confusion, he could help but grin at a thought: Probably because I get a free lollipop if I'm a good boy.
He sat and waited, then frowned. It felt like he was not alone in the room. But all the seats were empty. He listened to the eerie silence. I could swear someone is hiding and holding their breath. He shook his head and sighed. That was more like it. The usual stress of waiting at the dentist's. Everything was back to normal.
Footsteps approached. He got up and walked toward the noise.
Ben was sitting in the dentist's chair. The bright light above blinded him. Over him, the figure of the dentist was dark and blurry in contrast. He felt his teeth and gums being prodded, tapped, and examined.
The dentist made a small surprised noise. He withdrew his fingers and let something drop into the metallic bowl on the side. A tinkling sound echoes through the room. "The one fell like an overripe fruit as soon as I touched it."
The phone rang, and the dentist moved to the reception area. "I'll be right back, no secretary today." Ben moved his head to the side to check the lonely tooth in its little pool of blood. At least I got you, you'll go under the pillow tonight.
Then all his muscles tensed in shock. His eyes widened, and he gasped. His own shadow stretched toward the tooth. A dark, smoky, clawed hand appeared and grabbed it, then it retreated into the shadow. Ben's heart was beating like a war drum.
The bowl was there, the blood was there. But the tooth had disappeared.