Worms

The larva inside of Flail had progressed rapidly in the past few hours. From the moment the larva's barbs had pierced his skin, it slowly migrated into his body, the slowest part of this whole process. As soon as it passed the dermal layer of Flail, it entered the bloodstream, following it along to the lungs.

Currently, it sat in the lungs, having hatched from the larva and was now a small worm-like queen, with hundred of eggs prepared to be planted in the lung. Some eggs have already hatched, leaving to perform their tasks, entering into the brain, slowly diverting his thoughts away from his own.

Flail was doubled over a trashcan, vomiting up everything he ate, as sweat dripped down his brow. He kept feeling worse and worse, more bandages were covering his body. In warm places, like the underside of where his legs connect with his body, his ears, or his groin, have rashes spreading through the area, feeling inflamed and itchy. Flail felt awful, he couldn't breathe through his nose, his head pounded and his eyes wouldn't focus on anything. His mother rubbed his sweaty back, trying her best to ignore the sweat coating her hoof and the sole of her hoof.

I stared into my bathroom, as I looked at my bloodshot eyes and tired expression, the bags beneath my eyes sagging. I got closer to the mirror as a small bottle of eye drops floated up next to me, as I lined up the dropper with my eye. I stopped, however, when out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw a slight amount of movement on my skin. I put the eye drops down and looked at the spot I saw movement at. The spot didn't seem any different to anything else, just my fur with my skin underneath, but then I felt it, a small unsubstantial movement under my hoof which was holding the peeled back fur. I didn't jump, scream, flinch, I remained still, as I traced the movement with the tip of my hoof, the movement heading up towards my eye. Closer and closer still, until the movement hit the outer corner of my eye. Then I saw it, a small worm sliding out from my skin, and into my eye.

I bolted upright in a sweaty, panting mess. I breathed heavily as I collected my thoughts, taking a moment to check myself over physically and mentally. I had been extremely stressed today, after the shocking events that unfolded yesterday with Flail. I had been so shocked about it that I canceled every appointment, and sent Daisy home early, leaving me alone in the clinic to recover from the shock that had filled me. I was a doctor, I had been trained to deal with suicide and self-harming patients, even patients who bite themselves due to formication, but nothing can truly prepare you for dealing with something like that.

I slowly got of bed, and groggily walked to my bathroom, ready to do my morning routine for my off-days. Shower, teeth, eye drops. The shower was my personal favorite part, as it gave me time to think about things, today was no different. Flail's case had taken over my thoughts, it had intrigued me and confused me as nothing made sense. I had seen Flail since I moved to Ponyville 9 years ago, and he was only 7 at the time. I've never once heard him using drugs, so suffering from withdrawal makes no sense, unless if he has very cleverly hidden his habits from everyone. Without doing heavy metal panels I couldn't check for mercury poisoning, but I doubt it even is as he shows no other symptoms of mercury poisoning.

I interrupted my own thoughts by turning the shower off and stepping out, grabbing a towel and wrapping myself up. I brushed my teeth before looking into the mirror, staring at the outer corner of my eye, right where the little worm came from in my dream. Flail's ranting of stuff beneath his skin got to me, it's seeped into my brain, into my sleep. I took a deep breath before finishing up my morning routine.

I couldn't even get breakfast before being interrupted by my home phone ringing, the annoying ringing filling my ears. I approached the phone and answered it.

"Hello, Dr. Green?" The voice on the line was the worried voice of Flail's mother, she sounded shaky and tired.

"Yes, how may I help you, ma'am?" I asked as politely as I could. I'm not a cynical pony, I just really am not a morning pony.

"Flail's gotten worse," She stopped for a moment, taking the phone from her head, as I hear in the background as the sound of someone puking in the background faintly comes through. "And I believe him, I've seen the worms, the ones under his skin."

I was frozen. I couldn't respond, I couldn't even breath as my mind exploded in red alarms.

"Dr. Green?"

"Yes, sorry, I... I can't help, ma'am, you're going to have to take him to Canterlot general," I got no response, except for a soft sniffle from the mare, before she hung up. I remained frozen, standing still as I shook, panic rising through me. I whispered softly to myself, into the phone's mouthpiece. "Am I sick?"