Eleven Journeys

The Awakening of Felix the Fluke

In the shadowy recesses of a place unknown to most, Felix the Fluke swam quietly, enveloped in the warmth and rhythm of his world. He was not the largest of his kind, measuring a mere 4 millimeters in length—small even by fluke standards. In this strange, fluid realm, size often dictated one's influence, and Felix, being on the shorter end, was accustomed to being overlooked. But Felix never minded; his life was one of simplicity, an unassuming existence carried by the gentle currents of bile that flowed through his surroundings.

Felix's world was a place of darkness and consistency, where routine reigned supreme. The days blended into one another, and he lived much like his peers—feeding, resting, and navigating the labyrinthine tubes that constituted his home. He was content, or as content as a creature like him could be. He had no thoughts beyond the immediate, no concerns beyond his next meal. That is, until the day something extraordinary happened.

It began with a sensation—a flicker of something unknown, a ripple in the usual tranquility of his world. Felix felt a surge within him, as if a door he had never known existed had suddenly swung open. For the first time, Felix became aware of himself. He could sense his tiny form, feel the gentle pull of the current against his skin, and—most startlingly—he could think.

What is this? Felix wondered, though the concept of questioning was as new to him as the thoughts themselves. It was more of a feeling, a dawning realization that there was more to his existence than the simple, instinct-driven life he had always known.

As Felix's awareness grew, so too did his curiosity. No longer content with merely drifting, He began to explore his surroundings with newfound intent, seeking to understand the world around him. He noticed the warmth that enveloped him, the rhythmic pulsing that resonated through his being, and the occasional rush of liquid that carried nutrients past him. There was something else, too—a sense of belonging, as if he were part of something much larger.

Time became an elusive concept, slipping through his thoughts as Felix pondered the mysteries of his existence. He realized that his world was not the entirety of existence. There was something beyond the darkness, beyond the warm liquid that sustained him. A greater mystery loomed, and Felix was determined to uncover it.

Meanwhile, far above, in a grand estate filled with opulence and silence, an elderly woman named Beatrice carefully stroked the sleek fur of her beloved Bengal cat, Sable. Beatrice had never married, and though she had once been surrounded by admirers and suitors, her life had become one of solitude. As a child, she had longed for a pet, but her strict parents had forbidden it, believing animals to be unsanitary and unnecessary. But now, in her later years, the absence of human companionship had driven her to seek comfort in the companionship of another creature.

Sable had been a gift to herself, a decision made on the advice of a well-meaning friend who had noticed the deepening lines of loneliness etched into Beatrice's face. The cat, with its striking markings and intelligent eyes, had quickly become her closest companion. Together, they shared the vast, resonant halls of Beatrice's mansion, filling the empty spaces with a bond that transcended words.

Unbeknownst to Beatrice or Sable, deep within the cat's liver, Felix was beginning to piece together the puzzle of his existence. He was no longer content with merely surviving; he wanted to understand. The currents that had once seemed so random now felt purposeful, leading him to places he had never ventured before. He began to recognize the patterns in the flow, the way it surged after what he could only describe as a change in the world above—a world he could sense but not see.

In the quiet of Sable's liver, Felix pondered the meaning of his awakening. What was he? Where was he? And most importantly, why had he suddenly gained this awareness? These questions swirled around in his mind, giving rise to more complex thoughts. He began to observe the other flukes around him, noting their lack of awareness, their mechanical existence. Was he the only one like this, or were there others waiting to awaken?