Along the banks of a canal running near an old paper factory, James Lostock stakes out an area to tend for pike fishing. His grandfather’s father had lost an eye to a pike, but James has grown fond of fishing for these aggressive fish. After placing bait in the warm outflow of the canal, he goes home, then returns later in the day with the snacks and amenities he routinely brings on fishing trips. As sets up his rig, he remembers the story of his grandfather’s father losing an eye to the pike. When James asked his grandfather, usually taciturn from smoking and pneumonia, if his father losing an eye was the worst thing he ever saw, his grandfather told him it was the worst thing he had ever felt. He also told James every person has a “black chapter,” or a worst period in one’s life. James’ own black chapter stems from years of heavy sun exposure. Although his other family members experienced sunburn from exposure to the sun, James’ parents had often taken him to the beach and let him roam free without caring to apply sunscreen for him. Later in his life, James was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, and although his doctor told him it could be treated with surgery, James declined. He feels uncomfortable with the thought of his appearance being altered, especially since he has spent so much time coming to terms with the person he has become.             In the middle of his memory, a pike bites James’ bait. He struggles to bring it ashore, but the line breaks, allowing the fish to swim free. James feels a bit guilty, knowing the hook likely went too deep and would cause the fish to starve to death. He decides to take a break, wandering downstream to the old paper factory. He knows his grandfather used to work here, but he isn’t sure what he did. Sneaking inside, he finds the building completely abandoned and decaying slowly. James then slips into an office, slowly realizing from his childhood drawings still on display that the room is his grandfather’s. As he absorbs the unnerving nostalgia of the office, James begins to recall the worst thing he ever saw. When he was a boy, he went fishing with a friend from school. While they were waiting for a bite, James went sightseeing by himself. He came upon a cow farm and found several men slaughtering the cattle for meat. However, one of the men accidentally snagged his arm in the grinding machine, and rather than save his coworker, the auger fed him into the machine. The man was ground to pieces. When James came back to his friend, who had reeled a carp ashore, he had a distinct detachment from nature, viewing his friend as a mass of flesh and nerves.

After slipping out of the factory, James revisits his fishing spot. Surprised at the sound of splashing, he notices a pike has entangled itself in the rigs he prepared. He tries to save it, bringing it ashore and cutting away the wires. The fish is covered in sores, just like James’ skin. Even after his efforts, James cannot coax life back into it. He remembers his father telling him how, despite their aggression, pike die easily. He holds the fish as it does.