there are monsters in my veins (and they wear human faces)

The flickering overhead light catches the jagged scar running down their cheek as they crouch in the alley's shadow. A tremor runs through their fingers-not from fear, but from the withdrawal creeping in. It's been 36 hours since their last dose of suppressants.

They clutch their katakana, knuckles whitening. The mission parameters echo in their skull like a mantra: "Eliminate all witnesses." But the child hiding behind those dumpsters... that wasn't part of the briefing. The child tumbles from their hiding place behind the dumpsters, staring up at them with wide-eyed innocence. For a moment, humanity flashes behind the conditioning. They hiss, "Run. Don't look back."

A mechanical whirr pulses at their throat-the shock collar booting up, detecting hesitation. "Compliance required," it drones softly. Their teeth grind until molars sharpen involuntarily-an Oni trait flaring under stress.
They watch the child race away, the adrenaline rush starting to give way to the dizzying aftershocks from the shock collar's activation. Their vision swims as the collar buzzes like a swarm of angry hornets at their throat. Protocol #12 breached. They let out a scream, fall, then silence as they pass out.