Prologue: The Enemies

Black and red. Molds and rusts. These are the tidbits of words that adorn my new 'home', there's nothing all special in this room where I'm contained– imprisoned, but there is a bed to sleep on, a table, and a chair for my visitors. For a ghoul who's just an errand dog for humans, it's not that bad, right?

Oh, wait. Allow me to start a few introductions of myself.

The name that humans has given me is 'Saika', but it may change when necessary for underhand assignments, although it's what they call me at all times.

I'm a ghoul, not a special one to say the least, but ordinary enough to blend in the outside world. That's an advantage for me of course. But that's about it for now, I'm not really good at introductions, so I just keep it simple and brief to anyone who manages to read this.

Now, this is where it all should start – no compelling words, no misleading antics to grab attention.
But it is still important to me, to anyone who is seeking of the truth of this rotting world.
Someone needs to know this.

...

It all began a few ungodly days before I met the half ghoul and half human being: Kaneki Ken.

However, this isn't a promising story of fairytales you usually see in books but everything I will tell you are puzzle pieces that show how humans are not any different from the ghouls whom they deem as evil and murderers, that they are also liable for retribution and that Kaneki-san is the only one that can make things right.

I know I'm the last person who should be telling all this but I have to, at least as an atonement for being a coward that have rendered me to the hell I'm in right now.

Each person, each ghoul, everyone has tragic tales to tell. As for mine...

I couldn't remember how long I served the humans but I could never forget the first words I had told them before they nearly dragged the life out of me. "Please don't kill me. I will do anything" these undying words was etched forever in my memories and would continue to haunt me until I the day I meet my grave. It wasn't expected for a ghoul to say that in front of humans, much less plead for life, especially when the never ending friction to both sides hindered any form of peace. And thus, hearing my plea, the humans made a decision to use me in their forces (known as CCG), in return, that I must swear fealty to them and I did, I continued to rot from within as I bent my knee for them.

They forced me to throw away my own kind and work with them to exterminate all other ghouls and I did so, I had no other options.

And so there I was, in my straight jacket with a newly arrived visitor in front of my eyes to witness and increase my craving. It was a man, as always. He was shaking, I could hear his teeth clatter in his jaws as he found my eyes under my long fringe.

Very appetizing... But...

"Last one for the week," said one of the investigators who handled me.

The frightened man sitting across me froze as he heard the steel door glued shut behind him. He was left alone with me.

"Don't worry," I said in a sing-song tone, "You can tell all your hardships in prison with me now, maybe that can lift your spirits," I went on as my lips produced a warm and comforting smile.

"I-It w-w-won't change anything! I'll be e-e-executed either way!" he stuttered. His eyes was full of regret and despair, I had seen it clearly.

"Yes, it won't change your fate but there is no need to carry all the burden to the end."

He began to raise his voice at me, "What? Who the hell are you supposed to be? Some GREAT psychiatrist they said! You know nothing! You look more fucked up than me!" the raging man pointed at my clothing, "You're from an asylum, bitch. I'm not stupid."

"You shouldn't judge me right away." I had decided to ignore his rash insults on me and started collecting proper words to ease his mind, "They sent you here to help you and I tell you that I can help you. I promise that everything will be all right." My smile remained, it was the only thing I could do in my state, there was no way that I could be his shoulder to cry on.
The man gazed at me for seconds and reluctantly calmed himself down under my soothing voice. It appeared he had given me a chance to talk to him more.

"All right. I'll let you help me. Not like I have a choice anyway..."

"That's the spirit! Now smile, smiles always keep the sadness away... You'll be okay."

Hesitantly, his mouth formed a smile as he took my small advice. He looked at me with hopes to share his burden with. He seemed like he kept all his pain bottled up alone.

But he was calm now, he felt safe around me. That was good.

Fear and rage fouls the flavor after all.

"Thank you for being willing to listen to me," he said in relief.

"Yep. Been nice knowing you." The smile on my face dropped like stone.

My kagune rippled around my shoulders then rapidly projected crimson spikes at the smiling and helpless man in front of me. The fiery projectiles had hit his vital parts, killing him before he could register what was happening.

He fell from his seat and onto the cold ground with the hopeful smile across his face as his blood pooled contentiously around him.

You can guess what goes on next.

He was the last one for the week after all, the investigator said so.

I devoured the man like there was no tomorrow, I may had restraints all over my body but my mouth wasn't. My teeth can rip through flesh, that was all I needed.

I saved his head for last. He was still smiling as though his face would stay like that forever, "You died with a sliver of hope to hold onto. You're still lucky you didn't have to witness hell right away."

And then my meal ended there after I ate what was left of him.

The man tasted bland at first but he had a unique after taste on some parts of his flesh, like his heart.

He was no different from other people who were lured in here with honeyed words that would assure them that I could make things 'okay' for them. The humans have their own twisted ways to reach their selfish desires after all, no matter what the cost was.

The steel door opened and revealed the investigator's empty gaze, not interested enough to mind the cesspool in my room, "You're done, I suppose. Get ready." Fresh blood coated the air, it smelled wonderful to every ghoul.

I wiped the dry blood that formed around my lips, "Where am I getting sent off to?" I asked as though I was used to the job: luring ghouls into a death trap as I despicably keep held onto my dear life. It was selfish, I know but as long as humans had their claws ready around my neck, I couldn't do anything. While I wasn't entirely responsible for the deaths of unfortunate ghouls, I still felt that I was the one suffered to all the pain brought to them, it was always painful to watch the light leave their eyes while the humans who ordered me around received all the satisfaction from it. It felt like a part of me died and ripped me apart, these victimized ghouls trusted and sheltered me while I had them stabbed on their backs. No one can get used to this pain.

"The 20th ward. Investigate and send reports ASAP," I saw a grin on his face, so vile and unforgivable, "Mado-san and Amon-kun will see to your every action."

"I see." My straight jacket disengaged around my form, its metallic and leather straps released and dropped to the ground with a snap. This was another crime I was about to commit.

"You'll be rewarded accordingly," he added further.

Even so, in return for my loyalty, the humans would send one of their own to satisfy me, to keep me alive and if they feel generous, they would let me wander around the streets at night.

To be continued...?