Kodoku

Chapter 20 (Content Warning ⚠️)

The room was shrouded in an oppressive silence, broken only by the occasional sound of labored breathing and the faint rustle of fabric as Sarah shifted slightly on the edge of the bed. The atmosphere was heavy, the air thick with the tension of what was to come. The ornate room, once a place of elegance and power, now felt like a twisted tableau of despair.

Gojo’s mother lay sprawled on the floor, her once regal demeanor reduced to nothing more than a drugged, drooling shell. Her eyes, glassy and unfocused, stared blankly at nothing, lost in a haze of sedatives. A low, pitiful moan escaped her lips as she twitched, her body trying in vain to resist the poison coursing through her veins. Blood seeped from her wounds, her pale skin was already bruising from the brutal strikes inflicted to her face and body.

Gojo stood a few feet away, his usually confident posture now slouched with uncertainty. He watched Sarah carefully, his heart pounding in his chest. He had seen her like this before—detached, calculating, and consumed by the dark hunger for revenge. But this time, it was different. This time, the target was his own blood, and though he didn't care what happened to his mother, there were others on the estate grounds that didn't deserve such a terrible fate.

His mother groaned, her eyes squeezing shut from the pain. Sarah gave a mocking coo, lifting her face with her skeletal fingertips digging sharply into her cheeks. "I know this hurts a lot," she murmured, dripping with false sympathy, "It's not my fault. Poor thing. You'd be better off completely sedated, hmm? How sad."

His mind raced as he tried to find the words, the right thing to say that might reach her through the fog of hatred and pain that clouded her judgment. But he knew Sarah too well. Knew that once she was set on a path, there was little that could sway her. Still, he had to try. He had to do something.

“Sarah…” he began hesitantly, his voice a quiet murmur in the oppressive stillness. He cleared his throat, forcing himself to speak louder, with more conviction, “What do you intend to do after you're done with her?”

Sarah didn’t answer at first. Her gaze remained fixed on the pathetic form of Gojo’s mother, her expression unreadable. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, until Gojo wondered if she had even heard him. Just as he was about to repeat the question, she spoke, her voice as cold as ice.

“I’m going to kill all of them,” she said, the words dripping with venomous intent. She sat up slowly, letting his mother drop her head to the floor.

Gojo felt a chill run down his spine at the simplicity of her statement. There was no hesitation, no doubt in her voice. It was as if she had already decided, and nothing he could say would change her mind.

“I understand you want revenge,” he said carefully, trying to keep his voice steady, “I understand that the adults, the elders—they deserve to be killed and I won't deny that. But… there are others, Sarah. Innocent people. Attendants, children… they had no hand in what happened to you. They don’t deserve to die.”

Again, she said nothing. Gojo watched as her expression darkened, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she were contemplating his words. For a moment, he thought he might have reached her, that some part of her might still be willing to listen. But then, she slowly lifted her gaze to meet his, and the coldness in her eyes made his blood run cold.

“Innocent?” she echoed, her voice laced with bitter sarcasm, “Not a single member of the Gojo clan is innocent, Satoru. Not a single one.” She stood up slowly, the tension in the room thickening as her intent became clear, “And when I’m done here, I’m going after the Kamo clan as well.”

Gojo felt a wave of dread wash over him. This wasn’t the Sarah he knew. This wasn’t the woman he cared so deeply for. This was something else. Something darker. Something that had been twisted and broken by years of pain, betrayal and abuse then reinforced by Sukuna's cruel influence.