Adarsh_Kartik

"Some doors should never be opened. Some secrets should never be uncovered. But when the Abyss calls, no one escapes."

Aryan, an ordinary IT professional, never expected his life to spiral into darkness. When his close friend Meera goes missing, what starts as a simple inquiry turns into a nightmare of blood, deception, and an ancient cult known as The Pendulum of Death.

The deeper Aryan digs, the more horrifying the truth becomes—people disappearing without a trace, ritualistic murders, and a secret that refuses to stay buried. Alongside his loyal friends Karan and Riya, and the sharp-witted police officer Naina, Aryan finds himself on a collision course with a deadly force that transcends reality.

As they uncover the cult’s twisted rituals, hypnotic mind control, and a leader who claims to have touched the Abyss itself, they realize that stopping them means more than just survival—it means preventing an apocalyptic sacrifice.

But when the Cult Leader offers Aryan a choice—become the new vessel or let the world burn—Aryan must face the ultimate truth.

Because the Abyss never truly dies.

And those who stare into it for too long… never return the same.

Shadows Of The Abyss

Back in Karan's apartment, they sat at the dining table, sharing a simple meal.

"So," Karan began, "since we didn't officially introduce ourselves—my name's Karan."

She smiled. "Nice to meet you, Karan. I'm Riya."

"Thanks," she said, taking a bite of her food. "So, what do you do?"

"I work in IT," Karan replied. "Software development. You?"

"I'm a content writer. I work remotely, so I spend most of my time at home," she said, gesturing to her books. "Which explains the excessive reading."

Karan chuckled. "I noticed. Jane Eyre, huh?"

She grinned. "It's a classic. Ever read it?"

"You should. It's a beautiful story."

Karan watched as she spoke about the book with passion, her eyes shining. It was refreshing—after days of nothing but pain and darkness, here was someone who radiated warmth.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Karan felt… normal.

Later that evening, Aryan returned home, looking exhausted. The moment he stepped inside, Karan greeted him casually.

Aryan sighed. "Yeah, long day. What about you?"

Before Karan could answer, there was another knock on the door.

Karan opened it to find Riya standing there.

"Hey!" she said, smiling. "Just came to return the plate."

Aryan raised an eyebrow as Karan took the plate from her. "Thanks. Also, meet my friend and roommate—Aryan."

Riya turned to Aryan and gave a friendly wave. "Nice to meet you!"

Aryan, still tired from the long day, managed a polite nod. "Yeah, you too."

She chatted with Karan for a moment before finally leaving.

As soon as the door closed, Aryan turned to Karan with a teasing smirk. "Who's she?"

Karan tried to act casual. "Just a neighbor. I helped her with something, and we had lunch together."

Aryan's smirk widened. "Lunch, huh?"

"Shut up," Karan muttered, walking away.

Aryan laughed. But beneath his amusement, he was glad to see Karan smile again.

After everything they had been through, maybe a little bit of happiness wasn't such a bad thing.

Chapter 7 :- A New Friendship