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

Aryan sat in the police station, his fingers tapping impatiently against his knee. The constable had told him that IPS Officer Naina Rathore was busy and would be able to meet him in thirty minutes.

Thirty minutes felt like a lifetime.

He shifted in his seat, glancing around the station. Officers moved in and out, phones rang constantly, and there was an air of controlled chaos in the place. But Aryan's mind was far from the noise.

He was here for Meera. For justice.

The constable attending to him suddenly received a call and left in a hurry, leaving Aryan alone. His eyes wandered toward a slightly open door—the IPS officer's cabin.

Stepping forward cautiously, he pushed the door open a little more and peeked inside. The room was cluttered with case files, photographs, and scattered documents. His gaze immediately fell on one of the open case files.

He was just about to reach for it when—

And time stopped.

A woman entered, dressed in a crisp police uniform, her presence commanding yet effortless. Her dark eyes held sharp intelligence, her hair was neatly tied back, and her every movement radiated authority. But what caught Aryan completely off guard wasn't her aura of power—

For the first time in his life, Aryan felt his heart skip a beat.

Every thought in his mind vanished. He forgot about Meera. He forgot why he was here. He forgot everything.

His mouth went dry as she walked toward the desk, her gaze now on him.

"You must be Aryan," she said, her voice steady, professional.

Aryan opened his mouth to respond—except no words came out.

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"

Aryan blinked rapidly, realizing he was staring at her like an idiot. He quickly cleared his throat, trying to act normal. "Uh—yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."

She folded her arms, waiting. "So? What brings you here?"

Naina tilted her head slightly. "You seem… distracted."

Distracted was an understatement.

Aryan had faced tough college exams, difficult project deadlines, and even terrifying interviews—but nothing had ever made him as nervous as looking at Naina right now.

He scrambled for words. "I, uh… um…"

Naina narrowed her eyes. "You do know why you're here, right?"

Why am I here? Oh right, Meera!

He quickly straightened, forcing himself to focus. "I'm here about my friend's case. Meera Sharma."

Naina nodded, sitting at her desk. "Right. You wanted updates."

Aryan exhaled in relief. Okay, focus. No more distractions.

But as Naina glanced through the files, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, Aryan felt his resolve crumble.

This wasn't just a police officer.

This was trouble.

And Aryan was already in too deep.

Chapter 8: The Killer’s Ritual