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

Karan and Riya's bond had grown stronger over the past few weeks. What had started as casual meetings turned into late-night conversations, walks in the park, and shared meals. Karan was falling for her, and he knew it.

One evening, as they sat in a quiet café, sipping coffee, Karan decided to bring up something that had been on his mind.

"So… tell me about your family," he asked casually.

Riya looked up, smiling. "That's a sudden interest."

Karan chuckled. "Well, if I'm planning on keeping you around, I should probably know a little more about where you come from."

Riya rolled her eyes but grinned. "Alright, alright. It's just me and my sister. She practically raised me after our parents passed away. She's my role model—strong, determined, and honestly a bit scary sometimes."

Karan smirked. "Sounds like someone I'd like to meet."

Riya gave him a teasing glance. "Oh, you'd better be on your best behavior. She's not easy to impress."

Karan leaned back with a confident grin. "I think I can handle myself."

Riya laughed. "We'll see about that."

Karan hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Have you ever thought about, you know… settling down? Marriage?"

Riya blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "That's a serious question."

Karan shrugged. "Well, you said your sister practically raised you. She must be pretty protective. What would she say if she found out you were dating someone?"

Riya tilted her head, considering. "She'd probably interrogate you first, then dig into your background, and if you survive all of that, she might actually approve."

"She's a police officer. It's in her nature," Riya added.

Karan almost choked on his coffee. "Wait… your sister is a cop?"

Riya nodded, amused at his reaction. "Not just any cop. She's an IPS officer."

Karan froze for a second before laughing nervously. "Wow. No pressure, huh?"

Riya smirked. "Like I said, she's not easy to impress."

Karan exhaled, pretending to wipe sweat off his forehead. "Well, now I know what I'm up against."

Riya chuckled, reaching across the table to hold his hand. "Relax. I think she'll like you."

Karan smiled, squeezing her hand gently. He hoped she was right.

Little did he know, his life was about to get a whole lot more complicated.

Chapter 10: Engagement Talks