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

The drive to the hospital was tense. Naina was on her phone, issuing strict security orders, while Aryan and Karan sat in the back, processing what had just happened.

Rajat Verma was alive.

For the first time, they had a potential eyewitness who could reveal the identity of the killer.

But Aryan couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over.

The hospital was already under heavy police security by the time they arrived. Officers stood at every entrance, and Rajat's hospital room was guarded by two armed constables.

Inside, Rajat lay motionless on the bed, hooked up to machines. His body was covered in bandages, his breathing slow and weak. But he was alive.

Naina spoke with the doctors. "How bad is it?"

The senior doctor adjusted his glasses. "Severe burns across 60% of his body. He inhaled a lot of smoke, but he's stable—for now."

Aryan stepped forward. "Can he talk?"

The doctor sighed. "Maybe in a few hours, once he regains full consciousness. But even then, he'll be in extreme pain."

Karan exhaled. "We don't have a few hours."

As if on cue, Naina's phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen—an unknown number.

She hesitated for a second before answering. "IPS Naina Rathore."

A deep, distorted voice came through the line.

"You have 24 hours."

"24 hours. That's how long you have to keep him alive. But we both know how this ends, don't we?"

Karan clenched his fists. "It was him, wasn't it?"

Aryan stepped forward, his voice filled with urgency. "The killer knows Rajat survived. He's challenging us."

Naina's eyes hardened. "Then we don't let him win."

She turned to the officers. "Double the security. No one enters this room without clearance. We're not losing him."

Aryan stared at Rajat, his heart pounding.

And the killer was already coming for him.

Chapter 13: A 24-Hour Challenge