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 city bustled with life as Karan and Riya walked hand in hand through a busy street market. The evening air was crisp, filled with the scent of street food and the chatter of people. For a brief moment, everything felt normal.

But normal was just an illusion.

Karan, still shaken from Aryan's near-death experience, had been extra protective of Riya. He hadn't told her everything—about the curly-haired suspect, about the fact that Aryan might be the killer's next target. He didn't want to worry her.

"You're quiet," Riya said, nudging him playfully. "Thinking about something?"

Karan forced a smile. "Just… a lot on my mind."

Riya squeezed his hand. "Aryan's going to be fine. And Naina is on this case. We'll figure this out."

Karan nodded, but something still didn't feel right.

They reached an ice cream stall, and Riya let go of his hand. "I'll get us something. Chocolate for you, right?"

Karan smirked. "You know me well."

As she turned to the vendor, Karan's phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen. A notification.

It was a message from an unknown number.

At first, he ignored it, assuming it was spam. But something about it made him pause. His heartbeat quickened as he opened the message.

"600m. Look behind you."

He spun around, scanning the crowd, his instincts on high alert. Nothing seemed out of place. People walked past, cars honked, the city moved as usual.

A black van parked across the street.

Karan's breath hitched. He turned back toward Riya—

But she was gone.

The ice cream vendor stood there, confused. The small line of customers continued placing orders. But Riya had disappeared.

Panic surged through him. His eyes darted wildly around the market. Where was she?

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw it—

The black van's door slamming shut.

"RIYA!" Karan screamed, running after it, but the van was already gone, disappearing into the chaos of traffic.

His hands trembled as he grabbed his phone and called Naina. The moment she picked up, he shouted in desperation—

"They took her! They took Riya!"

Naina's voice turned ice-cold. "Where? What happened?"

Karan could barely breathe. His mind was spiraling. "A black van—just like the reports—we need to find her, NOW!"

On the other end, Naina was already barking orders. "I'm on my way. Stay there."

Because he wasn't going to wait.

He was going to find her.

Chapter 18: Riya is Abducted