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 CCTV footage, the black van, the curly-haired kidnapper—it all played on a loop in his head as he rode his bike through the dimly lit streets.

Naina had told him to wait at the station. To let the police handle it.

But Karan couldn't just sit there.

Not when Riya's life was on the line.

His phone buzzed. An unknown number.

His grip tightened on the handlebars as he answered. "Who the hell is this?"

A low chuckle echoed through the speaker.

"You're getting close, Karan. But are you ready for what comes next?"

Karan's blood boiled. "Where is she?!"

Another chuckle. Then, the voice became eerily calm.

"Check your messages."

Karan's fingers trembled as he tapped into his messages. A new text had arrived.

A location. A pin dropped on a map.

Karan didn't hesitate. He revved the engine and sped toward the destination.

The location led him to a deserted warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Broken windows, rusted metal doors—it looked abandoned.

But Karan knew better.

Leaving his bike outside, he stepped in cautiously. The air smelled of damp wood and dust. A single, flickering bulb hung from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Then—he heard it.

Another muffled sound. It was coming from deeper inside.

Karan ran forward, weaving through the empty crates and metal racks. Then, in the center of the room, he saw her.

Riya. Tied to a chair. Her eyes wide, her face pale.

Relief flooded his chest. "Riya! Hold on, I—"

She shook her head frantically.

Then he saw her hands.

She wasn't struggling—she was signaling.

Something slammed against the back of his head.

Pain exploded in his skull. His vision blurred. His knees buckled.

The last thing he saw before darkness consumed him was Riya's tear-filled eyes.

Then—everything went black.

Chapter 21: Karan Walks into a Trap