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's head throbbed as he slowly regained consciousness. His entire body ached, and the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

When he tried to move, he realized he couldn't.

His arms were tied behind his back, his ankles bound to the legs of a chair. His vision was blurry, but as his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he saw her—

She was tied to a chair opposite him, her eyes filled with fear and pain. Her wrists were red from struggling against the ropes, but she was still alive.

"K-Karan…" she whispered, her voice hoarse.

Karan's rage burned through the pain. "I'm here," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll get us out of this."

A slow, mocking clap filled the room.

"Ah, how touching," a voice sneered.

Karan's blood turned cold.

The masked man stepped out from the shadows, his curly hair visible under the dim light. He twirled a small blade between his fingers, his movements slow and deliberate.

"You just couldn't stay away, could you, Karan?" the killer said, his voice filled with amusement. "So predictable."

Karan glared at him. "If you so much as touch her, I'll—"

A sharp pain tore through his side.

Karan gasped as the blade sliced into his arm. The killer didn't even hesitate.

Riya let out a muffled scream. "Stop! Please!"

The man tilted his head, as if considering her words. Then, he crouched beside Karan, his masked face just inches away.

"Pain is a fascinating thing, don't you think?" he whispered. "It breaks people. Makes them weak. And you?" He grabbed Karan's jaw roughly. "You're going to break."

Karan spat blood in his direction. "Screw you."

The killer chuckled. "Oh, I like you."

He stood up and walked over to Riya.

Karan's heart pounded. "No. Don't you—"

The killer dragged the blade across Riya's arm, just deep enough to draw blood. She flinched but bit her lip, refusing to cry out.

Karan's vision went red.

The killer sighed. "See, Karan? This isn't just about pain. It's about control." He wiped the blood off the blade and leaned closer to Riya.

"Let's see how long it takes before you beg me to end it."

Karan struggled against his restraints, his muscles burning.

But no matter how hard he fought, he was powerless.

And the killer was just getting started.

Chapter 22: Torture Begins