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 breathing was ragged, his wrists raw from struggling against the restraints. His entire body burned with pain, but none of it compared to the rage boiling inside him.

The killer was enjoying this.

He paced around them slowly, like a predator circling its prey. The knife twirled between his fingers, gleaming under the dim light.

"You know," the masked man mused, "people break in different ways. Some give up when they feel physical pain. Others?" He turned to Karan and tilted his head. "They break when they watch someone else suffer."

Karan gritted his teeth. "You think you can mess with my head?" he spat. "You're just a coward hiding behind a mask."

The killer chuckled. "Oh, Karan. You're trying so hard to act tough."

He suddenly grabbed Riya by the hair, yanking her head back.

Riya gasped, her eyes widening in fear.

Karan's entire body tensed. "LET HER GO!" he roared, struggling against the ropes.

The killer laughed softly. "See? That's your weakness. You don't care what happens to yourself. But the moment she's in danger—" He dragged the tip of the knife across Riya's cheek, not cutting, just teasing.

Karan's chest heaved with fury. "I swear, if you hurt her—"

The killer interrupted, his tone almost playful. "You'll do what, exactly? You can't move. You can't fight. You can't do anything."

Riya squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep herself from crying.

Karan felt helpless.

The killer leaned in close to Riya's ear. "Want to know something fun?" he whispered. "Karan here is going to watch you suffer. And by the end of it? He'll be the one begging me to kill you."

Karan's rage erupted. "NO! I'LL KILL YOU!"

The killer stepped back and smirked under the mask. "That's more like it."

He tapped the blade against his gloved hand. "Let's see how long it takes before you lose your mind."

Karan's heart pounded.

The real torture was just beginning.

Chapter 23: A Psychological Game