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

A few hours later, Karan and Riya met up with Aryan and Naina, explaining what they had found in Rohan's apartment.

When Karan mentioned the circled ritual site, Aryan's mind clicked into place.

"It's the same pattern," he said. "The cult always chooses their sacrifice sites carefully. If Rohan figured it out…"

"…Then maybe we just found their next killing ground," Naina finished.

Riya shivered. "So what do we do?"

Aryan's expression hardened.

Naina hesitated. "We have no idea what we're walking into."

Aryan exhaled. "That's exactly why we have to go."

Because for the first time, they weren't just reacting.

They were taking the fight to the cult.

Deep in a forest clearing, a group of hooded figures stood around an ancient stone altar.

Torches flickered in the night, casting dancing shadows across the moss-covered ruins.

A single man in a mask stood before them, his voice low and commanding.

The man raised a bloodied knife, his voice cold and final.

"Let us give them death instead."

The torches flared brighter.

The ritual had already begun.

And Aryan's team was walking straight into the abyss.

Chapter 36 - A Fateful Decision