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

Inside, the hut was dimly lit, the only source of light being a single lantern on the table. Shelves lined the walls, filled with strange relics, ancient books, and bottles filled with unknown substances.

At the center of the room sat an old man, his skin wrinkled and eyes clouded with age. But there was something unnerving about him.

His lips curled into a knowing smile.

"So," he murmured, his voice rough yet steady, "you seek knowledge of the Pendulum of Death."

Karan's jaw tightened. "What do you know about them?"

The Gatekeeper leaned forward, placing his gnarled hands on the table. "Everything."

Riya took a step closer. "Then tell us."

The man's expression darkened. "They are not just murderers. They are purifiers of wrongdoings. Or so they believe."

The Gatekeeper nodded. "For centuries, they have worshipped the Abyss. A gateway to something far worse than death. Every sacrifice they make is an offering. Every life taken strengthens the path to the Abyss."

Riya shivered. "But someone stopped them before. Didn't they?"

The old man chuckled, but there was no amusement in it. "Someone tried. A man—a warrior—interrupted their cycle, delaying their rituals. But the cult never truly dies."

Riya pressed on. "Where do they strike next?"

The Gatekeeper smiled again, but this time, it was haunting. "You already know. The parchment led you here. But tell me—do you truly believe you will stop them?"

Karan hated the way the question made him hesitate.

And in that moment—everything changed.

Riya gasped, stepping back. "What the—where did he go?"

Karan spun around. The entire hut was gone.

Instead, they were suddenly surrounded by dense fog.

Thick, swirling mist covered everything, consuming the trees, the ground, even the sky.

"Something's wrong," Riya whispered. "This isn't natural."

Karan grabbed her wrist. "We need to get out of here. Now."

They rushed to the car, but the fog only grew denser, twisting and moving like a living thing.

The fog shifted, twisting into a shape.

His eyes were hollow, lifeless. His mouth stretched into an inhuman grin.

His voice echoed, surrounding them.

"Neither forward… nor backward. The Abyss takes all."

Riya screamed as the fog lunged toward them.

Karan slammed his foot on the gas pedal, ramming the car straight into the Gatekeeper's mouth.

For a moment, everything went dark.

Riya was shaking. "Karan… what just happened?"

He gripped the wheel, his knuckles white. "We just got a warning."

And for the first time, he realized—this was bigger than anything they had ever imagined.

Chapter 39 – The Gatekeeper’s hut