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 night air was thick with tension as Aryan gripped the steering wheel of the stolen truck, his heart pounding in his chest. The black van raced ahead, weaving dangerously through the highway, its tires screeching against the asphalt.

Inside that van was Naina.

And he was not letting her go.

Karan and Riya sat beside him, their faces set in grim determination.

"We're getting her back," Aryan muttered, his knuckles turning white.

The headlights illuminated the van's rear window.

Through the tinted glass, Aryan saw her.

Naina—bound, struggling, but alive.

For a split second, their eyes met.

The cultists inside the van must have realized they were being followed, because almost immediately, the back doors swung open.

A masked man appeared, gripping a gun.

A gunshot rang out, the bullet shattering the truck's windshield. Glass shards rained over them, but Aryan didn't slow down.

Karan grabbed a flare gun. "Let me handle this."

He leaned out of the window, took aim—

The flare shot through the night sky, hitting the van's back tire.

The result was immediate.

The van skidded violently, swerving out of control before crashing into a metal barricade.

The doors burst open, and two masked cultists stumbled out.

One of them—injured but alive.

The other? Dead on impact.

His only concern was inside the van.

He ran forward, yanking the doors open—

Her wrists were bound, but her eyes were sharp, unwavering.

"Took you long enough."

Aryan let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

He pulled out his knife and cut the ropes, his hands brushing against hers for the briefest moment. Naina rubbed her wrists, smiling.

Karan and Riya frowned. "Message?"

Naina stepped out of the van, standing tall despite the ordeal. "When we entered the factory, I nudged Aryan. I saw the van."

Naina smirked. "I had a feeling they'd try to take me. And if we played it right…" She gestured toward the surviving cultist, who was groaning in pain on the ground.

"…we'd get one of them to talk."

Karan whistled. "Damn. That's why you went with them so easily?"

Naina shrugged. "I'm a cop. Saving a victim is my job. But this time, I was making sure we could end this once and for all."

Riya shook his head in disbelief. "You could've told me."

Aryan huffed a small laugh. "You're impossible."

She smiled. "But the love part was true."

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Then, slowly—Aryan stepped forward.

Their faces were inches apart now.

A moment of undeniable truth.

And just as their lips were about to meet—

Karan cleared his throat.

Aryan sighed, pulling back slightly.

Karan gestured toward the cultist. "Much as I hate to ruin the moment, we still have to interrogate that guy."

Naina chuckled. "We'll continue this later."

Aryan smirked. "Damn right we will."

And with that, they turned toward the surviving cultist.

Because now, the real questions were about to begin.

Chapter 44: The Chase