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 surviving cultist sat slumped against the van, his hands bound behind his back. Blood trickled down his temple from the crash, but his expression remained eerily calm.

As if he knew something they didn't.

Aryan, Naina, Karan, and Riya stood around him, their expressions cold, unyielding. They didn't have time to play games.

Naina crouched in front of him, her gun resting against her knee. "We're done wasting time."

The cultist chuckled, a low, hollow sound. "Time? Time is an illusion."

Aryan's jaw tightened. "Not when you're bleeding out."

The cultist met Aryan's eyes and grinned.

"The Purging is already set in motion," he murmured. "And the Abyss is hungry."

Naina grabbed the cultist by his collar, yanking him forward.

"Where is it happening?" she hissed.

The cultist licked his cracked lips. "It does not matter. You cannot stop it."

Karan let out a frustrated breath. "We are not doing this today."

He pulled out his gun, cocking it loudly. "Start talking, or I swear—"

The cultist's smirk didn't fade. "Do what you will. The Abyss welcomes all."

Naina pressed the barrel of her gun against his chest. "Where. Is. The. Ritual?"

The cultist sighed, closing his eyes for a moment.

Then—he whispered the words they had been waiting for.

Aryan's eyes narrowed. "What temple?"

The cultist exhaled slowly. "Fifty kilometers outside the city. In the opposite direction. A forgotten place, hidden in the jungle."

Riya's stomach twisted. "How many victims?"

The cultist opened his bloodstained lips and whispered—

A cold silence filled the air.

Then Aryan spoke, his voice low and sharp.

"What happens when the sacrifice is complete?"

The cultist's expression shifted slightly—a flicker of hesitation.

But just as quickly, he smiled again.

Aryan grabbed the cultist by the throat, slamming him against the van. "What does your leader gain from this?"

The cultist laughed softly, the sound sending chills through Riya.

"You ask questions you are not ready for."

Naina gritted her teeth. "Tell us."

The cultist's smile vanished. His eyes darkened, voice a whisper.

He leaned forward, lips curling into something twisted.

"He seeks ascension."

A chill ran through the group.

Karan snapped. "What the hell does that mean?"

But the cultist only shook his head.

Karan's finger tightened on the trigger. "Try me."

Then—the cultist chuckled.

And he said nothing.

Karan's patience snapped.

A gunshot rang through the night.

The cultist's head jerked back, blood splattering against the van as his body went limp.

The air was thick, suffocating.

Karan holstered his gun. His face was unreadable.

"He wasn't going to tell us anything else."

Aryan clenched his fists. "We could have—"

Karan turned sharply. "No. He was stalling."

His voice was calm, but edged with anger.

"If we stop the sacrifice, we stop the leader from getting what he wants. That's all that matters."

Aryan exhaled sharply, rubbing his face.

Because deep down, he knew it was true.

The four of them stood in grim silence, the body of the cultist lying at their feet.

"We have the location. We don't have time to wait."

Karan checked his ammo. "How many weapons do we have?"

Riya opened the truck's glove compartment. "Not enough."

Naina's gaze was cold, calculating.

Aryan's voice was steady, determined.

And with that, they climbed into the truck—

And drove toward the temple of death.

Chapter 45: The Purging