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 cemetery was quiet. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, carrying with it the faint scent of rain. The sun had begun to set, casting a golden glow over the two gravestones standing side by side.

Aryan and Naina stood before them, dressed in simple, respectful attire. Their expressions were solemn, their hearts heavy.

A small girl, no older than three, stood beside them, her tiny fingers clutching Aryan's sleeve.

In their hands, Aryan and Naina held garlands of fresh flowers. With slow, deliberate movements, they hung them over the gravestones.

The names etched in stone glowed softly in the evening light.

Then, Aryan whispered, his voice laced with sorrow.

Naina's eyes didn't leave the gravestones. "I was thinking something was off these past few days."

Aryan turned to her. "What do you mean?"

"You guys are the ones I heard about."

A man stood a few feet away, watching them.

Tall, dressed in casual but slightly rugged clothes, his presence seemed both calm and unsettling. His eyes carried a sharp intelligence, as if he had seen too much.

Aryan's jaw tightened. "Who are you?"

The man stepped closer, offering a small nod.

Naina's eyes narrowed. "Your face… looks familiar."

Arjun smirked slightly. "Maybe you've seen me before." His gaze darkened. "Or maybe… we've all been chasing the same ghosts."

Aryan crossed his arms. "And what exactly have you heard about us?"

Arjun didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached into his jacket pocket.

"I'll explain," he said. "But first, you need to see this."

Aryan hesitated. Then—he turned to the small girl.

He knelt down, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"Nayra," he said gently, "why don't you go sit with your parents for a bit?"

The girl pouted but nodded. "Okay, Uncle."

She trotted off, sitting by the gravestones as if she understood the moment's importance.

Aryan stood back up, facing Arjun.

"Alright," he said. "Now, tell us."

Arjun pulled out a photograph and handed it to Aryan.

The second Aryan's eyes landed on it, his blood ran cold.

Slowly, he turned and passed it to Naina.

The moment Naina saw it—she staggered back.

"It's him." Aryan's voice was barely above a whisper.

Naina's fingers shook as she held the photo. "How is this possible?"

"I'll tell you along the way," he said. "But you need to trust me."

Then—he looked down at the photograph one last time.

A car crash belonging to Karan and Riya.

But standing beside the wreckage, in the background of the photograph—

"Death is a pause, not a period."

Epilogue: The Shadows of the Past