Chapter 1 – At the Abyss’s Maw

[Surface – 0m Underground]

“It’s dangerous.”

I’d said it countless times. But she wouldn’t listen.

“You have to go back, Yuri.”

I spoke, glancing back from atop the steep slope. Loose rocks skittered beneath my boots, tumbling into the gaping maw below.

The colossal spiral staircase descended into darkness, swallowing light like a black mire.

They called it the Abyss.

An endless descent, it never released those who dared enter. That was the only certainty I held onto. And yet, knowing this, I still came.

“Go back,” I repeated, my voice echoing in the desolate silence.

I knew she’d followed me. I’d sensed her presence the moment I’d set foot on this cursed path. Still, I clung to a sliver of hope that she’d turn back.

Yuri remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze unwavering.

It was the same stubborn look she’d worn as a child, the one that always preceded an unshakeable decision.

“I’m going too.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. I hadn’t expected such unwavering resolve.

“Yuri, your presence here is danger enough. I want you safe. This isn’t some childish adventure.”

“Then why can you go? Why is it okay for you, but not me? Doesn’t that seem strange?”

Her words, though simple, struck a nerve. I hesitated, searching for the right words, but she pressed closer.

The wind whipped at her hair, tugging at the edges of her leather jacket and swirling around her ankle-high boots. Her attire was ordinary, yet her determination radiated like an unyielding flame.

“Yuri, if we go any deeper… we may not return.”

“I’ll stay by your side. That’s all that matters.”

Her voice held a steely resolve that silenced my protests. A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

“You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

“You won’t last down there.”

I busied myself checking the equipment in my bag, hoping to delay the inevitable.
Please, just turn back.

“You’ll regret this. Deeply.”

“Then keep me safe.”

Her tone was light, almost playful, but a current of something deeper ran beneath the surface.

“Yuri, this isn’t a game.” My voice rose, sharpened by frustration. “The Abyss offers no second chances, no time for regret. Someone like you—”

“Just an ordinary kid, right?” she finished, her voice low, edged with an unfamiliar sharpness. “But I’ll regret it more if I’m not with you.”

Her unwavering gaze held mine. Was I the one wavering?

“You’re not someone who should be left alone,” she added softly.

Her words pierced me. She was right. We’d been inseparable since childhood. But this… this was different. The Abyss wasn’t a playground.

I sighed. Yuri held up a small bag. “I’m ready. I won’t slow you down.”

I stared at her, a long, searching look. Finally, I shook my head.

No choice, I suppose.

“Fine. You can come. But you follow my orders. Understood?”

“Orders? Are you a cop now?”

“In the Abyss, explorers are the law.”

My voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

She tilted her head, a thoughtful expression flickering across her face before she slowly nodded.

“Okay. But don’t ignore me when I point out your flaws.” A mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes. That look… it worried me.

[Abyss – 1st Floor Entrance – 10m Underground]

We stood on the first step. The spiral staircase bored down into the earth, an endless descent into darkness.

The air was cold, heavy with a dampness that clung to our skin. The chill seeped into my bones, raising gooseflesh on my arms.

“Stay close. Don’t let go of my hand.”

“Never.”

The staircase groaned beneath our weight, pebbles crumbling and falling into the void. They vanished into the abyss without a sound.

Tap. Tap.

As I took the first step, the cold air bit at my lungs, a sharp, metallic tang.

“Can you feel it?”

“Feel what?”

“This place… something’s wrong.”

Yuri scanned the darkness, her gaze sharp.

“Seems quiet enough.”

A faint susurrus drifted up from the depths, growing steadily louder, the sound of wind in a place where there should be no wind. The air was stagnant, oppressive. A prickling sensation crawled up my spine.

“Stop.”

I raised a hand, halting her. The wind died, replaced by an unsettling silence. Then, a faint scratching sound reached our ears.

Skritch. Skritch.

“Do you hear that?” Yuri whispered, her voice barely audible.

I nodded, straining to decipher the source. The sound was erratic, like something dragging itself across stone.

“Something’s there.”

I drew my knife, the cold steel a comforting weight in my hand.

Yuri’s fingers tightened around my arm, trembling.

“What… what is it?”

“I don’t know. Stay close.”

The scratching stopped. The silence deepened, pressing in on us like a physical force.

Then, as if summoned by our intrusion, a shape coalesced in the darkness below. At first, it was merely a deeper shadow, a distortion in the dim light. But as it ascended the stairs, details began to emerge.

Long, spindly limbs. Fingers tipped with hooked claws.

Skritch. Skritch.
The scratching resumed, closer now, more insistent.

It was a headless torso, its twisted form propelled by those grotesque arms.

“What is that?” Yuri breathed, her voice tight with fear.

I didn’t answer. I pushed her behind me, raising my knife.

The Entity continued its relentless climb, its claws scraping against the stone, just steps away.

“We have to run.”

Yuri nodded, her eyes wide.

“But where? Back up?”

I shook my head. Up was no longer an option. The Abyss had us in its grip.

“Down.”

I pulled her back, turning to descend.

“Ready?”

She hesitated, then nodded, her face pale in the dim light.

We ran. The stairs groaned and crumbled beneath our pounding feet, the darkness swallowing our footsteps.

Skritch. Skritch. Skritch.

The Entity was gaining. The sound of its claws was closer, faster, more frantic.

“Faster! Run!”

Yuri’s hand, icy cold, gripped mine. Was it fear, or the chill of the Abyss seeping into her?

“It’s close! It’s going to get us!”

The staircase twisted sharply.

“Jump! As high as you can!”

She hesitated, but the Entity was almost upon us. I shoved her forward. She leaped into the darkness.

[Abyss – 2nd Floor Entrance – 51m Underground]

I landed hard, the impact jarring my bones. As I pushed myself up, I glanced back. The Entity was gone.

But the darkness remained, thick and oppressive, laced with a chilling presence.

“You alright?” I asked, turning to Yuri.

She nodded, pushing herself to her feet, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

“Yeah. Fine. You?”

“Still breathing.”

But the Abyss wasn’t finished with us.

A faint light flickered below, not the warm glow of the surface, but the cold, ethereal luminescence of the Abyss’s depths. It beckoned us deeper.

I took Yuri’s hand.

“Let’s go. No turning back now.”

“…Okay.”

We continued our descent, the Abyss watching our every move.

The ground became soft, yielding beneath our feet. It was no longer stone, but something damp and clinging.

The surrounding darkness pulsed with an unseen life, amplifying the sound of our breathing.

“Do you think it’s still following us?” Yuri whispered, glancing nervously over her shoulder.

“I don’t know. But we can’t stop.”

The cold air gave way to a cloying humidity. A coppery tang hung in the air.

“Do you… smell that?” Yuri wrinkled her nose.

Blood.

The thick, metallic scent of old blood permeated the air, clinging to the back of my throat.

“Something’s here.”

I scanned the darkness, my eyes straining to penetrate the gloom.

My foot landed in something wet. I looked down. A faint light glinted off a spreading puddle. Blood.

“What… what is that? Is it blood?” Yuri’s voice trembled.

I stepped back. The puddle deepened, ripples spreading across its surface.

Movement.

Something stirred within the crimson depths.

“It’s moving!”

An arm shot out from the pool of blood.

“Run!”

I grabbed Yuri’s hand and sprinted forward, the sickening squelch of blood beneath our feet.

More arms erupted from the spreading pool, reaching, grasping.

“Don’t let go!”

Ahead, a sliver of light shone through a narrow fissure in the wall. Our only hope.

“There! Through there!” Yuri cried, pointing towards the gap.

We scrambled through the narrow opening, squeezing through the tight space. The cold stone scraped against my skin.

“We made it!”

We stumbled into a vast chamber, blinking against the sudden brightness. But this wasn’t the warm light of the sun. It was a cold, sharp luminescence that reflected off the polished walls and mirrored floor. The chamber seemed to stretch endlessly, the ceiling and floor indistinguishable in their smooth, reflective surfaces.

“What… what is this place?” Yuri breathed, her voice hushed with awe.

I didn’t answer. A sudden chill ran down my spine.

In the mirrored floor, reflected between our two figures, another shape stood, silent and watchful. It stared at us, its gaze cold and unnerving.