Dr. Evelyn Rourke thought she had left the shadows of her father's mysterious disappearance behind. But when she's called to lead an expedition into the Arctic's uncharted waters, she is drawn back into the unknown. A series of eerie, rhythmic whispers haunting the hydrophones aboard the Arctic Endeavor calls her to investigate-whispers that resonate deep within her soul, as if beckoning her toward something terrifyingly familiar. Accompanied by a fractured crew of scientists, a paranoid Captain, and Naomi, a fellow researcher plagued by haunting dreams of an ancient, submerged city, Evelyn discovers a chilling truth: beneath the ice lies a city-a city alive, shifting, and haunted by an entity older than time itself. As they dive deeper into the ruins, strange hallucinations plague the crew, revealing their darkest fears. But it's Evelyn's connection to the city-and its dark, monstrous god-Thal'Azar-that ties them all to a terrifying fate. When the body of a missing crew member is found, its skull marked with glowing symbols, Evelyn realizes the city is more than a mere structure. It is alive, feeding, and seeking something-someone. But the deeper they venture, the more personal the stakes become, especially when Evelyn uncovers her father's journals revealing a horrifying secret: her family's bloodline has been tied to Thal'Azar for generations. Her father wasn't lost at sea; he became part of the entity, and now, the god-like force stirs once more, seeking to escape its prison. As the crew spirals into madness, with Naomi succumbing to the whispers, Evelyn must confront the truth about her mother's involvement in a cult that once sought to contain Thal'Azar-a cult that may have kept her father's sacrifice hidden. Evelyn's drive to save the world battles her desperate need for closure and the truth about her father's fate. But the city has its own plans, and the closer they get to the heart of the ruins, the more reality bends, and the line between ally and enemy becomes blurred. With betrayal, sacrifice, and death around every corner, Evelyn must make a harrowing choice: complete the ritual to bind Thal'Azar forever, knowing it will require a sacrifice from her own bloodline, or risk the awakening of an ancient god capable of destroying humanity. As the walls of the city crumble, Evelyn confronts her darkest fears, the weight of her lineage, and a shocking revelation that could change the world as she knows it. But when the ritual is completed, Evelyn finds herself no longer the woman she was. The entity is not destroyed-it has transferred into her. With Thal'Azar's consciousness now fused with her own, Evelyn must confront a new terror: a life bound to the abyss, forever. The Abyss Within is a heart-pounding psychological thriller that blends suspense, horror, and mystery. With a captivating mix of ancient secrets, betrayal, and personal demons, this tale will leave you questioning what lies beneath the surface-and what might be waiting for you to uncover it.
The Arctic Endeavor cut through the icy waters with a low, steady groan, its hull breaking through frost-coated waves that glittered under the pale light of a steel-gray sky. Snow flurries drifted lazily, carried by the sharp wind that howled across the deck and seeped through layers of clothing. The crew, bundled in thick coats and scarves, moved with practiced efficiency as they prepared to deploy the hydrophones. Clouds of breath hung in the air, mingling with the faint scent of oil and seawater.
Dr. Evelyn Rourke stood near the ship's control station, her gloved hands gripping a weathered leather journal. The edges of the pages were dog-eared, frayed from years of handling. Inside were her father's notes-maps, theories, and cryptic musings that had consumed much of his life. Evelyn pressed her lips into a thin line, her sharp eyes scanning the activity on deck. Her expression betrayed no hint of the unease that coiled in her stomach. This mission wasn't just science; it was legacy.
"Hey, Rourke!" Naomi's voice cut through the cold, buoyant as ever. Evelyn turned slightly, catching sight of the marine biologist adjusting her gloves as she spoke to one of the technicians. "Make sure you don't drop that hydrophone. We're not exactly close to a bait shop if it goes overboard."
The technician chuckled nervously but tightened his grip on the equipment. Naomi's grin lingered only a moment before fading into a look of focused determination. She had a way of lightening the mood when tensions ran high, but even Naomi knew when to get serious.
Not far from them, Drew was hunched over a tablet, mumbling something under his breath. He'd been muttering all morning, his fingers tapping rapidly against the screen as he pored over seismic readings.
"This is where it starts," Drew said, his voice just loud enough to carry over the wind. "The whispers of the abyss. They say the deeper you go-"
"They say Drew spends too much time on Reddit," Naomi interrupted, rolling her eyes. She slapped the back of his parka lightly as she passed him. "Relax. It's just water and rocks. No eldritch horrors today."
Drew scowled but said nothing, his shoulders hunching further as he turned back to his tablet.
"Rourke." The voice came from behind her, low and steady. Evelyn didn"t need to turn to know it was Captain Graves. The older woman was as much a fixture of the ship as the engine itself-stoic, no-nonsense, and with a knack for making people feel as if they were always one mistake away from a lecture.
"Graves," Evelyn replied, her tone neutral.
Graves stepped up beside her, her weathered face unreadable beneath the brim of her woolen cap.
"Keep it tight out here. One slip, one mistake, and we're all going home in body bags. This kind of mission-things go south fast."
Evelyn glanced sideways at her, nodding curtly. "I've got it under control."
"Good." Graves lingered a moment longer before moving on, her boots crunching against the icy deck.
Evelyn exhaled slowly, tilting her head back to watch the sky. The sun hung low, casting the world in shades of gray and blue. It was the kind of landscape that swallowed you whole if you let it. But Evelyn wasn't here to admire the scenery. She was here to uncover what lay beneath it.
"Hydrophones are ready!" someone called from the deck. The crew shifted into action, moving to secure the cables and double-check connections. Evelyn moved closer, watching as the first hydrophone was lowered into the water. The cable unspooled with a steady hum, disappearing into the dark, icy depths.
The operation was routine. The Arctic Endeavor was outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment designed to withstand extreme conditions. Evelyn had overseen every detail of the preparation herself. Still, her stomach churned as she watched the hydrophone descend, vanishing into the void.
In the control room, the team gathered around the consoles. The hydrophone feed crackled to life, filling the room with the ambient noise of the ocean-a low, steady rumble punctuated by the occasional creak of shifting ice. Evelyn stood at the center, her eyes fixed on the monitors.
"Sounds normal so far," Naomi said, leaning over one of the consoles. Her tone was casual, but Evelyn could see the tension in her shoulders.
Drew stood a few feet away, arms crossed tightly over his chest. He didn't say anything, but his eyes darted between the screens with an intensity that bordered on obsessive.
Then, the sound changed.
At first, it was subtle-a faint rhythm buried beneath the ocean's ambient noise. It was easy to dismiss as interference or mechanical feedback. But as the crew listened, the rhythm grew clearer, more deliberate. It was a low, pulsing thrum, like a heartbeat reverberating through a cavernous space.
Naomi frowned, her fingers hovering over the controls. "What is that? A whale, maybe?"
"Not any whale I've ever heard," one of the technicians muttered.
The pulses continued, steady and unrelenting. And then, almost imperceptibly, the whispers began.
They were faint, more felt than heard-a soft, unintelligible murmur that seemed to drift in and out of the feed. The room fell silent as everyone strained to listen. The whispers grew louder, intertwining with the rhythmic thrum. There were no words, just a haunting melody of voices that seemed to echo from the deepest recesses of the ocean.
Evelyn"s breath caught in her throat. Her hands gripped the edge of the console so tightly her knuckles turned white. The sound wasn"t unfamiliar. She"d heard it before, years ago, in her father"s recordings.
"Cut the feed,"she said abruptly, her voice sharp and trembling.
Naomi looked at her, startled. "What? Why?"
"Just do it!" Evelyn snapped.
Naomi hesitated but complied, her fingers moving quickly over the controls. The whispers vanished, replaced by the sterile hum of the equipment.
The silence in the room was deafening. Drew was the first to speak.
"Told you,"he said, his voice low and unsteady. "It's the abyss calling."
Naomi let out a nervous laugh, trying to break the tension. "Come on, Drew. It's just-probably geological activity. Or feedback. Right, Evelyn?"
Evelyn didn"t answer. She stared at the console, her face pale, her mind racing. The whispers had felt alive, tangible in a way that defied logic. She could still hear them, faint and lingering in the back of her mind.
"It's nothing," she said finally, her voice flat."Just interference."
But even as she spoke, she knew it wasn't true. The whispers weren't interference. They were a warning.
As the crew dispersed, muttering amongst themselves, Evelyn remained rooted in place. Her hand drifted to the journal at her side, fingers brushing over the worn leather. Her father's words echoed in her mind: "The deeper you go, the louder they get."
She swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on the dark water outside the window. The abyss was calling. And it had already begun.
Elena, a once-proud Luna, has been cursed by an ancient witch to live through an endless loop of love and heartbreak. In each reincarnation, Elena finds her destined mate-only to suffer rejection. The curse condemns her to repeat this cycle one hundred times, each life marked by fresh heartbreak and loss. Now, on her hundredth life, Elena awakens with memories from each past life intact and a fierce determination to break free. But time is running out, and her power is tied to the pain she's endured in each life, making each new encounter both a gift and a weight. This time, she has more allies and enemies than ever before. She meets Rylan, her current fated mate, an aloof and skeptical alpha scarred by betrayal in his own past. He doesn't want to be tied down by destiny, especially not to a mate who seems too mysterious to trust. But Elena is different now-older, wiser, and able to draw on powers she didn't realize she had. Her past lives have given her hidden strengths, but they're only unlocked through moments of great emotional clarity. To break the curse, she must gain not just Rylan's acceptance but also his trust, all while staying one step ahead of the witch determined to watch her suffer forever.
Drugged and deceived, she bore a child amidst tragedy-her son, falsely declared dead at birth. Fueled by the agony, she disappeared, only to return years later with both her daughter and an adopted son, driven by an unyielding desire for revenge against those who had wronged her and her late mother. The plot takes an unexpected twist when the haunting truth surfaces: her son is alive, and his father is a powerful CEO.
My family was on the poverty line and had no way to support me in college. I had to work part-time every day just to make ends meet and afford to get into the university. That was when I met her—the pretty girl in my class that every boy dreamt of asking out. I was well aware she was out of my league. Nevertheless, I mustered all my courage and bravely told her that I had fallen for her. To my surprise, she agreed to be my girlfriend. With the sweetest smile I had ever seen, she told me that she wanted my first gift for her to be the latest and top-of-the-line iPhone. I worked like a dog and even did my classmates’ laundry to save up. My hard work eventually paid off after a month. I finally got to buy what she wanted. But as I was wrapping my gift, I saw her in the dressing room, making out with the captain of the basketball team. She then heartlessly made fun of my inadequacy and made a fool out of me. To make things worse, the guy whom she cheated on me with even punched me in the face. Desperation washed over me, but there was nothing I could do but lie on the floor as they trampled on my feelings. But then, my father called me out of the blue, and my life turned upside down. It turned out that I was a billionaire's son.
P-please, I beg you. Come let's go tell Christian I had no hand in whatever happened, p-please." I clutched the lapel of his jacket desperately. "Let's go. You need to tell my husband you were paid." "Young lady, you're harassing me." His tone was cold and his stare granite. But I could care less. "You harassed me first! You had sex with me without my consent, my husband knows and now I'm pregnant with this child he doesn't want. You ruined my marriage! I-I hate you!" ************************************ Caught by her husband with another man on their matrimonial bed the morning after her birthday, Hailey Codza could not defend herself. As though it's not enough, she gets pregnant. Her enraged husband decides to pay her back for her infidelity by having an affair with his ex-girlfriend - Denise Kellers, the family Hailey never knew she had. Losing her family's wealth and company to her husband and his ex (now girlfriend), she is devastated, homeless and penniless as all her credit cards are blocked by her husband. She sees the man who is responsible for her pregnancy. The man she has no idea how he'd found his way to her matrimonial bed - Jared Johnson. Jared is annoyed when this strange woman disrupts his meeting and accuses him of ruining her life, marriage and impregnating her. It affects his business deals and having no choice, he marries her to calm the public whilst engaged to someone else. But he loathes her and allows his family treats her badly. Hailey who has fallen in love with Jared is broken when she can no longer take the humiliation. She signs the divorce papers and leaves, only to arrive six years later to the country as a self-made, secret billionaire and a mother of twins. Now her two ex-husbands are begging to have her back...
The day Lilah found out that she was pregnant, she caught her fiancé cheating on her. Her remorseless fiancé and his mistress almost killed her. Lilah fled for her dear life. When she returned to her hometown five years later, she happened to save a little boy's life. The boy's father turned out to be the world's richest man. Everything changed for Lilah from that moment. The man didn't let her experience any inconvenience. When her ex-fiancé bullied her, he crushed the scumbag's family and also rented out an entire island just to give Lilah a break from all the drama. He also taught Lilah's hateful father a lesson. He crushed all her enemies before she even asked. When Lilah's vile sister threw herself at him, he showed her a marriage certificate and said, "I'm happily married and my wife is much more beautiful than you are!" Lilah was shocked. "When did we ever get married? Last I checked, I was still single." With a wicked smile, he said, "Honey, we've been married for five years. Isn't it about time we had another child together?" Lilah's jaw dropped to the floor. What the hell was he talking about?
In their three years of marriage, Chelsea had been a dutiful wife to Edmund. She used to think that her love and care would someday melt Edmund's cold heart, but she was wrong. Finally, she couldn't take the disappointment any longer and chose to end the marriage. Edmund had always thought that his wife was just boring and dull. So it was shocking when Chelsea suddenly threw divorce papers at his face in front of everyone at the Nelson Group's anniversary party. How humiliating! After that, everyone thought that the formerly-married couple would never see each other again, even Chelsea. Once again, she thought wrong. Sometime later, at an award ceremony, Chelsea went onstage to accept the award for best screenplay. Her ex-husband, Edmund, was the one presenting the award to her. As he handed her the trophy, he suddenly reached for her hand and pleaded humbly in front of the audience, "Chelsea, I'm sorry I didn't cherish you before. Could you please give me another chance?" Chelsea looked at him indifferently. "I'm sorry, Mr. Nelson. My only concern now is my business." Edmund's heart was shattered into a million pieces. "Chelsea, I really can't live without you." But his ex-wife just walked away. Wasn't it better for her to just concentrate on her career? Men would only distract her—especially her ex-husband.
"The entire wealthy circle in Seattle knew how much Stella Carlson loved Aaron Malone. People watched the childhood sweethearts grow from inexperience to maturity, finally getting married in a grand wedding ceremony. On the day of the wedding, despite the alliance between the Carlson and Malone families, the groom ran away. Stella knew that Aaron had rushed to L.A. to take care of his ex-girlfriend, who had attempted suicide. Unwilling to become the laughingstock of all Seattle, she gritted her teeth and dialed the number of her adversary, her tone almost commanding, "Ethan, come and marry me now. This is your only chance for revenge." On the other end, Ethan Powers raised an eyebrow as he gripped his phone, staring at the floor littered with cigarette butts. "Did the groom run away?" he asked. "My darling."