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The Abyss of Sorrow 
by Kathleen McCluskey 

The old cathedral stood for centuries, it’s dark corridors whispered of unspeakable horrors. Nathan, lured by the possibility of an adrenaline rush, ventured inside. The moment he crossed the threshold, the outside world ceased to exist.

The narrow, arched hallway was shrouded in darkness. The only dim light emanating at the end of the hallway was from a large, stained glass window that seemed to call to Nathan. The atmosphere was thick and oppressive, the stifling heat was almost unbearable. The scent of mildew and decay wafted through the air. Each step echoed ominously, it was as if the building was alive and listening.

As Nathan approached the windows, he felt an inexplicable pull. It was a compulsion to touch the glass. His fingers brushed the cold surface and the light seemed to grow brighter, casting long, eerie shadows that danced along the walls. It was then he heard it. A low guttural whisper, called his name.

Heart pounding, Nathan turned to leave, but the hallway had stretched impossibly long. He paused. The exit was now a distant memory. Panic surged through him. Beads of sweat formed at his brow. He continued to mindlessly stroke the glass like a lover, as a sharp piece of protruding metal from the panes sliced his palm open. Blood began to well up and drip onto the floor below.

The whispers grew louder, transforming into a chorus of agonized cries. Each voice was filled with torment and despair. His blood seeped into the cracks of the ancient stone floor. It vanished as if the cathedral itself were drinking it. Suddenly the ground trembled. A large fissure opened at Nathan’s feet. From the darkness below, a demonic entity emerged. Its massive ram’s horns almost touched the ceiling and its eyes burned with a malevolent hunger.The smell of sulfur swirled around the beast. It towered over Nathan, its form shifting and writhing as if it were made of shadows and flame. The air around him became filled with static as it crackled and hummed with dark energy.

The demon’s voice was a symphony of terror that echoed through the hallway. “You have awakened me.” It hissed. “Your blood has sealed your fate.”

Nathan stumbled backward, sheer terror blurred his vision. The demon’s clawed hand reached out. With a swift, brutal motion it seized Nathan by the throat. His screams were cut short as the demon effortlessly lifted him into the air. Its grip was like iron.

The demon dragged Nathan toward the fissure, its laughter mingling with the cathedral’s sinister whispers. As he was pulled down into the abyss, Nathan’s mind shattered, consumed by the horrors that awaited him.

The old cathedral stood silent once more, a beacon for the damned. It awaited its next victim. The light from the stained glass flickered briefly, as if mocking the hope that it once offered.

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Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Pexels.com 

More from Kathleen McCluskey:

The Long Fall: Book 1: The Inception of Horror

Lucifer always cunning and intelligent challenges father to a battle of wits. Being the angel of light he casts a judgemental eye upon mankind. He begins a war with his fellow archangels and God. Michael, along with his siblings defend their home and mankind from their deranged brother. Broad swords and hand to hand combat drench heaven in blood. The four apocalyptic steeds are released, each having their own destructive power. Betrayal and lust are at biblical levels. Understand the very creation of evil and the consequenses that transpire in the first of THE LONG FALL series.

Available on Amazon!