Chapter 1. The Call of the Abyss

The city where Ren lived was dull and bleak. The houses stood close together, and the streets were narrow. Everything was calm, gray, and gloomy. Even though Ren had lived here all his life, he never felt like he truly belonged to this world. He was not alone—he had friends, even very good friends.

Yet, deep inside, the words never left him: "You do not belong to this world."

— Hey, Ren! — a black-haired guy called out to him. — Why so lost in thought?

Ren shrugged and smirked. Since morning, an odd feeling hadn’t let him go—as if beyond this reality, something greater existed. But he wasn’t about to talk about it.

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— It’s nothing… — he said, kicking a small stone.

The evening promised to be just as usual. They were gathering at the old bridge, from where Lake Kali could be seen. This lake was mysterious, both mesmerizing and eerie at the same time. Many rumors and legends surrounded it. Its waters were always dark, even on sunny days. Locals used to say the lake "didn’t like the unnecessary."

— Let’s go for a swim, huh? — suggested Ethan, a tall guy with curly black hair.

Ren hesitated. He didn’t like water, but this time, for some reason, he didn’t refuse. Taking off his jacket, he stepped into the lake, feeling the cold seep into his body. The water was eerily warm for the night.

— Hey, let’s dive! — Stan shouted to Ren.

Ren hesitated and prepared to go underwater.

One second.

Then another…

A third…

Silence.

Something grabbed his ankle.

He jerked, his foot caught in something sticky. Struggling to break free, he choked, his lungs tightening as darkness swallowed everything around him. Panic struck his mind.

But then… everything went still.

His body sank, yet the fear faded into an eerie calm.

Lake Kali was taking him, but somehow… it felt right.

The last thing he

saw was a shimmering light deep below.