Into The Narrowdark Novels & Stories

The transition from the deep, velvet darkness of our corner to the harsh reality of the warehouse floor was as jarring as a plunge into ice water. The indigo light of pre-dawn had just begun to touch the rafters, and the weight of Dante’s arm across me was the only thing keeping the encroaching dread at bay. We were on the precipice of sleep, that thin, hazy border where the mind finally lets go of the hunt, when the heavy groan of the side entrance door echoed through the cavernous space.

The one the note had been slipped through. Standing on my toes, I pushed at it. It gave slightly. I pushed harder, my muscles straining. With a soft grating sound, it shifted inward and then slid aside, revealing a narrow, dark hole—a forgotten chute or conduit, just wide enough for a small person to squeeze through. It was a way out. A terrifying, unknown way out. Taking a deep breath, I hoisted myself up, wriggling into the tight, dusty space. It was a tight fit, and the darkness was absolute. I crawled forward, guided only by touch, the sound of my own breathing loud in my ears.

They ventured through the door, into the Abyss. As the entryway slid closed behind them, fixing them inside the obscurity, the room's temperature plunged. The whispers were louder, more particular, as though the shadows themselves were talking. And after that within the pitch blackness, a combine of gleaming, ruddy eyes showed up afar off, taken after by a moo, throaty snarl. “Welcome,” a voice hissed from the darkness. “You’ve awakened me… and now, you’ll join the others.” Ethan’s blood ran cold as he realized they had not escaped, they had only descended deeper into the nightmare.

[--Kaiser Volkov--] I’m drowning in darkness, held in its vice-like grip, a weight pressing in from all sides. The air is thick and heavy, each breath a struggle that brings only more despair instead of relief. It’s as though I’m caught in some endless, inky void, with shadows clawing at me, pulling me deeper, binding me tighter. I can hear voices, distant and distorted, like whispers floating through the fog, just beyond reach. I try to make out their words, but they slip away like sand through my fingers, leaving only fragments—broken, mocking echoes that tear through my mind.

They urged me forward, their whispers a mix of despair and temptation, "We're waiting for you. The truth is yours to grasp, if you dare." Fear ran through me, twisting in my stomach like an unwelcome serpent. Still, curiosity sounded louder. My eyes moved forward into the pitch-black darkness, where a strange glow flickered at the end of a narrow passage. A spark of bright blue, like the ocean waves that touched the shores of my childhood, shimmered in the dark depths. My instincts warned me, but a wave of fascination pulled me closer as I cautiously moved toward the light.

Azora said. “Listen exactly to what Azora? To the darkness of this god damn cave or to your magic lantern or what?” She asked almost yelling. Azora chortled “to this you impatient child” Azora put her hand forward and moved the petals aside leading Carmella into what she would call another world.

The door creaks, revealing a long, narrow passageway that stretches into darkness. Without hesitation, Nerissa begins descending even farther, her amethyst tail glimmering in the faint light. Naida follows closely behind, her anticipation mingled with a touch of trepidation. The passage echoes with the sound of their synchronized fin movements as they navigate the hidden depths beneath the grand palace, their destination still unknown but their purpose unwavering.

I lose the battle with the darkness, which is also helped along by him as he whispers, "We are now connected... SLEEP!" The darkness then pulls me all the way under, making me collapse into his arms.

Breaking the protection of the pack to enter The Darkness was unheard of, but I was desperate. There was no way in Athena’s green earth I was getting hanged for a mistake! “That’s enough Bones…let her go.” My lungs felt like they were on fire as the elder’s distant bark echoed and I slipped through the gates…instantly blinded by the shadows.

We must stay united in order to persevere in this situation. They advanced, with each footstep leading them further into the depths of darkness. The scenery surrounding them contorted and distorted, shadows moving like living creatures. Unintelligible whispers hung in the air, eerie and ghostly, as though darkness itself was communicating with them. Xander experienced a shiver down his back, but he pushed himself to remain concentrated. The darkness was attempting to unsettle them, to weaken their determination. They were unable to allow it to be successful. As they continued exploring, they encountered a large, intimidating building. Before them, the looming entrance to the Nexus of Shadows