Heart of the Mountain
Copyright© 2026 by WittyUserName
Chapter 16
Horror Sex Story: Chapter 16 - The awakening of something ancient. Tragedy, horror, and romance mix. Will there be a happy ending?
Caution: This Horror Sex Story contains strong sexual content, including Ma/Fa Consensual Romantic Fiction Horror Paranormal
~Friday 24 July, 2026~
11:18 AM
Mike had spent most of Friday morning trying not to worry about Saturday. He wasn’t particularly successful, and the climbing gear spread across his living room floor didn’t help. Two coils of rope sat beside his coffee table, along with a harness, helmet, gloves, headlamps, and enough miscellaneous equipment to make his apartment look like the staging area for a rescue operation.
Crouching beside the harness, Mike ran his fingers along one of the straps. There was no fraying or signs of damage, so he set it aside. He had already checked over all of the equipment twice, but Mike couldn’t resist checking again. He only stopped when his phone started buzzing on the coffee table.
“Hello,” Mike answered the phone.
“I found a drone,” Sheriff Harper responded as a greeting.
“Good morning to you too,” Mike said sarcastically.
“It’s after eleven,” Harper protested.
“In the morning.”
“Anyway,” Harper began, drawing out the word, “I made some calls and got one of the units they used during the earlier searches.”
Mike looked at the ropes on his floor. “And?”
“And I’d rather lose a twelve-thousand dollar drone than drop you off a cliff.”
“You do care,” Mike smiled.
“Don’t make me reconsider,” Dan Harper’s voice grunted. “It was already a tough call.”
Mike leaned back. “I did consider suggesting a drone, but I thought they already searched the area?”
“They did.”
“Then what are we doing differently?” Mike asked.
There was a pause. “Bennett.”
“Gonna need a little more,” Mike probed.
“Amber Bennett.”
“Asshole,” Mike chuckled.
“You remember her? Pretty. Got a mouth on her, constantly curious?” Harper said in an amused tone. “Sorry, but if I don’t make light of seeing, well, what I saw, I think I’d go crazy. If I haven’t already.”
“I completely understand,” Mike replied.
“What I’m talking about is Bennett’s crevasse theory,” Harper explained. “The earlier teams were looking at the clearing, or around the base of the cliff. They swept the ridge. Trails. Clearing. Caves. Slopes. All while looking for people or an animal. No one was checking the cliff face for cracks.”
“Because even if an animal could climb that sheer granite, it wouldn’t have a nest inside,” Mike nodded in understanding.
“Right,” Harper said grimly. “Back when we thought we were dealing with a bear or mountain lion.”
Mike stood and walked toward the kitchen. “Sounds better than me poking my head in and hoping it doesn’t get ripped off. Should we launch from below?”
“I was thinking the clearing,” Harper answered. “We know where that stone circle is. Bennett thinks the cave is directly below that. Starting at the bottom means guessing exactly where the circle lines up with the cliff. Plus, it’s a shorter run to the stream if everything goes tits up.”
“So no ropes?” Mike asked as he opened the refrigerator and took out a sports drink.
“No, we bring everything,” Harper said. Drone first, then ropes if the drone doesn’t find anything.”
“Or in case some idiot needs to physically check what we find,” Mike deadpanned.
“And you’re the idiot in this scenario,” Dan agreed.
Mike took a sip of his drink. “We can’t get greedy. We find something with the drone, we don’t suddenly decide we’re exploring.”
“Agreed,” Harper confirmed. “If we find an opening, we document it and figure out how to access it safely. Maybe send the drone in if possible. Then we leave.”
Mike nodded even though Dan couldn’t see him. “And if we hear clicking we abandon the drone.”
“We’ll drop the controller if we have to.”
“Amber might fight you on that,” Mike smiled faintly.
“Then you carry her,” Dan grunted.
“No, thank you,” Mike said quickly. “She kind of scares me.”
“Yeah, me too,” Harper admitted.
Both men laughed.
Then Mike looked toward the ropes again. “Who’s flying it?”
“Bennett.”
The answer surprised Mike. “You ask her?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know she can fly a drone?”
“It’s a camera drone, not an F-16,” Harper answered. “Don’t archaeologists use them sometimes?”
“Drones or F-16s?” Mike laughed lightly.
“Mike,” Harper began, ignoring the question, “Bennett needs to direct the search anyway. You and I need to be watching the woods, not staring at a screen. A big reason not to send you on ropes is so we have another armed person who can hold that thing back.”
“We’ll teach her before we launch,” Mike insisted. “Someplace safe. I don’t want to be out there any longer than we have to.”
“Agreed.”
“What about the vests?” Mike asked.
“Working on it,” Harper answered.
“For all three of us?”
“All three,” Harper confirmed.
“Stab-resistant?” Mike questioned.
“Of course,” Harper said. “Getting helmets as well, and medical kits. We’ll each have a shotgun and a sidearm.”
“Anything else?”
“Radios, extra batteries, lights,” Dan listed. “The climbing gear you likely have scattered across your apartment.”
Mike frowned. “How’d you know that?”
“Because you’re you,” Harper laughed lightly.
“Fair,” Mike admitted.
Harper sighed. “Seven tomorrow morning. Ranger station.”
“We’ll be there,” Mike promised.
“We?”
Mike hesitated a moment too long.
“Carter,” Harper growled.
“What?” Mike asked lightly.
“You and Bennett aren’t planning another unauthorized field trip today, are you?” Harper questioned sternly.
“No,” Mike answered.
“Good.”
“We’re going to dinner,” Mike cleared his throat.
“And you’re assuming you two will be spending the night together?” Harper asked in an amused voice.
“I wouldn’t assume something like that,” Mike insisted.
“And yet you did,” Harper chuckled. “Which makes me wonder if maybe you already had spent a night or two together.”
“I, ah, I don’t kiss and tell,” Mike stammered.
“Of course you don’t,” Dan said. “Make sure you both show up tomorrow morning.”
“We will,” Mike promised.
“On time.”
“Yes,” Mike agreed.
“Sober.”
Mike laughed. “Anything else, Dad?”
“Use protection,” Dan grunted. “Seven in the morning.”
“Seven,” Mike confirmed. “And Dan?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks,” Mike said. “For the drone, the armor. Everything.”
Harper didn’t answer immediately. “We buried Eric and the others. We might be burying Marcus. No one else. You hear me? No one else.”
“No one else.”
The call ended.
Mike lowered his phone, staring at it as he held it in his hand. Then his eyes drifted toward the climbing equipment. Equipment for a climb he might no longer be making. Letting out a breath, Mike opened his texts. His conversation with Amber was near the top, along with the one with his big sister.
Mike: Change of plans for tomorrow. Harper got us a drone.
Amber: He willingly obtained modern technology based on my theory?
Mike: Apparently.
Amber: He likes me.:)
Mike: Don’t ever say that to him.
Amber: No promises. He’s not my boss.:P
Mike: He’s not mine either! Not really.
Amber: My boss is upset that we can’t research. I’ve been working at home.
Amber: Instead of out in the field where I belong.
Mike: Well, hopefully that can change soon.
Mike: Do you know how to use a drone?
Amber: Yes.
Amber: We’ve used them a few times to explore hard-to-reach sites.
Amber: You want me to pilot?
Mike: We’ll protect you.
Mike: With guns.
Amber: Do you mean those nice biceps of yours?;)
Mike: Thanks, but I meant actual guns.
Amber: Sure, I’ll pilot.
Amber: If you flex for me, big boy.:P
Mike: I’ll consider it.
Mike: We’ll meet at the station so you can practice with the drone.
Amber: Very well.
Amber: By the way, this conversation does not count as part of date three.
Mike: I never said it did.
Amber: Good. Because tonight has rules.
Mike: Rules?
Amber: 1. No monsters during dinner.
Amber: 2. No murder investigations.
Amber: 3. No archaeological mysteries.
Amber: 4. Absolutely no trespassing.
Mike: Dragons and shirtless guys are okay?
Amber: Those are always allowed.
Amber: Don’t be late.
5:52 PM
Mike checked the time on his phone before knocking. It felt important that he was eight minutes early. He was reasonably certain she had been joking, but he’d learn over the past few weeks never to assume anything when it came to Amber Bennett. Time with her often led to trespassing or discussing theories about supernatural entities that all logic said couldn’t exist.
He knocked. Something thumped inside.
“Coming!” Amber’s voice called out.
Mike smiled.
A second thump followed. “Ow.”
His smile widened. “You okay?”
“Yes!” she yelled. “No commentary!”
“I didn’t say anything,” he said through the door.
“You were thinking it!” Amber accused.
Mike chuckled, his grip tightening on the flowers in his hand. “Should I call an ambulance?”
“I’m reconsidering the date.”
“I’ll wait quietly,” he promised.
“Good.”
Several minutes passed as Mike heard movement from inside the apartment. He wasn’t sure if she was doing some last minute cleaning or actually moving furniture. Eventually, the lock clicked. Then the door opened and Mike completely forgot the joke he had been planning.
Amber’s chestnut-brown hair was falling in loose waves around her shoulders instead of pulled back into its usual ponytail. She still wore her thin-framed glasses, but she’d traded the field clothes for a dark green summer dress. The dress showed just a hint of cleavage, achieving elegance while also teasing him slightly. It fell to just above her knees, and she’d covered her feet with a pair of sandals.
She was simply Amber. And that was enough to completely erase Mike’s vocabulary yet again.
One corner of her mouth lifted. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Mike whispered.
Another few seconds passed. Amber leaned against the door frame. “You okay?”
“Never better,” he smiled.
“You look like you forgot why you’re here,” she giggled.
“Believe me, I remember,” Mike said, stumbling slightly when he remembered the flowers. “These are for you.”
“Roses. Traditional,” Amber nodded approvingly as she accepted them. “I approve. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’m gonna put these in water,” she said with a smile. “Why don’t you come in?”
Mike nodded and followed Amber into the apartment. He encountered the usual messiness as they made their way to the kitchen; he wasn’t entirely sure what he had heard her cleaning. Amber got him a drink before putting the roses into a vase and placing them on the kitchen table.
“You look nice, Ranger Carter,” Amber said with a smile. “I’m tempted to climb aboard and start riding.”
He’d traded his usual clothes for dark jeans and a blue button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled to his forearms. His shoes weren’t dress shoes, but they were still nicer than what he normally wore. In addition, Mike also made an effort with his hair. However, he’d run his hand through it so many times that most of that effort had probably been a waste.
“Your eloquence never ceases to amaze me, Miss Bennett,” Mike replied smoothly.
“I try,” she laughed cutely.
“You didn’t try too hard to clean,” he said teasingly. “At least there’s no skimpy underwear on the floor this time. I haven’t checked the bathroom for sex toys.”
Amber pointed one finger at him and made a face, seemingly too aggravated to form words. “You!”
“Me,” Mike spread his arms and bowed slightly.
“Two dates and you’re already talking to me like this,” she shook her head.
“In my defense, I talked to you this way before the first date,” he took a sip of his drink. “Our relationship hasn’t exactly progressed normally.”
Amber started counting on her fingers. “Date one: takeout and a terrible movie. Date two: illegally entering Deer Ridge to examine a possibly supernatural archaeological site.”
Mike nodded. “Very romantic.”
“I thought so.”
“I’ve been looking forward to date three all day,” Mike said with a smile.
Amber’s expression softened. “So have I.”
She approached him and rose onto her toes to kiss him. It was brief and warm. She pulled away and smiled. “There. Date three has officially begun.”
“That’s all it took?”
“I’m easy to work with,” she shrugged.
“That’s completely contrary to everything I’ve learned about you,” Mike smirked.
Amber giggled and grabbed her purse.
“Don’t worry, I’ll remember the rules for tonight,” Mike promised.
“I expect nothing less,” she declared.
“What happens if Harper calls?” he asked.
“You can answer,” Amber nodded.
“What if it’s about tomorrow?”
“We deal with it,” she shrugged.
“So there are exceptions to the rules.”
Amber groaned. “Why did I agree to date a guy in law enforcement?”
Mike grinned. “Hey, you knew from the day you met me.”
“You’re a cop.”
“DEC Park Ranger,” he corrected. “But yeah, I’m a sworn officer.”
“With arrest powers.”
“Yes,” Mike nodded.
“And a gun.”
“Also, yes,” he smiled slightly.
“And handcuffs.”
Mike stared at her.
Amber’s expression remained perfectly innocent.
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