Heart of the Mountain
Copyright© 2026 by WittyUserName
Chapter 3
Horror Sex Story: Chapter 3 - 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 03 July, 2026~
7:13 AM
The shrill ringing of her cell phone cut through the quiet apartment, causing Amber Bennett to groan softly. She had spent the previous evening organizing field notes and reviewing maps, resulting in her bed being covered in papers. Reaching for the nightstand, Amber adjusted her glasses and read that the call was from the Adirondack Park Ranger Station.
“Amber Bennett,” she answered immediately.
“Amber? Mike Carter here.”
She sat upright. “Ranger Carter? You found them?”
“Unfortunately, no,” he sighed.
“I’m sorry,” Amber replied as she looked down at the folded topographical map in her lap.
“So am I,” Mike answered. “The search teams came up empty.”
“What happens now?”
“Most of the trails are reopening this morning,” Mike explained. “The campsite itself is still an active crime scene. The entire area is off-limits.”
“Makes sense,” Amber nodded.
“I’ve been looking at that proposal photograph you pointed out.”
A small smile crossed her face. “The stones?”
“The stones,” he confirmed.
“I take it you still haven’t identified where they are?” Amber asked.
“Nope,” Mike admitted. “I’ve been over every place I can think of.”
“So why are you calling me?” she wondered.
“Because you saw something in that picture the rest of us didn’t.”
She was quiet for a moment before responding. “I don’t know for sure if I can find the clearing, but I think I can narrow down where to look.”
“That’s all I’m asking,” Mike said.
“You got permission?” Amber asked, perking up.
“I talked to Dan Harper,” Mike responded. “As long as you stay outside the taped-off area and don’t interfere with the investigation, he’s willing to let you accompany me.”
“I won’t cross the tape,” she immediately promised.
“I didn’t think you would.”
Amber glanced toward the window, noticing morning sunlight filtering through the curtains. “When do you want to meet?”
“Nine-thirty,” Mike answered. “Deer Ridge trailhead. I’ll bring breakfast”
“You bribing me with pancakes, Ranger?”
“I was thinking coffee and a sandwich,” he replied smoothly.
Amber laughed. “I suppose that’s acceptable.”
“Great, I’ll see you at nine-thirty.”
9:31 AM
Mike’s green park service truck rolled into the Deer Ridge trailhead parking lot a minute behind schedule. Amber was already there, standing beside a silver car. There was a topographical map spread across the hood and weighed down at the corners by a water bottle, compass, her phone, and notebook. A large hiking backpack rested by her feet while a camera hung from one shoulder.
“Good morning,” Amber said brightly.
“Morning,” he replied, walking over with two coffee cups and a small paper bag.
“Thank you!” she grinned, accepting the coffee he offered and taking a grateful sip. “Mm, God bless coffee.”
They ate together while looking over the map. Mike took the proposal selfie out of his pocket and laid it beside the map. Amber immediately grabbed the picture and pulled it in front of her, contemplating it while chewing a bite of her sandwich. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she examined every detail.
“I’ve probably looked at that picture a hundred times,” Mike sighed.
“You’ve been carrying it with you, haven’t you?” Amber asked.
“I kept thinking I’d notice something new,” he admitted.
“And?”
“Nothing,” he shrugged.
Amber studied the image again. “I don’t know what happened to these people, but hopefully finding this place will provide some answers.”
“I hope so,” Mike pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m under a lot of pressure to find the bodies and figure out exactly what happened. Officially, it’s likely a bear attack, but I’m not so sure.”
“I’ll do what I can to help,” she promised.
“Any ideas where this clearing might be?”
She tapped the background of the photograph. “The overlook faces west or southwest.”
“You can tell that from one picture?” Mike asked, looking at her in surprise.
“The shadows,” she replied, pointing toward Jake’s shoulder. “The sun’s behind the photographer and slightly to the south. That lines up with the time stamp.”
Mike nodded slowly. “Okay. What about the granite wall?”
“It has to be part of a larger outcrop,” Amber mused as she compared the photograph with the contour lines of the map. “The clearing is probably hidden until you’re almost on top of it.”
“There are a few hundred places that fit,” Mike grimaced.
“We’re narrowing things down more than you’d think,” Amber smiled, pointing toward a series of contour lines northwest of Jake and Emma’s campsite. “They couldn’t have gone too far from the campsite. The proposal picture was taken on relatively level ground. And look at the trees. If they had climbed much higher, the tree line would’ve started thinning.”
Mike studied the map for another minute. “So, they climbed the mountain, but not too high.” He pointed to a spot. “I know an old game trail that cuts across this ridge.”
“That would avoid most of the elevation gain and lead us right where we need to go,” Amber nodded.
“It isn’t on the public maps and hasn’t been maintained in years.”
Amber shouldered her backpack. “I’ve walked worse.”
“Alright, you ready?” he asked as he grabbed the proposal photograph.
“As I’ll ever be,” she nodded as she rolled up her topographical map.
Amber shouldered her backpack and indicated for Mike to lead the way. Mike started toward the trail before stopping in front of the barricade. A yellow sign hung across it, indicating that the trail was closed. He unlocked the temporary gate with a brass key clipped to his belt.
“Just so we’re clear,” he began as the chain fell away, “when we reach the campsite, you stay outside the tape.”
“I gave you my word,” Amber nodded.
“And if I tell you to run, you run,” Mike added.
“I thought you said this wasn’t a bear?” she questioned, the smile fading from her face.
Mike looked into the dark woods ahead. “I said I don’t think it was. That’s what worries me.”
10:57 AM
The yellow crime scene tape fluttered gently as Mike and Amber stepped up to the clearing. A deputy standing watch nodded as Mike approached. The two of them stopped at the edge of the tape, and Amber gasped softly when she caught site of the ruined tent. A temporary tarp had been put over it to preserve what evidence remained.
“Morning, Ranger.”
“Morning,” Mike replied. “This is Amber Bennett. She’s consulting with us on locating the place where the victims took their last photograph.”
“Harper clear her to accompany you?” the deputy asked.
“He did,” Mike nodded.
“Just keep her outside the tape,” the deputy nodded before giving them some space.
“I won’t cross it,” Amber replied, standing next to Mike.
“This is the last place we can confirm Emma and Jake were,” Mike explained. “The attack would have happened Saturday night.”
Amber’s eyes drifted toward the pine tree where the bear bag still hung. “Is that their food?”
“It is,” Mike confirmed. “No animal touched it and there was no food in the tent.”
“If a bear wandered into camp,” she looked toward the hanging bag, “it should have been more interested in the bag.”
“I agree,” Mike sighed. “A smart bear can even break the branch to get to the food. I’ve seen it happen. They can be clever.”
“Then why bother hanging it?”
“The idea is that, even though they can climb trees, they can’t shimmy out onto thin branches,” he explained. “The branches can’t handle their weight. Also, hanging food will keep raccoons or other small animals away.”
“Gotcha,” Amber nodded.
Turning slightly, Mike pointed toward a ruined section of the tent. “The tent’s where the attack started.”
“The tears are remarkably clean,” Amber studied the rips in the nylon. “I’ve seen bears rip apart coolers and tents before.”
Mike looked at her in surprise. “You have?”
“My advisor insists archaeology students learn basic wilderness safety,” she smiled faintly. “Most excavations aren’t in air-conditioned labs.”
“Can’t argue with that logic.”
“That doesn’t look like something clawed at it until it gave way,” Amber pointed toward the tears. “It looks sliced.”
“Right, but if they were attacked by a person with a knife, why keep slashing?” Mike wondered. “Cut your way in and go in, don’t stand out there and keep slashing.”
Amber crouched just outside the tape. “If it’s not a crazy person or a bear, then what?”
“It certainly wasn’t coyotes,” he let out a nervous laugh. “And then there’s the fact that the trail just ends and the bodies disappeared. Bears will take their food elsewhere, but there should be a trail to follow.”
“That’s weird,” she whispered. “Have the police declared it a homicide?”
“No,” Mike shook his head. “They considered the possibility but are leaning toward bear attack. Bear took away the bodies for food. No explanation for the trail disappearing.”
“That’s ... odd.”
“Jake’s blood was found that way,” Mike motioned toward the trees.
Being careful to stay behind the police tape, Mike and Amber circled the perimeter until they reached the disturbing scene. Much of the blood had dried, but it was still gruesome proof something terrible had happened. Amber audibly gasped as she beheld the massive amount of blood, clapping her hands to her mouth while looking on in horror.
Mike led Amber around to the next major site. It was even worse. In addition to the massive amounts of blood, there was a lot more kicked up dirt; evidence of dragging and struggling. It was a good thing the crime scene unit had gathered up the worst as evidence.
“Emma?” Amber asked in a small voice.
“She ran,” he gestured to the pool of blood. “It looks like she was dragged at one point, then...”
Amber didn’t make him finish. “I’m sorry.”
Mike just nodded. “I remember them checking in. Jake brought bear spray. I told him black bears usually run.”
“What if it felt threatened?” she offered. “Mom and cub wandered by and Mom got spooked?”
“Cubs do stay with their mothers for over a year,” Mike mused. “I suppose that’s a possibility, but a black bear has an amazing sense of smell. Mom shouldn’t lead her cub this way when it smells like human.”
Amber crossed her arms as she thought. “What about a cat?”
“A cat?”
“They are called the pet with razor blades for fingertips for a reason,” Amber smirked. “A big cat could tear up the tent with its claws. Sharper than bear claws.”
“We have bobcats, but a thirty pound bobcat can’t drag an adult human,” Mike said slowly. “The only other possibility would be a mountain lion.”
“There are mountain lions in these woods?”
“There’s no established population,” he frowned as he thought. “I’ve never seen one, I’ve never met anyone who has. A few visitors have claimed a sighting, but it’s always ended up being a bobcat.”
“So, no,” Amber let out a breath.
“Not necessarily,” Mike responded. “Adirondack Park is over six million acres. It is possible an individual male traveled a large distance and ended up here. You might be right. It could have been a mountain lion. I didn’t consider it before because I’ve never seen any evidence of one.”
“See? You need me,” Amber smirked.
Mike laughed lightly. “Not so fast. I’m still not convinced. We didn’t find any paw prints.”
“You didn’t find any bear tracks either,” Amber pointed out, making Mike wince in discomfort.
The two of them stood quietly for a moment, both of them trying to make sense of the situation. Amber then slowly turned in a circle, taking in the surrounding landscape instead of the campsite itself. She studied the slope, the granite outcroppings, the direction the ridgeline disappeared through the trees. Finally, she pointed toward a narrow gap between two massive boulders.
“If I were hiking up here looking for a view, I’d go that way.”
“That looks right to me,” Mike nodded.
“The path of least resistance,” Amber smiled. “People have been following terrain instead of fighting it for thousands of years.”
“Lead the way.”
Amber adjusted the straps on her backpack. “Adventure awaits.”
1:32 PM
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