Derek

No indication of turning around, no sidestepping, no evidence of a jump or climb. Just snow and emptiness. I scanned upward. No trees, no rocks, nowhere something could have logically gone. My heart thudded harder, my throat dry with growing uncertainty.

No indication of turning around, no sidestepping, no evidence of a jump or climb. Just snow and emptiness. I scanned upward. No trees, no rocks, nowhere something could have logically gone. My heart thudded harder, my throat dry with growing uncertainty.

i crouched and studied the final print more closely noting its unsettling length easily twice that of my climbing boot what are you doing thomas's voice broke through my thoughts he was standing just below hands cupped around a steaming mug Come here, take a look, I called back, trying to mask the unease in my voice. He climbed up beside me, frowning down at the prints.

i crouched and studied the final print more closely noting its unsettling length easily twice that of my climbing boot what are you doing thomas's voice broke through my thoughts he was standing just below hands cupped around a steaming mug Come here, take a look, I called back, trying to mask the unease in my voice. He climbed up beside me, frowning down at the prints.

He looked back toward camp, then slowly upward, following their impossible trajectory. Okay, he admitted finally, voice quiet, cautious. That's definitely not normal. I told you, I muttered softly. Something's off here. Tomas sighed deeply, nodding slowly. Maybe someone's messing with us? "'Out here?' I countered. "'Who would hike in this deep just to leave tracks like these and disappear?

He looked back toward camp, then slowly upward, following their impossible trajectory. Okay, he admitted finally, voice quiet, cautious. That's definitely not normal. I told you, I muttered softly. Something's off here. Tomas sighed deeply, nodding slowly. Maybe someone's messing with us? "'Out here?' I countered. "'Who would hike in this deep just to leave tracks like these and disappear?

And how did they start out of nowhere?' Neither of us had an answer. Eventually we returned silently to our bivvy site. I reached into my pack and pulled out a trail camera, compact, motion-triggered, infrared-capable.' We hadn't intended to use it for security, only wildlife photography, but now it seemed prudent. Let's set this up, I suggested.

And how did they start out of nowhere?' Neither of us had an answer. Eventually we returned silently to our bivvy site. I reached into my pack and pulled out a trail camera, compact, motion-triggered, infrared-capable.' We hadn't intended to use it for security, only wildlife photography, but now it seemed prudent. Let's set this up, I suggested.

If something comes back tonight, maybe we'll catch it. Tomás agreed silently, though his usual good humor had noticeably diminished. Together, we secured the camera to a sturdy tripod, pointing it toward our camp, ensuring it had a clear field of view. The rest of the day passed slowly. We barely spoke, busying ourselves with menial tasks, melting snow, reorganizing gear.

If something comes back tonight, maybe we'll catch it. Tomás agreed silently, though his usual good humor had noticeably diminished. Together, we secured the camera to a sturdy tripod, pointing it toward our camp, ensuring it had a clear field of view. The rest of the day passed slowly. We barely spoke, busying ourselves with menial tasks, melting snow, reorganizing gear.

Anxiety settled in my chest. a physical pressure that wouldn't release. Worse, I'd started experiencing brief lapses in memory, forgetting where I'd set down my gloves, checking my GPS beacon only to find it inexplicably turned off. Fatigue, stress, altitude, I rationalized, but deep down I knew it was something more unsettling. Night descended again, darker and quieter than the last.

Anxiety settled in my chest. a physical pressure that wouldn't release. Worse, I'd started experiencing brief lapses in memory, forgetting where I'd set down my gloves, checking my GPS beacon only to find it inexplicably turned off. Fatigue, stress, altitude, I rationalized, but deep down I knew it was something more unsettling. Night descended again, darker and quieter than the last.

the sky was heavy with clouds obscuring stars and moonlight alike inside my bivvy i stared into the darkness ears alert eyes straining for movement it felt like hours before thomas finally spoke again his voice barely audible "'Jason,' he whispered hoarsely. "'Let's check the camera.' We climbed out stiffly, boots crunching softly in the snow, breath misting rapidly in the freezing air.

the sky was heavy with clouds obscuring stars and moonlight alike inside my bivvy i stared into the darkness ears alert eyes straining for movement it felt like hours before thomas finally spoke again his voice barely audible "'Jason,' he whispered hoarsely. "'Let's check the camera.' We climbed out stiffly, boots crunching softly in the snow, breath misting rapidly in the freezing air.

My pulse quickened as I opened the camera's memory card compartment and plugged it into my phone to review the images. The first set of images was normal enough, us setting up camp, boiling water, chatting quietly." My finger swiped rapidly forward, dread building in my gut. I froze abruptly. The timestamp read 3.12 a.m.

My pulse quickened as I opened the camera's memory card compartment and plugged it into my phone to review the images. The first set of images was normal enough, us setting up camp, boiling water, chatting quietly." My finger swiped rapidly forward, dread building in my gut. I froze abruptly. The timestamp read 3.12 a.m.

The image showed Thomas and me clearly asleep inside our bivy sacks, taken from perhaps five feet above, angled downward. I glanced sharply at the tripod. It hadn't moved. The angle of the shot was wrong, impossible.

The image showed Thomas and me clearly asleep inside our bivy sacks, taken from perhaps five feet above, angled downward. I glanced sharply at the tripod. It hadn't moved. The angle of the shot was wrong, impossible.

it couldn't have taken that picture it hadn't been triggered hadn't shifted thomas my voice shook slightly look at this he peered closer expression tightening with concern how he murmured not finishing the question I clicked further into the memory card. A second folder appeared, one we hadn't created. My hand trembled as I tapped it open. Images loaded slowly, thumbnails flickering ominously.

it couldn't have taken that picture it hadn't been triggered hadn't shifted thomas my voice shook slightly look at this he peered closer expression tightening with concern how he murmured not finishing the question I clicked further into the memory card. A second folder appeared, one we hadn't created. My hand trembled as I tapped it open. Images loaded slowly, thumbnails flickering ominously.