Pack Lands

Chapter 2: The Set-up

Alexis woke suddenly to the sound of her alarm. The shrill screeching tearing her from a dream she just could not remember, but one that made her feel like a piece of her heart had been left behind in it. Ignoring the sadness that swept over her, she hopped out of bed and dressed in the outfit she had set aside specifically for the day. She grabbed her overnight bag and started absentmindedly packing in everything she would need for her weekend away. She groaned out loud, already regretting that she had finally given in again and agreed to meet another suitor arranged by one of her best friends.

Kylie had sent Alexis a picture of Dylan and told her that she thought he would be perfect for her. Alexis' first reaction was to laugh – Dylan was almost every girl's dream. He was blonde with blue eyes and would probably be described as a jock or athletic. He more than likely had girls lining up for him, but Alexis did not imagine she would be one of them. When she had replied that to Kylie, her friend had politely reminded her just how bad her current romantic situation was and that she of all people should not be too fussy. Kylie's heart was always in the right place, even though that did not necessarily result in the best outcomes for Alexis. Kylie's picks for her generally ran towards bland and every time she had lined up a date for her, something would inevitably come up and Alexis would be a little bit grateful that the plans never panned out. The guys in question would cancel at the last minute or they would stand her up. Once the bar even suddenly got a large booking, and nobody could cover for her and she could not get away in time and that had truly felt like fate stepping in to block her. She and Kylie had both started to think she was doomed to be alone forever and because of that Kylie had promised that this time – instead of tempting fate – she would not set up a date, but instead would invite Alexis to meet someone who just happened to be at the same place at the same time. By her own admission, Alexis was a loser in the love department and needed all the help she could get, even if it were by trying to trick destiny. She put her trust in her friend's more than capable hands and now she just had to buckle up and go along for the ride.

Kylie was opposite to Alexis in every way – short, blonde, timid, and sweet – but they understood each other in a way that only friends who have known each other since childhood could. Kylie and Alexis had met on the first day of school and their friendship had grown from there. They had shared a love of nature and the outdoors and spent hours adventuring around town. As they grew older, they had both hoped to travel the world together. But plans had changed for them unexpectedly. Kyle was happily married now, and it suited her – the ideas of travelling now a distant memory. She met Jasper a few years back in a random chance encounter on the outskirts of town when her vehicle had broken down on a deserted road. He had been so taken with Kylie and after a whirlwind romance, they had tied the knot in a small but beautiful ceremony with only a few close friends. Their love was almost addictive to be around, and Alexis often felt the warmth and electricity that passed between them, even in normal everyday conversation. She knew Kylie sensed that she wanted that too – even though she had never said it out aloud. And never would.

Jasper was the groundskeeper of Dylan's family's estate – Pack Lands - and so, after the wedding, Kylie had moved there. She was lucky enough to score a job managing all the guest relations. She was the welcoming committee, receiving all the new guests and fulfilling their – sometimes strange – requests. Pack Lands was about an hour's drive from the center of town, so she often came to visit to shop or find odds and ends as needed, and the girls did not feel like their friendship had been affected by the distance of the move or the marriage. They were more like sisters to each other, and Alexis knew everything Kylie did for her was because she wanted her to be happy like she was.

Kylie had gushed over the fact that Dylan's family had owned Pack Lands for longer than anyone local could remember. It was one of the most exclusive ranches in the area and was always fully booked – expensive cars traveled in and out over weekends, holidays and even during off peak tourist season. Much like the mystery surrounding the estate itself, the family too was shrouded in ambiguity. Deceased parents had left the land to their sons, neither of whom lived in the area, but often visited when out of town guests arrived. For some reason they avoided the town itself and preferred to send staff if they needed things done in Valley Creek. Alexis has argued that it was because they felt they were above the local politics and the supernatural gimmicks the town implemented to draw crowds. Kylie thought it was just because they preferred their privacy. Their friend Missy was convinced they were stuck up rich kids.