Session 01 - The Burning Secret

The first half of the ride was fun. The lights in the firmament above were as captivating as the dreamland beneath them. Ethan, spellbound by the view, silently set next to Abigail and tried to commit to memory as much as he could so he can recreate the image later in his sketchbook.

It’s only when they reached the Zenith that he noticed the smoke rising, an orange glow around their community center. His eyebrows furrowed, thinking of the implications. A fire in a wooded community such as theirs could easily become a full-blown crisis if they didn’t get in under control, and fast.

"I… don’t think so" he mumbled, embarrassed, when Abigail clasped his hand. Despite his discomfort, he didn’t try to pry his hand loose, rather giving a short squeeze in return to reassure her:
"There should be backup generators for such cases"
He said confidently as he looked behind her, at the fire, voicing his own concern:

"I just hope everyone managed to get out in time"

At the bottom of the Ferris Wheel the elderly couple is really taking their time to get in. The Ferris Wheel driver, helping the lady get in her seat, stalling the wheel for quite some time, giving all of you a good point of view at the top.

The community centre, a few blocks away from the Fayre site, indeed seemed on fire. A burning eyesore...
The fire seemed, at least for now, contained to one side of the building, maybe not turning the whole place to ashes... yet.
The fire seems far away enough to not threaten the Farye site, and the power at the Fayre at least still seems working.

As you all dangle in your carts at the top of the Ferris Wheel, you notice something at the parking site of the community centre.
A car, without it's headlights on, rolls off the parking lot... Caught in the glow of the flames you all can make it out as a blue pick-up truck, that quickly zooms away from the site of the fire.

Kimmy shouts down at the crew and people below "THERE'S A FIRE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE!!!", trying to will them to hear her over the cheerful crowd sounds below.

Ben follows suit, cupping his hands and shouting down at the Ferris operators.

"Get us down! Now! There is a fire out there!""

Ethan squinted in the darkness as he tried to make out the exact model of the escaping vehicle, and where it was headed. Every bit of information could help track its owner down later

People pass by the Ferris Wheel. Benbo might have a bit of a reputation, or might have an appearance that suggests he's a joker. His warnings about the fire are widely ignored. But when Kimmy yells the warning about the flames as well, there is commotion at the Fayre ground. Some people run to find the nearest phone booth.

Meanwhile, Ethan keeps his cool. Instead of yelling, he'll notice the blue pick up truck heading to the north east of town.
Isn't that where Mr. Ashby lives? Doesn't he have a blue pick up truck?

As the Ferris Wheel comes back in motion with a little shock, gently bringing everyone back to the ground, you can hear the sirens of firetrucks in the distance.

Abigail let's go off Ethan's hand when they get to the ground and practically slides out under the safety gate. She crosses her arms defensively, and backs against the protective gate around the ferris wheel. "There was a vehicle leaving the community center, not I didn't see much about it. Maybe they went to call the firemen?"

"It was a blue pickup truck" Ethan wrung his hands together "Like the one Mr. Ashby owns"
He gave Benbo, Kimmy, and Zane a knowing look "We need to tell someone. The police. This can't be good..."

"Mr. Ashby? Wait, wait... We can't just... accuse someone? We gotta be sure first, right?" he looks at the others. " Like, I dunno... we could go to Ashby's home and check if the truck engine is still warm... Or if he has lots of empty petrol tanks? "

"Hate to say it, but I don't think Monty will listen to us unless we have some solid proof." she takes a breath "No harm in having a quick look... It's a little ways out though. anyone come on their bike, I came here with my folks?"

Benbo thinks of how horribly embarrassing it would be to give Kimmy a ride. He'd probably be super agitated by the close proximity, he'd lose his balance and make them both fall on the ground. "I g-got my bike, sure... but it c-can hardly hold my weight..."

He turns to look hopeful at the others, his ears glowing red.

Abigail nods and moves toward Kimmy. She smiles in a way that hides most of her braces. "My bike is locked out front, I left it hear earlier this morning before my mom dragged me off to... well, we can ride together."

Were they seriously considering riding over to the house of a (supposed) axe-murderer who (supposedly) just fled a crime scene?
Ethan thought it was a terrible idea, and he would have said something to that effect, had Kimmy not said it was a good one.

"Alright" he sighed "A quick look."

His excitement at the thrill of an adventure renders him blind to any personal risk or danger.

He grins. "Am I hearing this right? We're getting some ACTION in sleepy ol' Prudence? Jeez!!! What are we waiting for?"
He starts heading towards the Fayre entrance, where the bike racks are located.